The San Francisco call., 1903-12-20


YOU, make yourself worthy OF her. BY
heaven, I'll help you. II II kills mel You
thought was harsh to-day. swear to
YOU II you succeed nobody viii ac-
knowledge II quicker than II"
"Win you tell her so?"
"I will"
"Rhett," said the other man, stretch
ing out his hand, "the woman I love
has this day honored me, but by heav-
en-. I believe you have honored me
more. I did think 1t was low-down
trick for you to go to Miss Glen, but
] know why you did it and you were
right. It's too late. 1 can never be
anything different. My father and
grandfather both died in drunken
sprees-it's in my blood. I can't help
II. I've had a chance or two to do
something a little out OF the ordinary
in this war, thank God for it, but
suppose the reason / was able TO carry
It through was that cared little
whether lived or died. No. that isn't
true. ia rather die than live, but L
would like 70 so out OF existence doing
something fine and noble. I-I-might
get q better chance on the other side,
then, you know. Life is nothing to me,
and there are no possibilities In II"
He spoke bitterly. It was rare that
any one saw him In that mood.
Il tell ysu I'm cursed. wouldn't
take that girl II she did accept me. I
only wanted to trouble you. Well, no.
not exactly that either. I love her.
God knows, but the DEVILS got me in
his grip and"
It can't understand II, said 5emp-
land vaguely.
"Oh, OF course you can't. You're so
strong and SO self-contained-such
as you never can understand such ss
L But to be a drunkard and
gambler, and a"
He stopped and threw up his, hands.
and then dropped them heavily by his
side.
It's in my blood. I tell you: 1t is
not all my fault. Yet there is good in
me, enough good to make me go mad
II I stop to think of it. / want some
way to get out of this life with honor.
leave the field for you"
she doesn't love-
You're a fool, Sempland-forgive
me-about that woman. Not so
much the good as the bad, but in
some things women are alike, wo-
man IS woman whatever she
does. That girl loves the ground you
walk on"
'Nonsenssi It's you"
"Pshawl She Is fascinated by what
she's heard on one hand, and she
shuts her eyes to what she has heard
on the other. The war is young.
Wen be beaten. OF course, but not
without some hard. desperate fight
ing. Your chance will come, and
when It does"
II will master It or die!"
"Of course, but don't die. Master
it. Leave dying to me. I've sought
ways for II and now one is at hand"
What is it7'
Il am going to take out the David
tonight"
what"
Yes. It's a dead secret, but / can
tell you. There are three blockade
runners ready to sail. The Wabash
lies off the Main Ship Channel. OF
course, all the others are blockaded.
too, but General Beauregard thinks
that If we can torpedo the flagship the
others will hurry to her assistance
and the blockade runners can get out
through the Swash Channel. Our
magazines are running low and we
must have arms, powder. and every
thing. There are two or three ship
loads at Nassau. This is an attempt
TO get to them. If we can blow up
Admiral Vernon's flagship perhaps we
can raise the blockade. At any rate,
it's the only chance for the blockade
runners to get out"
did the general order you to do
this?"
Certainly not. I suggested it to
him. They don't order any one to the
David, you know"
Il should say not" returned Semp-
land. she's been down five times,
hasn't she? ?"
Yes. and every time with all. of her
crew"
How many all told has she carried
70 death ?"
Some thirty or more, believe"
And she has never done any dam
age to the enemy"
she scraped the paint off the New
Ironsides one night and scared her
crew TO death, / reckon, but that's
aIl''
Lacy" cried Sempland suddenly,
IT have no right to ask favors of you,
but"
That's all right. Ask"
Let me go tonight"
whats the use? One officer is
enough, and you could not do any
good by going along. I should be in
command"
Let me go in your place!"
"Nonsensel It's almost certain
death
"I don't care. It's my chance.
can run the thing as well as you.'
"Oh, anybody can run the thing for
that matter"
MY life is OF no more value to the
South or to me than yours. Come!
You have had your chances, and i'm
proved them; give this to me-"
Lacy hesitated.
"Sempland, you're q fool, as said
before. You're running away from
the woman who loves you. You're
risking your life"