Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-08-20

out questioning himT' he Olcricd. She
would have given all the world to lie
to him, but even in the darkness she
could not be further untrue, in his
very presence. though now like Il fash
she saw it all.
"TIe-hc doubted it," she whispered
hesitatingly. "Ie handed the paper
to Edward and asked him if tiff it
was all right"
"And Coventry
Gle took it and looked at II, looked
at mel had forgotten him, must
| confess" she went on brokenlv-"and
| then he handed it back to CHptain
| Pearson and-and said it was correct
the signature, I mean"
"IIe knew, think you?" asked her
lover, with deadly calmncss.
eyes. he knew" she faltcrcd.
"And the sentry-our unheeded es-
cape?"
Edward took his place. might ms
well tell you all now" continued the
girl desperately.
"Ah." he said coldly and sternly.
And do you know. Lady Elizabeth.
what the penalty is for such actions
as his:"
"No," she replied in alarm. II never
thought. They will not harm him. He
is the son of the admiral. What is it,"
| They will shoot him or hang him
like a dog to the very yardarm pre-
emphasis
mo. no, It is not possiblew she
cried, appalled, at the naked fact
| AYE. but it is lie replied, land il is
| through your actions and my blind
Gcquicscence therein that this honor
| able gentleman is done to death. This
puts another face on the whole thing.
You have made mo craven. am
diShonored, his life is sacrificed for
me-
II did not mean to do it. | did not
Know she walled, stricken to the
hcnrt by his bitter reproach.
AYE. but you should have known
But when women NEEDLE in affairs Of
state the consequences oft exceed their
narrow views. Pray God there may
yet be time to rectify the frichtful hap
peninC." said O'Neil bitterly. putting
the helm hard over as he spoke The
boat swept around, the sail iibcd and
they headed for the northeast.
what is ii that you would do?' cried
Elizabeth in alarm. laying her hand on
the tiller.
Follow the Scraps" he answered
shortly.
"For what?"
"To give myself up If possible, and
thus insure his freedom
VI knew-I knew it would be So" she
whispered. Il loved him." she MUIR
INJURED, turning away. Il have sacri-
iced everything for him and he ropudi-
ates. reproaches me. Oh. my Gcd, why
hest thou forsal;en me- she walled in
unconscious imitation of a greater Sut-
forcr. She drew away from him and
knclt down in the boat md buried her
face in her hands, leaning upon the
weather GunWaie. He looked at her
moment, and before the pathetic
abandonment of her grief his anger
melted. She was woman. With her.
love was all.
"Elizabeth." he said tendorly, "the
bitterness of having caused that good
mans death, his apparent diShonor,
overwhelmed me. | love YOU, as you
know, more than life itself. You are
Il woman. You see things differently.
There is nothing above love in a
womans heart Come back to mo
Your place is hero. whatever happens
l love You the more for your great
sacrifice, but now we must undo il
if we can. Heaven has not smiled
upon our meeting. Perhaps. if we go
hand in hand before God together, we
may find mercy, perhaps joy!"
She made no answer. but nestled
against him forgiven, contented For
time they sailed the sea in silence.
The clouds had broken and left q clear
sky, whence the moon had Hooded the
ocean witt, Scr silvely light But tho
brocze came tttu!ly ana gradually
died away where they We're now under
the lee of the land. II was such q
night as lovers dream of. They loved
and they We're together, side by side,
alone, in the soft autumnnl niAht,
adrift Oh summer sea. There was
that in the past which kept them
silent. and vet in their very proximity.
in the hand, that touched and claspod
each other. tho head that nestled on
his shoulder. the arm that en"ircl"d
her waist the lips that met. the eyes
that spokc-thcre was Il sweetness
which u"ithcr had ever known be-
fore. The gentle wind whispered Of
love The curling. Tipping waves ca
rcSsed the keel with sounds like kisses,
and to it all their hearts kept time,
1t was r"spite-a lull between two
phases of the conflict. There was love
and there was peace in the little boat,
and war and tumult We're far Off on
the horizon.
BY and by Elizabeth slipped down
from the thwart and crouchcd down
IN the boat at his feet O'Noill held
the tiller with one hand, the other
lightly stroked her golden head. She
was perfectly content. Everything was
out OF her heart but he and the pres
ent. She was very still, He could sec
the soft curve of her check resting
upon her sweet white hand in the
moonlight. After one of the little in
tervals of silence he looked down upon
her again. she made no motion, and
did not reply to a word he said softly,
aud he discovered that she was asleep.
He did not wonder. The experiences
of the past few days would have killed
| IA.