The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-10-23

/ him, madam
| Elizabeth could not trust herself to
| speak; she only bowed. There was ev-
the captain in the whole proceeding.
The signature did not seem just right.
"Ahl l have it-Major Coventryr' he
cried suddenly.
! That miserable young man, sick at
heart, had shrunk into the background
since Elizabeth had come aboard, and
| the girl had not seen him before lie
had felt that his work was dore when
she appeared; but, no, ha was to find
| out that his troubles had but just be-
gun.
"Oh" she cried as he stepped for
ward, clutching him wildly by the
arm, look of terror in her eyes, us
she added in a whisper, "Not you'll
had forgotten you've are lostv' In
the bitter knowledge that she had for
gotten him he overlooked the clew to
her action furnished by her last
words.
Here is a repreve from the admit
raj" said the captain. 1T seems to be
correct, and yet-will you look over it
and give me your opinion? You are IA.
miliar with his writing at any rate.
Ny lady. forgive the questioning, but
the matter is most serious, and must
be- absolutely assured"
Here is the paper, Edward" saio
Elizabeth desperately, taking it from
the captains outstretched hand. SIS
rot that the writing of the admiral?"
she added entreatingly, and then,
clasping her hands, she looked at him
with all her soul in her eyes and wait
ed, full of apprehension. A word, and
he hanged her lover, and incidentally,
but surely, killed herr word, and he
set them free, What the consequences
to himself of his decision might be,
with the sublime egotism of love for
another, she neither knew nor ques-
toned. Coventry gave Il brief glance
at the document He saw what was ex-
pected of him; his life or her happiness
trembled in the balance. True to his de-
termination, he did not hesitate a mo-
ment. In that glance of single second
he realized the truth, which he had
more than suspected before.
''It is" he replied briefly and indif-
ferently aloud. a little prayer to God
for forgiveness leaped within his heart
at the falsehood. He had connived at
her deceit, failed in his soldierly duty,
broken his honor, for this woman. The
reputation of lifetime of loyal service
to his king, the honorable record of
years of devotion to duty, had been
thrown away in a moment for her. He
had sacrificed more than life itself for
his love, and she loved another! He
turned the paper over in his hand and
then quietly returned it to the captain
He said no other word. He scarcely
even looked at Elizabeth. He could not
trust his own gaze. There might be re-
proach in it. And he would fain make
the sacrifice like gentleman at least.
THANK God, thank Godv' whispered
Elizabeth under her breath, and the
look of gratitude she flashed at him
would have gone far to repay even
greater sacrifice perhaps.
The keen captain was not yet salts
fed. however.
"You wished to release him yourself,
I remember" he said uncertainty II
am by no means persuaded that-but it
is impossible for me to proceed now
until i have seen the admiral. Take
the prisoner below" he said to the
guard, land allow Lady Elizabeth to
see him alone. Mr.. Pascoe. tell the
boatswain to pipe down and call the
watch"