Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1903-12-26

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He seUered the stratntng rope.
ceal. Meanwhile the doctor had sue
ceeded in rousing O'Neill. The frs
glance Of his eyes fell on Elizabeth
and nothing else he saw.
'Heaven and the angelsv' he muir
INJURED family, not yet comprehendint
the position.
"It seems to be made out properly
and duly signed and sealed" said thu
captain slowly-"a reprieve for thu
| prisoner until further notice, and per
mission for the bearer to see hin
! Alone" he added suspiciously. There
| was little pause. He turned the pa
| per over in his hand and looked sharp
ly at the girl Ii,
| 1.-THE admiral chooses strange mes
scnger," he added 81 cannot say il
this be regular or no. His handwrit-
ing is unfamiliar to me. / do not rec.
Ognize this. You say you had it from
him, madam
Elizabeth could not trust herself to
speak; she only bowed. Tnere was e7-
identity something very suspicious to
i the captain in the whole proceeding.
The signature did not seem just right.
"Ah! have it-Major Coventry!" 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. He
had felt that his work was done when
she appeared; but, no, he was to find
out that his troubles had but Just be-
gun.
"Ohv' she cried as he stepped for
ward, clutching him wildly by the
arm, look of terror in her eyes, as
she added in 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 reprieve from the admi-
ral," said the captain. ct 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
My lady, forgive the questioning, but
the matter is most serious, and 1 must
be absolutely assured"
"Here is the paper, Edward" said
Elizabeth desperately, taking it from
the captains outstretched hand. els
not 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 her; 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 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 mo-
ment. In that glance Of a single second
he realized the truth, which he had
more than suspected before.
''It u.s." 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 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,
/ remember" he said uncertainty 81
am by no means persuaded that-but it
is impossible for me to proceed now
until / 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"
CHAPTER XIV.