The Republican journal., 1903-12-31

skipper cropping in the dark and TOOK
him aboard the "Seabird." When Can
ming reached deck, few Gays later, he
looked vainly for the "Aphrodite." A
sailor told him with a smile that the
schooner had sailed two days after his
accident.
"Accident!" muttered Canning, fee
bly, "It was more like catastrophe.
But I'll get square, and I'll get Janet,
too"
Then he went below to open some
letters which had accumulated during
his illness. Canning sorted the enve-
lopes indifferently until he came to a
bulky package, evidently addressed. by
a feminine hand. He opened this
quickly, and between layers of court
plaster and soft cotton he found pho
tograph of Janet, taken as she sat IN
the companion-way, with this inscrlp-
ton on the back:
"Dear -, l hope you were not
seriously hurt. The 'Aphrodite' sails
tomorrow. Perhaps we shall meet
again.
"P. S.-I thought the plaster and
cotton might be useful
1t was rather crude message, but 1t
made Canming's heart flap like main
sail. "By JoveH he exclaimed. Il
forgot to tell her my first name
The ''Seabird' had logged many a
knot and made many port since then,
but the fortune of the sea had never
allowed her to fall in with the "Aphro-
dite." This was sad state of affairs.
Nevertheless Canning was phllosophl-
cal. If he could not have Janet in per-
son, he at least could look at her picture
leaving his imagination to do the rest.
Sometimes his Imagination raced ike a
screw out of water, and caused hlm TO
see visions of vine-covered cottage
with trim figure standing in the door
way ready to welcome him after a
long voyage At other times it Jamm-
ed, as rope in block sometimes does.
Then he sighed; and he had just emit
ted one of these not-intended-to-b be- SEN
timental sighs when knock came at his
door.
'Flare light on the port quarter" re-
ported a burly, oilskin-clad figure;
CLOCKS like a ship in distress.
Watch it closely. I'll be up in a
moment" replied the skipper, hastily
slipping the photograph into the desk.
when Canning reached the bridge he
found a chill, drizZling rain beating
down upon the black sea. Not star
was visible, and the ''Seabird" seemed
to him wet shadowy ghost feeling its
way through the low-fying scud.
"a nasty night" remarked the chief
officer; ''but it's gradually clearing.
There's the light, sir; now it's gone
again."
Canning watched intently. Present
ly the light appeared again, this time
remaining stationary for few seconds:
By its fitful CLEAN the captain could
distinguish the faint outlines of several
figures huddled together under the lee
of the cabin.
She was small vessel, dismasted,
and apparently water-logged. At times
the sea enveloped her entirely, and she
was lost to view; but she would rise al
ter each drenching, shake herself and
wallow in the green again-helpless yet
buoyant hulk.
1--WE can do nothing tonight but
stand by" said Canning to the officer.
"Send up a rocket that'll cheer EN- up
a Bit
"Ay, ay. sir..''
The night passed slowly to those on
the storm-tossed craft, but the morn
ing sun rose bright and warm on sea
that had lost much of its angry curl.
Canning had ordered a boat away to
the wreck, and the message that came
back made his heart thump louder than
the engines.
Its the schooner 'Aphrodite,' ,um-
ber-laden, and her captain wants you to
tow her. sir" cried the officer i'll the
boat.
HAS he gotta lady with hin:" shouted
back Canning.
Yes, his daughter, and she wants to
leave the vessel"
"Then tell him I'll take all hands
aboard the 'Searbird,' but | won't tow
his schooner
HE says he won't abandon his ship"
Canning was unprepared for such OBJ
stlnacy.
Tell him he must leave her." he re-
piled. And tell him-Well, it's coming
on to blow again, and | won't risk my
ship for his
THAT ought to fetch him., muttered
ing for the schooner.
After some delay--it seemed an age
to the skipper-the little craft came
back with the shipwrecked crew. Can
ming helped Janet over the rail and
LOOK IeI U6iUN. co, ~ " do tllC saulO
Janet, a bit wet and chilled, but with
the same bewitching eyes and simple
manner. The skipper wrapped her ten
derly Il say it adyisedly, for was he not
a man devoid of sentiment?) in his big
coat, and went on deck to perform
another duty. Approaching Captain
Morgan he said: ''Do you remember
night in London two years ago?'
The old skipper nodded, and wondered
what was coming.
81 swore at the time to get square,"
continued Canning, fiercely. you've
deserted your ship-she's derelict!
Suppose that were to tow her to port
and claim salvage. What would you
say to that?''
Captain Morgan was speechless-he
knew he was in trap. Finally he
blurted out: "Well, it wouldn't be sea
but l suppose you'd get the
ship, And" he mumbled to himself,
'that is the end of the 'Aphrodite,' the
only thing | love 'cept Janet. I'd
sooner gone down with her."
s'We might compromise, suggested
Canning in softer tones. 'We're just
200 miles from Queenstown. Suppose
that | were to tow the 'Aphrodite' to
within 25 miles of the coast, and then
put you and your crew aboard her. Do
you think you could take her into port
without anybody knowing that I'D
helped you?"
Gust trust mel" said the old man,