The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-16

aye, that Is I'll And the question IS,
will you close your eyes to the who'e
| business2"
suppose do not. sir7"
.-Then." and Van Hnusen vented an
ugly oath; they'll be closed in way
you Will not like, and closed for keeps
| Your women. who are bound TOT Ens.
land, will not know what Is done aboard
the Nord brandt by night; but you,
who will return to duty here
"Pardon. Captain Van HausenT, inter
J posed Vail, with slight curl OF his lip.
| i"This design of yours and your crew
is no affair Of mine. Pray don't let my
presence interfere with 1t. You may
| feel perfectly assured. and so assure
your Grew. that I shall wink At the
whole affair. All ask OF you. Captain
Van Hansen. is to set me and my COM
panlons safely in Melbourne. ! give you
| my word that. on reporting for duty,
shall know absolutely nothing OF what
may have transpred any night aboard
the Nord Brandt"
III I can rely upon your word"
"sir tho word of an English naval
officer Is always reliable"
"Then, by heaven. the box may not be
SO bad after air.
Under Wallis dignifed assurances, Cap
tain Van Hansen had relaxed In mark.
ed degree. A subdued discussion followed
which evidently proved satisfactory &c
both. for the latter presently took the
young officers arm and led him for.
ward, and into conversation with the
mate and several OF the crew. But in the
making of his promises, Vail knew more
than any there what might transpre ere
the close OF another day.
| Meantime Archie Walton had repaired
to the wheel, and save himself the after
deck was deserted. Without knowledge
precisely why, he had welcomed this duty
which took him within view of the cabin.
hut his vague curiosity as to what the
! female passengers were like was not
Immediately gratifed. glance down the
| companion showed that the cabin was
vacant. and, there being scarce air to
| give the vessel way. Walton fell to
| dreaming over tho situation into which
| he too impulsively had plunged. and
which was destined to shape his entire
| future career.
Emily emerged from her stateroom a
| little later, where Lady Somers still was
| in her berth. both having taken their
coffee before rising. She looked divlnely
pretty. with the fleece OF her waYy hair
| lending a golden glory to her sweet face
and the graceful contour OF her perfect
| figure accentuated by close travelling
dress OF silver gray. She would have
| climbed the companion stairs when sud.
denly observing the man dreaming at the
| wheel, she hesitated, q little startled.
/
| travels. but never one like this HIS
cap had heen pitched back on his head
| and she wondered why he came to be q
seaman, with such a face as his. That
| lofty brow. with knots OF loose. dark
hair striving hard to curl and the
| lips. the well-poised head and fair mus
| cular neck, disclosed nearly to his broad
| chest by the fold OF his wide blue col.
| lar-these did not belong to her idea
| OF common seaman
! A light like that OF involuntary ad.
| miration showed In her eyes. and then
| q deeper pink came stealing slowly over
the fairness of her cheeks-and then Wal
| ton CHANGED to turn his head and see
| her.
full tide OF crimson swept like
flash over his neck and checks and brow
| as when the heart leaps with a sudden
wild start and the blood courses as If
| the veins could scarce contain It. In.
| stinctively he drew himself up, and his
| hand went to his cap.
| Emily Somers would have been blind
| had she not observed. and her own color
! deepened. She felt little embarrassed
| but to retreat would have served only
| to betray It. Half. smiling with a w!tching
| light in her wondrous blue eyes, she came
nearer the stairs and asked:
| TT is wet up there, Mr.-Mr-Sailor7"
walton choked down In his throat a
! lump that was born of sudden sweeping
agony. The vision that had met his
startled gaze had recalled vision OF
something lost. perhaps never again to
be found In this world. Yet he steadied
himself and with exquisite gentleness
| answered.:
| mot precisely wet, lady. but tho air
Is quite misty"
MAY come up there7"
II think there will be no objections
made"
His language brought back the old
thought, and again she wondered.
..Perhaps not" she replied; III como
only, far enough to see OUT
| II think not. lady. Can assist you?"
20, thank you. no! I easily can-ah,
I you are very kind!'
Walton had briefly left the wheel and
given her his hand till she had mounted
the stairs and stood in the companions
| way.
rim sorry to have troubled YOU" she
added.
| cit really was no trouble. Mlss-o. I
| beg pardon!'
He caught himself with sudden flush.
as IL the inquirng infection with which
he had involuntarily addressed her was
betraying unWarrantahle curiosity or
some phase Of his own character which
he fain would conceal.
1t had appeared to Emily like the con-
sheraton born Of culture or good breed
Ing, and once more she wondered why
this man came to be a common seaman.
She smiled family. with growing in
terest In her artless eyes. and said in.
| genuously:
my name is somers sir. Miss Som
ers."
Walton bowed. colorlng even deeper
when he saw that his perturbation had
| been noticed.
II did not intend to be inquisitive," he
said grayely. with the simplicity OF true
gentillty.
t"Of that am very sure. sir!'' sai6
Emily, smiling archy. How dreadfully
misty 1t Is this morning isn't It? And
scarcely breath of wind. We shall
never make Shanghai at this rate. shall
| we?"