The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-06-18
s' l y u l) u JUNE Is, 600.
tinted cheeks and coral lips, with their
cluster Of di1eples, and his heart sank

i ( ?
! cluster Of di1Sples, and his heart sanl,
| at the prospect. She might hold ont for
awhile with a straight face, but when
the smiles should come-it were lust
as we'll to hang placard about her
neck, This is woman" The telltale
dlmples would be worse than Jane for
outspoken, untimely truthfulness and
trouble provoking candor.
Upon entering Brandon found Marv
wrestling with the problem of her COM
pllcated male attire, the most beauti-
tul picture OF puzzled distress imagi-
nable. The port was open and showed
| her rosy as the morn when she looked
up at him. The jack boots were in 2
corner. and her little feet seemed to
| put up protest all their own against
! going into them that ought to have
softened every peg. She looked I'D at
Brandon with half hearted smile and
then threw her arms about his neck
and sobbed like the child she WAS
do you regret coming Lady Marv?"
asked Brandon, who, now that she was
alone with him, felt that he must take
no advantage of the fact to be famil-
lar.
mo, no! Not for one moment. I am
glad-only too glad. But why do you
call me Lady? You used to call me
Mary"
Il don't know; perhaps because YOU
are alone.''
"Ah! that is good of you; but you
need not be quite so respectful"
The matter was settled by mute but
satisfactory arbitration, and Brandon
continued: you must make yourself
ready to go on deck. 1t will be hard,
but it must be done''
He helped her with the heavy lack
boots and handed her the yain stained
SLOUGH hat which she put on and stood
a complete man ready for the deck
that is, as complete as could be evolved
from her utter femininity.
| When Brandon looked her over. all
hope went out of him. 1t seemed that
every change of dress only added to
her bevitching beauty by showing it
in new phase.
1T will never do. There is no dis
guising you. What is it that despite
everything shows so Enthusiastically
feminine? What shall we do? l have
it. You shall remain here under the
pretense of illness until we are we'll at
sea, and then I will tell the captain all.
It is too bad, and yet I would not have
you one whit less q woman for all the
world. a man loves woman who is
so thoroughly womanly that nothing
can hide it,
Mary was pleased at his flattery, but
disappointed at the failure in herself.
She had thought that surely these gar
ments would make a man of her in
which the keenest eye could not detect
a flaw.
They were discussing the matter
when knock came at the door, with
the cry, "All hands on deck for inspec-
ton" Inspection! Jesu. Mary would
not safely endure it minute. Bran
don left her at once and went to the
captain.
MY lord is i'll and begs to be excused
from deck Inspection he said.
Bradhurst, a surly old half pirate Of
the saltiest pattern, answered.: "Ill?
Then he had better go ashore as soon
as possible. I will refund his money.
We cannot make hospital out Of the
ship. If his lordship is too i'll to stand
inspection, see that he goes ashore at
once
This last was addressed to one of the
ships officers, who answered with the
usual AYE, aye, SIR and started for
Mary's cabin.
That was worse than ever, and Bran
don quickly said he would have his
lordship up at once. He then returned
to Mary, and after buckling on her
sword and belt they went on deck and
climbed up the poop ladder to take
their places with those entitled to
stand aft
Brandon has often told me since that
it was as much as he could do to keep
back the tears when he saw Mary's
wonderful effort to appear manly. 1t
was both comical and pathetic. She
was princess to whom all the world
bowed down, yet that did not help her
here. After all she was only a girl,
timid and fearful, following at Bran
don's heels, frightened lest she should
get out Of arms reach of him among
those rough men and longing with all
her heart to take his hand for moral as
well as physical support. 1t must have
been both laughable and pathetic in the
extreme. That miserable sword per-
sisted in tripping her, and the jack
boots, so much too large, evinced an
alarming tendency to slip off with ev
cry step. How insane we all were not
to have foreseen this from the very
beginning. 1t must have been unique
figure she presented climbing up the
steps at Brandon's heels, jack boots
and all. So unique was it that the
sailors working in the ships waist
stopped their tasks to stare in wonder
ment and the gentlemen on the poop
made no effort to hide their amuse
ment Old Bradhurst stepped up to
her,
~ hope your lordship is feeling bet
| tor and thon c11rvovinv bor from