Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-10-23
CHAPTER w.

ENTER MAJOR COVENTRY.
I" 1HREE days later the Ranger,
1 under all plain sail, in gen.
E-SSrNI tie breeze, was slowly plow-
y ing along through the Irish
sea, of the English coast, near the
mouth of the Mersey. The whaleboat,
manned by six of the smartest seamen,
armed with cutlass and pistol, and
dressed in their best clothes, old Price
being cOckswain again, was just being
made ready. The ship was presently
hove to, and q side ladder was dropped
overheard at the gangway where Miss
Elizabeth Howard and her maid were
standing waiting for the lowering Of
the whaleboat, and around which the
officers Of the deck speedily congregat-
ID.
They were sorrowful lot of men,
these impressionable sailors, for O'Neill
was not alone in his captivity. True to
his promise, Captain Jones had shifted
his course and was about to land his
fair passenger. He had chosen to put
her ashore upon a rocky beach four or
i've miles away from a fort at Birken-
head which guarded the mouth of the
river which gave entrance to the har-
Dor, not caring to venture his ship in
any closer proximity to the forti6ca-
tons and the war vessels probably In
the river. 1t was risky performance
at best, but he trusted to the known
speed Of the Ranger and his own sea-
manship to effect his escape In case the
ship should be discovered and pursued
In force.
Once on shore it would not be diff
cult matter for the lady and her maid
to procure conveyance to take them
to the city, little farther inland. The
melancholy duty Of landing the two
women, by special request, had been al
lotted to the first lieutenant much to
the disgUt Of the various midshipmen,
who conceived that the matter Of TAX
ing charge Of boats appertained more
properly to one of their number.
The farewells were soon spoken by
the grateful girl to the officers, who
had done their very best in making the
days pass pleasantly and tightening
the tedium Of the voyage. and to the
captain, who had been kindness and
consideration itself. The young lieu
tenant still somewhat pale from his
adventure, had clothed himself In q
handsome full dress uniform and, with
a splendidly jeweled sword swinging
by his side, came on deck from his
cabin, the envy Of all the others.
The ship had been hove to, the ac-
commodation ladder shipped, the whale
boat was lying at the gangway now,
and the three passengers at once took
their places In the stern.
''See Miss Howard safely landed, Mr..
O'Neill," said the solicitous captain,
leaning over the rail, land assure your
self as far as possible Of her ability to
reach the town without harm and then
return at once. In any event do not
leave the beach. We will watch you,
dr."
AYE, aye, SIR" answered O'Neill.
"Shove on-out oars-give way" and
the little boat at once shot away from
the side. and, under the impetus given
by the watchful men. dashed toward
the not distant shore.
Miss Howard should have been "a
dainty happy at leaving the Ranger
and In her proximity to Liverpool.
where she was about to meet not only
friends and family connections. but
one who was destined to be something
more. This person was Major Edward
Coventry, a gallant and distinguished
young officer, the son and heir Of her
guardian, Lord Westbrooke, and to
whom for many years-from infancy,
In fact-she had been betrothed. But
an unaccountable tinge Of sadness how
cred over her lovely face, though she
strove to conceal 1t under an affectation
Of hghtneas and gayety.
As for O'Neill, he made no effort
whatever to hide his misery. The i'm
questionable young Irishman had fallen
deeply in love with Elizabeth Howard.
He had fallen in love thousand times
before, but not in this way, and the
heart which had withstood the sue
cessful assaults Of the brilliant beau
ties Of the gay court Of France had lit
orally succumbed at the first sight Of
this beautiful English girl whom BE-
nignant fortune had thrown across his
path.
She. and she only, was his fate. then
and thereafter. A new and hitherto
unknown feeling had been excited in
his heart at the sight of her. In that
hour in the boat when he lay with his
head upon her knee, when he had look
ed up at her, heaven had opened before
his gaze. and to his disordered fancy
she had seemed an angel. Each pass.
ing moment discovered in her q new
charm, and he loved her with the i'm
petuosity Of a boy. the doting passion
Of an old man and the conservation Of
. devotee.
With the daring of his race, he had
not hestitated to acQuaint the girl with
his passion, either, though it was stale
news to her. There il nothing a woman
discovers more quickly and more GER
tainly than the feelings of a man who
loves her. That she had laughed at
0&S aKuOK udu uOS Al Tic 1ct4St OctcKIcO
him from persisting in his attentions.
which she had not found unwelcome,
for he thoroughly understood the value
Of determined pursuit She had told
him that they were like two ships sail.
Ing the great sea. whose paths hap
pened to cross for a moment. They
meet, nod to each other, and pass on;
the deep swallows them up, and they
see each other no more forever.
He had vowed and protested that it
would not be 80; that England was a
little country and Admiral Westbrooke
q great man: that she could not be any.
where without attracting the attention
Of the wOrld-she could by no means
hide her light; that he would withdraw
from the American service, which ht
could honorably do at the expiration OF
the present cruise, and search the
whole island until he found her-all Of
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