The Opelousas courier., 1903-03-07

- ~AN hAA~ ~
last American eyes that she was ever
to see, In the northeast, leagues
away from San Domingo, the Ameri-
can liberation OF which from Continual
intcrnecinc strife had caused the Ell
ropean Alliance to declare war against
the States, Brainerd was feeling Tor
the cnenly's powerful fleet, hoping to
divert its attention from the U. s. A
Flying squadron swooping down to
devstate the western coasts OF the
mainland Of Europe, and also secure
the Windward passage against its ap-
proach on Domingo and Cuba. Tnat
afternoon, acting on information &C
~curately supplied by the captain of
the r. M. S. Co.'S mailboat, the adj
miral had flung his scouts, II after
the other, down INTO tho southeast,
and detailed tho understanding
Speedy for Santiago with dispatches.
and to speak tho westerly scouts,
when encountered. with orders to re-
join the main body Of the fleet.
Her acting lieutenant, getting the
utmost out Of her fine engines and
sWeaty-browed engineers and flremen,
sighed c~ontentedly when he looked at
the speed dial. Another four hours at
eighteen-a-half gnots should see him
in harbor. He also found relief in the
thought that Lieutenant Burey would
then be in hospital. Poor fellow" he
muttcred, as he wiped the wet off his
night binoculars. Better a shell in
ones inncrds, and end up in a scat
ter, than have his complaint"
Below, in the little cramped ward
room, Durcy was Writing in a fresh
attack of agony. A suffocating sob
burst from lin; he dug his elbows
into his knces. With his face sup
ported between his hands he let him.
self swing like an automaton to the
vessels jobbling. So eXcruciating
were tho flames of pain within his
breast that it was as if a thousand
nerves, raw, vibrant, and exposed,
were being plucked out by their
roots. lie gritted his teeth together
to hinder himself from shrieking.
Sweat beaded his heavily-lined brows
and tricllled down owe the twltching
ashen-gray checks. Gasping thiclly,
he threw himself back, shut his eyes,
and stiffened his muscles,
Then suddenly his anguish 1le1
away. For a minute or two he sat
there, painting with exhaustion, his
body limp and shaken; but a lurch and
weather roll made him secure himself
in d safer position beside the table.
He wondered with fear, when the next
attack would recur; then the jimmy,
tumbling movements of the hurrying
boat diverted his thoughts.
AS the boat, carefully nursed
through the Caicos Passage by her
tired officer, hurled herself up the
dark, seething slopes flashing dimly
with kindling phosphorus, heaved her
self across the widening troughs and
smashed down a growing shcaf Of sea.
she Jared and groaned and quiyered
in every inch of her rigid hull. But
Durey was oblivious to the many
voiced turmoil. Within his brain jost-
ling thoughts were making a noisier
hubbub. He sat there looking duly
at the shielded gloW-lamp, his sqtar-
ish head sunk between the even Shout
ders, and his thin. l~ong-fingerei hands
gripping the fiddle"
Lieutenant Durey was OF slender
build, united for much hardship or
physical stress. Nothing but his high
spirited nature had enabled him to
withstand the pungent seasoning Of
the gun room. However, his seafarinS
ancestry had bestowed on him n tom
permanent fearless of the clements; to
him at sea it came as mere routine to
cope with and bear the weight Of the
greatest elemental danger. From tho
female side of his family stock WIS
the faint developed in him-hls ineradi-
cable adherence Of physical suffering.
At school his cowarslice of a Gaming
had earned the contempt OF other and
hardy lads. However. as years mad
passed and his physique improved, he
had partly lost this squeamIsh nicely
of feeling. and through his profession
had become hardened to the thought
of possibly experiencing it some day.
Nevertheless. this blclnish was not
wholly eradica.cG. and, making him
look constantly ahead to Il state of
war, it had ~coyertly inspired his with
drawal from the service.
IIarrauor &FI,n., fstn s.Ir1o. rf xsop.
spread in the land. Durcy had offered
his services again. He was comfort
ably married by this time. with Il
charming Wifc and babes; and until
the very last moment had enter
talaei a vague innc;l.5 hope that his
wife Or his parents would offer ONE
strenuous opposition 20 his re-serving,
some opposition 10 which he could
ho%norabls how tic head. To their God
speed he had 10 Join his ship.
As now he sat. clutcliing tho "fd-
die tisht. be admitted. mentally, A
certain secre; glalness at his being
sent into sick-bay ashore. While
aboard thu ~fassaia the. cpcc;acie of
%tatterod, CORY, iif.ns things. once
sturdy seamcn, brought saear.i tat of
a shattered cr..iser, In! revived all
his inte:erate ab.iorrencc OF suffering.
Ills moral courage. Loo. mad suffered
defeat from the sudden attack Of his
'nalady-the growth nf an internal
tunor developed by his exposure 10
wet and cold when on minc-fcM duty
in hampton Roads. Surgeons had diff
fered in diagnosis, SO tle admiral.
Inowf 3 his capabilities for handling
men. had despatched him Ger urgent