Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-12-24
CHAPTER XIV.
ALMOST THE END

II am glad to see YOU. my friend, "
said O'Neill, smiling at him in a me
lDncholy way.
Would God that could see you in
any place but this" answered the
yrune EnVlishman.
"Ah. yes" replied O'Nclll his eyes
Frightening. "Then We might fight II
cut. man to man, sword to sword.
,und"--
Not 81" mournruIly replied Gov.
entry. The battle has been fought,
ana you have won again Whether
you live or die. Elizabeth Howard Is
not for me"
/ My poor friend, may the day upon
which crossed your paths be accurs.
cd! have brought to each Of you
nothing but sorrow" replied the young
,dilor sadly, touched at the others
slrrCndcT.
1t was fate. O'NcilI. DO not re-
rrOarh Yourself with that. All day
long | have been striving 10 think Of
some means to delay this arcursed exc.
CutiOn until could communicate with
| the king. An appeal to his ClemenCy
right-but mo- see no wy. nothing.
and hung his head. blushing painfully
/ No more of that IL you love me,
| Coventry" said O'Neill grGvcly. "Put
yourself in my place. Couli you do II?
: III, You shake your head, you see!
I Neither could !. not even to purchase
heaven" There WAS a long pause be-
tween them.
"ONcill," said the Englishman al
last, would that could take your
! place"
But you cannot. Major Coventry.
replied the other gratefully. You
honor me in the thought, but II you
could should refuse to allow It. You
are the better man. All my life have
been a gay. reckless, pleasure seeking
soldier of fortune, with never seri-
OTIS purpose until now. and now II IL
800 late! You are the worthy one, and
you must live to watch over and TO
care for her whom we both love. Per-
haps-surely-in days to come she will
forget; time, absence, you know-she
Will reward your devOtion-she must.
you will b. happy His voice broke,
and he turned away his face and look.
ed out OF the open port. Coventry
shook his head
You know her not, sir. She Is not
for me, nor would | take her loving
you. My love is too deep for that. Nor
would she come. She will never forget
you" O'Neill's heart leaped at this as
surance.
The ships bell on the deck above
them struck -four times It was 6
clock. There was little silence
within the screen.
The hour approaches" said O'Neill
softly Al last. Il would be alone for q
few moments bofore-yOu undcrstand?"
Yes said the other, rising and
pressing his hand. Have you nothing
tC say, no message to send lo"-ne
asked magnanimOusly
"Nothing-nothing; lis best so. You
viii come tor lie at the time"
Yes, and | will stand by you to ths
end, like . soldier"
You do me great honor" replied The
other thankfully "Covcntry looked at
him moment, shook hs head and
turned away.
In the payers Of the young IRISH
man the face Of the girl he loved would
obIrude itself. seemed but no
ment before he heard the tramp of
armed men coming along the dock.
They stopped before the screen. Il
was opened, and Coventry, pale US
death, presented himself AT the open
ing. The screen was promptly folded
back, there were marines fully armed
before it, the chaplain, too, in the
white robes of his office.
Il am ready, gentlemen, said O'Nclll
calmly. May | not go TO my death
unbound?" he asked
At a nod from Coventry the master
AT arms unlocked the letters about his
feet and hands. The prisoner took his
place in the midst of the little squad Of
men and assembled to the spar deck.
The ships company Of marines was
drawn up AFT on the quarter deck.
Most of the seamen Of the crew were
arranged In orderly ranks in he star
Eoard gangway, Forward grating
lad been rugged on the bulwarks under
the port fore yardarm. a new rope led
In the yardarm came inboard to an
pjher block under the top aud thence
through block fixed TO the deck.
some sixty or seventy men chosen N
ot from the ships company had hold
pc the rope which was led AFT along the