Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-09-21

ful picture OF puzzled distress imagi-
nable. The port was open and showed
her rosy a. the morn when she looked
up at him. She jack boots were In a
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 up at
Brandon with a half hearted smile and
then threw her arms about his neck
and sobbed like the child she was
do you regret coming. Lady Mary"
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 'LadyT 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 Jack
boots and handed her the rain 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.
nrnY
hope went out OF him. 1t seemed that
every change of dress only added to
her bewitching beauty by showing II
In new phase.
ut will never do. There is no dis.
guising you. What is it that despite
everything shows so Enthusiastically
feminine? What shall we do? | have
1t. You shall remain here under the
pretense of illness until we are we'll at
sea, and then | will tell the captain all.
1t is too bad, and yet l would not have
you one whit less a woman for all the
world. A man loves a woman who Is
so thoroughly womanly that nothing
can hide it,
Mary was pleased at his fattery, but
disappointed at the failure in herself.
She had thought that surely these gar
ments would make man of her in
which the keenest eye could not detect
q flaw.
They were discussing the matter
when knock came at the door, with
the cry, "All hands on deck for inspec.
tiOn." 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?
as possible. | will refund his money.
We cannot make a hospital out of the
ship. If his lordship is too ill 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.
1t was as much as he could do to keen
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 a unique
figure she presented climbing up the
steps at Brandon's heels, jack boots
and all. So unique was 1t 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.
II hope your lordship is feeling bet
ter" and then, surveying her from
head to foot, with broad grin on his
features. 81 declare, you look the pic
ture Of health. IL ever saw 1t. How
old are your
Mary quickly responded. Fourteen
years"
Fourteen" returned Bradhurst
swell. don't think you will shed
much blood. You look more like a
deuced handsome girl than any man