Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-08-13

Coventry" said O'Neill gravoly. put
yourself in my place. Could you do it?
All, you shake your head, you see!
Neither could /, not even to purchase
heaven" There was Il long pause be-
tween them.
"O'Neill,' said the Engliahman at
last. would that l could take your
place"
"But you cannot, Major Coventry"
honor me in the thought, but If YOU
could | should refuse to allow it. You
are the better man. All my life I have
been a gay. reckless. pieasur seeking
soldier of fortune, with never a seri-
Gus purpose until now, and now it ia
too late! You are the worthy one. and
YOU must live to watch over and to care
for her whom we both love. Perhaps
-surely-in days to come she will for
get; time. absence. you know-she will
reward your d~evotion-she mnst-yOu
will be happy His voice broke, and
he turned away his face and looked
out Of the open port. Coventry shook
his head.
"You know hor not. sir. She is not
for me. nor would I take her. loving
you. Ny love is too deep for that. Nor
woull aho come. She will never forget
YOU O'Ncills heart leaped at this as
surance.
The ship's bell on the deck above
them struck four times. 1t was g
O'Clock. There was Il little silence
within the screen.
THE hour approaches" said O'Neill
softly at last. Il would he alone for a
few moments hcfore-you underestimate
"Yes." said the other. rising and
pressing his hand. "IInve you nothing
to say. no message to send to"-hc
asked magnanimously.
"Nothing-nothing T is best so. You
will come for mo at the time?'
yes, and | will stand by you TO the
end. like a soldier"
You do mo great honor" replied the
other thankfully. Coventry looked at
him n moment. shook his head and
turned away.
In the prayers of the young Irish
man the face of the girl he loved would
obtrude itself. 1t seemed but a mo-
ment before he heard the tramp of
armed mon coming along the deck.
They stopped before the screen. 1t
was opened. and Coventry. pale as
death, presented himself mt tine open
ing. The screen WAS promptly folded
back, there were marines fully armed
before il. the chaplain, too. in the
white robes of his office.
Il am ready. gcntlcm"n,' said O'Neill
calmly. "Alay | not 20 to my death
unbound:" he asked.
At a nod from Coventry the master
Mt 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 vas
drawn mp aft on the quarter deck.
Most of H." SCamcn OF the crew We're
arranged in orderly ranks in the star
board ganCway. Forward n grating
had been rugged OH the bulwarkS under
the port fore yardarm. \ new rope led
from the grating up through tn" block
in the yardarm. came inboard to an
other block under the top and thence
through a block fixed TO the deck,
Some sixty or seventy men chosen Ivy
lot from the ships company had hold
of The rope which was led aft along tho
port ganGvay. In front Of the marines
stood Captain Pearson and his officers
in full uniform. The prisoner was halt
ed before him,
Are you aware. sir" said the cap
tain @ravoly, that the hour for the
carrying out of the sentence of the
court upproaches?"
Yes, sir" answered O'Neill cour-
tcously.
Have You anything to say before
that timeT'
Il have TO thank you all for your
kindness To me; nothing else, sir"
"Allow me. sir" said the captain. 40
assure YOU of the great personal dis
taste and regret | feel at being cOn-
PEELED to take this action"
Your feelings do you honor, sir" re-
piled O'Noill gravely, but it is a mat
ter of duty. Fray proceed"
captain prarSun.' said Coventry in
great agitation, car nothing he done
TO delay this execution a few hours!
There are considerations. sir. in my
possession which, feel sure. would in
cline his majesty. could lie he commu-
nicated with. To extend c%leincncy TO
this gentleman circumstances which
Are these circu Atances within the
knowledge Of Lord W~estbrooko. Major
Coventry" answered the captain. sur
rriScd at the unusual nature of the in
%tcrruption.
''Thcy are, sir"
"lIavc YOU mentioned them to him
Have You called his attention specific
ely to them. | meant'
Yes, sir. I have" answered the sol
lirr reluctantly.
and they have evidently not in0u
anCod him. YOu SEQ. Therefore | fail
to sec how l can permit them to weigh
with me-"
"Rut q delay. sir, OF a day, Of ar
hour even. until | can communicate
with the admiral again, For code
sake, sir, do not hang this gentleman
like
Major Coventry. You are a soldier
and Should not make" such an appeal
| have my orders. You have shown me
no cause to disregard them. | cannot
take it upon myself to do so. | dare
not"
But an hour. sir, until r.