Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-12-18
CHAPTER XIV.
ALMOST THE END.

would God that could see you In
any place but thisv' answered the
young Englishman.
"Ah. yes" replied O'Neill, his eyes
Frightening. Then we might fight 1t
and
Not So" mournfully replied Gov.
entry. 1.-The battle has been fought
and you have won again. Whether
you live or die, Elizabeth Howard b
not for me-"
my poor friend, may the day upon
which I crossed your paths be accurD.
ed! have brought to each Of you
nothing but sorrow" replied the young
sailor sadly. touched at the others
surrender.
1T was fate, O'NeiIl Do not re-
proach yourself with that All day
long I have been striving to think Of
some means to delay this accused exc
cution until could communicate with
the king. An appeal to his clemency
might-but mol see no way, nothing.
unless-you know He hesitated
and hung his head, blushing painfully.
mo more Of that II you love me,
Coventry" said O'Neili gravely. Put
yourself in my place. Could you do 1T
All, you shake your head, You sect
Neither could I, not even to purchase
heaven" There was q long pause BE-
tween them.
"O'Neill," said the Englishman at
last, would that I could take your
placer
But you cannot, Major Coventry"
replied the other gratefully. "You
honor me in the thought, but II you
could should refuse to allow II. You
are the better man. All my life have
been gay, reckless, pleasure seeking
soldier of fortune, with never a 'seri.
Gus purpose until now, and now It Is
too late! You are the worthy one, and
you must live to watch over and to caro-
for her whom we both love. Perhaps
-surely-in days to come she will for
get; time, absence, you know-she will
reward your deVotion-she must-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 her not, sir. She is not
for me, nor would I take her, loving
you. Ny love Is too deep for that Nor
would she come. She will never forget
you" ONeills heart leaped at this a.
surance.
The ships bell on the deck above
them struck four times. It was Q
o'clock! There was 4 little silence
within the screen.
THE hour approaches" said ONeill
softly at last II would BE- alone for q
few moments before-you understandr
"Yes," said the other, rising and
pressing his hand. Have you nothing
to say, no message to send to"-he
asked magnanimously.
"Nothing-nothing: I Il best 20. You
will come for me at the timer
Eyes, and will stand by you to the
end, like a soldier"
you do me great honor" replied the
other thankfully. Coventry looked at
him a moment, shook his head and
turned away.
In the prayers Of the young Irish
man the face of the girl he lovedwould
obtrude itself. 1t seemed but q mo-
ment before he heard the tramp Of
armed men coming along the deck.
They stopped before the screen. It
was opened, and Coventry, pale a.
death, presented himself at the open
ing. The screen was promptly folded
back, there were marines fully armed
before 1t, the chaplain, too, In the
white robes Of his Office.
II am ready, gentlemen" said O'Neill
calmly. May I not 60 to my death
unboundY' 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 the star
board gangway. Forward a grating
had been rugged on the bulwarks under
the port fore yardarm. A new rope led
from the grating up through the 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 by
lot from the ships company had hold
Of the rope which was led aft along the
port gangway. 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 gravely. that the hour for the
carrying out of the sentence Of the
court approachesr'
"Yes. SIR" answered O'Neill. cour-
teously.
Have you anything to say before
that timer
Il have to thank sou all for your
Kindness to me; nothing else. sir"