The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-23
,-e-o-o-o-o-o-o-D-o-o-e-o-
CHAPTER TX.
nMnIN or y011 "

after Redlaw Issued hoarse and dry iron
the lips OF Robert Vail, and fell upon
the silence of tho vultures cabin witt
a solemnity the moro strange and I'M
pressive because of the surroundings ant
the nature of the man by whose power
he was awed
Redlaw, In whose stern countcnance
and relentless eyes there was curioui
mlngling of satisfaction and contempt
thrust tho weapon back into his sheath.
'Follow mo OH deck lieutenant" nj
commanded. with an odd smile OF mock.
Ing enjoyment; ''and Mr.. Saggetts shall
assign you quarters forward"
first Feelings Of disappointment and dis.
may, started impulslvely to her feet
"One moment Captain Redlnw' she
cried appealngly, approaching him with
outstretched hands. MAY he not have
quarters In tho cabin7 May he not rd.
main with us2'
''Lieut. Vail will quarter In the fore.
castle!'' was the stern rejoinder,
But he is wounded. sirl Have
mercy
ellis wound will heal as we'll with.
out your carel''
But his compartment Those dreadful
men,"
There's not hand aboard my yes.
sci madame, who IS not this mans su.
perior In loyalty and couragel He shall
mess WHARF he belongs!''
But, Captain Redlaw-please heat
me-"
Their interchange OF word had occurred
while the obdurate pirate strobe from
the cabin Mt tho heels OF tho Inundated
English officer: and Lady somers, feari
full OF the future, determined despite the
vanity Of her appeal. followed them
with reiterated pleadings. even up the
companion stairs and to tho quarter
deck.
For tho first time Walton found him.
self alone with Emily in tho vessels
cabin.
His heart beat faster-faster even than
In the heat OF that frightful conflict
OF hours before. Throughout the fore
going scene. tho girls pale face and dis.
tressful eyes had been mute and
agonizing rebuke OF the foul abasement
OF which he, at least. appeared to be
guilty treachery threatening even life
and honor He realized how keenly In.
tense her suffering must be; but know.
ing even this could he dare to trust herr
dare confde the truth? dare give her
that relief and courage, the slightest
betrayal OF which might rouse at once
the pirates suspicion, and bring ruin
and death on the heads OF all7
He hesitated. Weighing the desperate
venture and all that it involved; yet he
had half started up, with his face grown
pale and hard and his gaze fixed on the
companion stairs. till Redlaw and the
others had vanished and he heard the
sound OF their feet on the decks above,
Then he swung round-and his eyes met
those of the girl. She had risen to her
feet and was trembling visibly with her
fair hands pressed above her heart: but
through the despair pictured In her hueless
face could be dscerned a grief In which
fear had no part. and reproach born
of sorrow alone,
''Ee is a coward, heartless merciless,
but could not have believed 1t OF you
No, not Of you'll" she said. family, half
moaning the agonized words.
AS they told him how high she already
had raised him in her maidenly esteem.
SO also they told him how low he had
fallen. 1t needed only this, added to
her manifest Distress to evoke the dis
closure already trembling on his lips
Starting up he partly closed the door.
giving egress to the companionWay run,
and took position where he could hear
tho first step OF any person descending.
Then he turned and faced her and held
out his hand towards her.
"Believe anything Of mel" no cried
softly, "sooner than evil against you and
yoursl Hush! Speak softly! Come
nearer!"
The light that illumlned his eyes and
shone from his changed countenance.
more even than his hurried words came
like a revelation to Emily somers She
saw him now as she had seen him in
tho earlier morning, when by his own
word he would have laid down life itself
to have saved her. With half-suppressed
cry she sprang nearer and then faltered
treathlessly:
"Do you mean-O. o. do you mean
IT mean that what have donc and
am doing Is for your sake! There was
no other way! We are in the power Of
knave who fears not man or God!
Only by deceiving him.. by this repulsive
assumption, by accepting his infamous
offers. could I hope to shield you from
his evil will. But every cruel word that
T have uttered has panied mo more than
you, far more, and has been libe! on
my true Intentions"
.And We shall not be harmed7" she
gasped wildly.
God helping me-nol Only over my
dead body shall harm come to you'll"
"AIy father will repay you! The re-
ward"
"Hush! hush! want no reward for
protecting innocence and virtue from vio-
;'Mr. Walton! o. Mr.. Waltonl'
The light of something more than relief
and hope and Joy had risen in her lifted
lashes. With sudden tears yelling their
pathetic radiance. with deep drawn sob
heaylng her gentle breast. she caught his
hand with both Of hers as she voiced his
name, and obeyng the impulse of graft
tude unspeakable. she bent and kissed
It.
In hours of such peril as theirs. when
virtue feels as If alone In the midst OF
vice 1t is easy for true hearts to come
together and for soul to feel the af1lla-
ton OF soul. With surge Of color mant-
ling his cheeks, with heart startled into
realization of the dawn OF an affec-
ton responsive to his own, Walton yield
ed to his emotion of the moment. and. un-
resisted, drew her faint and trembling
to his arms.
Courage! courage" he said softly
deeply moved, mo harm shall come &c
you! No harm while I live!"
II am sure ofthat! am sure e, OF " =
now!" she answered feelingly. You are
what believed--not what ] feared
Thank God for that, at least whateve.
you can be brave2 You will do what
I bid you?" asked Walton, thrilled
through by what her words conveyed and