Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-07-03

vowed down, yet that did not hi. !,
here. After all she was oplv ! !,
timid and fearful, following At y
don's heels, frightened lest sbe .ss
get out Of arms reach of him su
those rough men and longing wiz '
her heart to take his hand for rno.s
well as physical support. II INNS, !.
been both laughable and pathetic !, \
extreme. That miserable sword !.
sisted In tripping her, and tbs T. r
boots. 70 much too large, eyIncsi !. |
alarming tendency to slip of with =
cry step. How insane we all Fe,. !
to have foreseen this from tho y
beginning. 1t must have been a may
figure she presented climbing nm n
steps at Brandon's heels, lack h.s
and all. So unique was It thu n
sailors working in the ships III
stopped their tasks to stare in vo,.s
ment and the gentlemen on the ~
made no effort to hide their ann
ment Old Bradhurst stepped ., 1
her.
II hope your lordship Is feelIp, \
ter" and then, surveying her n.
head to foot, with a broad grin n, I
features, II declare, you look the !
ture Of health, II I ever saw Il r..
old are you"
Mary quickly responded, "Four.
years."
Fourteen" returned Bradbr,
"Well, I don't think you will n,
much blood. You look more lts
deuced handsome girl than apy n,
I ever saw" At this the men !,
laughed and were very impertiDe,,,
the free and easy manner Of such !,
try, most Of whom were protests,
Adventures with every finer 81,
dulled and debased by years Of vis
These fellows, half Of them In
now gathered about Mary to inSr
her personally, each on bis own I
count. Their looks and conduct ~
very disconcerting, but they did ID,
ing insulting until one fellow gave !
q slap on the back, accompanying,
by an indecent remark. Brandon N
to pay no attention to them, bu, d
was too much, so be lifted bis am y
Knocked the fellow off the Door !,
the waist. The man was bacs IN
moment, and swords were soon t-,r
and clicking away at a great rate. d
contest was brief, however, as The d
low was no sort of match for BraRr
who, with his old trick. quickly trsI
ed his adversary's sword out Of
grasp and with a flash Of bis m
blade flung it into the sea. The OH
men were now talking together d
little distance in whispers. and |,
one drunken brute sh0Hs
1T is no man. 1t is a woman. Lsl
zee more of herr
Before Brandon could interfere d
fellow had unbuckled Marys do1..
1T the throat and with jerk d
torn it of, carrying away the sls1
and exposing Mary's shoulder. alna
throwing her to the deck.
He waved his trophy on high, h
his triumph was short lived, for aln1
instantly it fell to the deck, and v
t the offending hand severed at 4
wrist by Brandon's sword. Thsa
Jour friends OF the wounded d
'ushed upon Brandon, whereupon Yrj
and began to weep, Wild
:ourse told the whole story.
A great laugh went up, and instil
general fight began. Several Of !
entlemen, seeing Brandon ATTACKED
UGH odds, took up his defense y
vithin twenty seconds all were on
ide or the other, every mothers so
hem fighting away like mad.
You see how quickly and compsx
ne woman without the slightest ssa
er part, except a modest effort %
t alone, had set the whole conTs
= the ears, cutting and slashins ~
each other like very devils. ThA
lust generate mischief In some
nown manner and throw it Of. at
In throws Off its heat Howerer ~
an exception to that rule-if III
lie.
The officers soon put stop
vely little fight and took Bria1
I'd Mary. who was weeping as q
ght minded woman would, down q
lie cabin for consultation.
With great oath BradhurS
1T is plain enough that :
i've brought a girl on board uAs
Use colors, and you may as well Hi
ady TO put her ashore. You see VI
e has already done-a hand l@
lie man and wounds for twenty o'as
and she was on deck less than
fnutes. Heart of God! AT that
e would have the ship at the O'a
Davy Jones' locker before We ~
II half down the channel"
1t was not my fault" soboed w
r eyes flashing fire. q did naa
wanted was to be left alone
ose brutes of men-you shall pay
Is; remember what l say. pA
pect Captain Brandon to stana
d not defend me when that via
Is tearing my garments OFT
Captain Brandon, did you
ked Bradhurst, with bis bat Oh
lntly.
ITO BE CONTINUED