Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-15

steady broadsde from the Torbay
made deadly havoc on the magnifi-
cent French liner Yet her offensive
powers seemed undmnished, and she
fought on. The Torbay, too. soon be-
gan to show evidences of the terrific
pounding she was receiving. Both
ships were filled with dead and wound
cd men and were much cut I'D allow
and aloft.
Grafton fought to win his wife, to
serve his country, TO avenge the shat
tering of the little Boxer five years
before, and with no bitterness in his
heart. De Kersaint fought not only
Tor the honor Of France. but with "a
jealous rage in his heart to kill the
man who stood between him and his
hopes Neither would be denied
They drew nearer to each other. De
Kersaint resolved to resort to a conp
de main. Grafton also at last made
up his mind that he would have to
carry the opposing ship by boarding,
which was quite in consonanco with
his desire. He had even gone so far
as TO call his boarders away when
a sudden squal struck the two ships.
For the moment the wind blew a hur-
ricane
The two vessels heeled suddenly I'M
der the terrific impact, going over and
over under the irresistible pressure
until they lay almost upon their
beam-ends. De Kersaint put the helm
Of lie Thesee hard down at once. But
she did not respond The water
rushed in her open ports. She began
TO settle Ike a stone. righting slowly
rs she went down. The Torbay was
scarcely in better condition On the
return roll to windward the water be-
gan to rush in her main-deck ports
also
Close the main-deck ports" shout
cd Grafton, as he saw the French shin
going so fast, his first impulse being
10 save his own ship. Lively, for
Gods sake," The peril of the ship
was reflected in his voice.
The men below sprang to the port
shutters and in spite of the fact that
the water was already sweeping in.
by superhuman efforts they got them
closed, but not until the ship had
been half filed She lay like sodden
log in the waves, six feet OF water in
the hold. The gun fire had ceased in
stantly.
Meantime, what of lie Thesee?
Grafton stood in the darkcning even
ing on the rail of his own ship and
stared at his rival She was sinking
in silence. No human power could
keep her afoat. Before his eyes the
water was streaming through the open
ports and gushing in through her
riven sides. 1t had come so suddenly
that there was scarcely time for those
below to reach the spar-deck. which
was yet swarming with men Where
was Anne? o God, was she below
still?-a abandoned lost,
\ little group still stood on the
quarter nearest him. There was de
Kersant, the bold captain by his
side young man, his head bound
about with blood spattered cloth, his
arm hanging useless by his side. It
was de Wire. There was the mar
as ever There was old Jean Remand
staggering aft, and in his arms-God
of Heaven, woman. The faithful
old Breton placed her on the rail and
held her there erect. The stop of
GraftOn's heart told him who. Her
black hair was blown away from her
face by the force OF the wind. She
stood, without cloak. in a white
dress. like a bride of death. She rec
ogniled him, stretched out her hands
toward him in love and appeal. 1t
was . : wife. There was nothing he
cou ~ He was helpless. He could
only look and look-hc could not pray
even.
The French ship was lower now
Her decks were awash Anne waved
her hand to him in farewell. He cried
out to her over the dark water. She
could not hear. His wife. His wife.
o God his Wife,
The old marquis laid his hand ten
derly upon her shoulder. striving "a
calm her De Wire had fallen for
ward and lay motionlesS on the rail
Perhaps, happily, he was dead already
De Kersaint stood undaunted. with
folded arms, looking at lie These
sinking before and with him. The
habit of years had re-established it
self He was a sailor first of all now
He would 90 down with his ship with
colors flying
Old Jean Remand suddenly stepped
upon the rail He took Anne in his
arms. What was be about to do:
The marquis nodded his head, kissed
his granddaughter's hand, and that
faithful Breton leaped with her far
out into the black waters. He would
.VjE%26{Esc,