Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-09-15

a plank or her that hangs together.
She's gone, and we so free. That's all.
your honor. and may God have mercy
on their souls, say l." added the sol
IN voice of the boatswain in the 81
lence.
"A frightfrl catastrophe, indeed, and
a terrible one. | do not wonder at
your sadness But. young gentlemen.
do not take ii so to heart. 1t is the
fate of war, and wa is always fright
full
did you find out the name of the
ship. boatswain?' asked General
Greene.
"Yes, your honor-the Radnor. thirty
six"
"Could no one have been saved?"
querled General Knox.
mo one, sir. No boat could have
lived in that sea a moment. We could
not put back, could Go no good if we
had, and so we came on 10 Philadel-
phia, and that's ALL"
mo, general" cried Seymour; .'it's
not all. Wa will tell the general the
whole story. Talbot. You remember,
sir. the raid on the Wilton place and
the capture OF the colonel and his
daughter" The general nodded.
"Well. sir. before the Ranger sailed l
received a note from Miss Wilton say
ing they We're TO be sent TO England
in the Radnor.'
"You received the note? | thought
Shn u-n1 Mr. TIA lhnf'S hafpnthn1 Mr.
Seymour
II thought so, too, general, but 1t
seems that we are both wrong. Lieu
tenant Seymour captured her during
his visit there with Colonel Wilton"
said Talbot. with a faint smile.
81 am very sorry for you. Talbot,
and you are a fortunate man, Mr.. Sey-
mour. But 90 on. We are all friends
here. Did you say they were TO go on
the Radnor?"
Eyes, sir. The pursuing frigate was
recognized by one of my men. who had
as the Radnor, the ship on which they
were. l heard the nan say so just as
we neared the reef. To go through
the pass was to lead the English ship
to destruction and cause the death of
those we-of the colonel. sir" con-
tinued Seymour in some confusion.
'To refrain from attempting the pass
was to lose the ship and all it meant
for our cause. / could not decide. 1
say frankly | could not condemn those
I-our friends to death, and | could
not lose the ship either. This old man
knew 1t all. He has known me from
n child. He spoke out boldly and laid
my duty before me and pleaded with
me-
"He did o need 1t, your honor. No.
sir: he would have done it anyway"
interrupted Bentley.
The general took the hand Of the en-
b~arrassed old boatswain and shook 1t
warmly; then, fixing his glowing eyes
upon the two young men. said:
Continue, Mr.. Seymour"
81 know not what l might have
done. but the old seaman's appeal to
my honor decided me. / went aft with
horror in my heart, but resolved to do
my duty. On my way there | took
out Of my pocket the little note re-
ceived from Miss Wilton. A gust of
wind blew it to the hand OF Mr.. Tai
bot. Ii was only a line. AS he picked
it up he read ii involuntarily. We had
some words. / drew on him, sir. 1t
was my fault"
"No, no, general; the fault was
mine interrupted Talbot. 81 said 1t
was my letter, refused to give 1t up,
insulted him. He would have arrested
me. BENTLEY and Philip interfered. 1
tainted him, advanced to strike him.
He had to draw or be d~ishonored."
"Nay, general, but the fault was
mine. l was the captain of the ship.
The safety of the ship depended on
me-"
"Go on. 20 on. Mr.. Seymour" said
the general. This dispute does honor
to you both"
THE rest happened as has been told
you. One of the splinters struck Mr..
Talbot's sword and swept ii into the
sea. The note went with II. and then
the frigate was wrecked and Colonel
Wilton and his daughter, with all the
rest, lost"
II was very still In the room.
"My poor friend, my poor friend
murmured the general, land that
charming girl. Without a moments
warning. Young gentlemen taking
each of the young men by the hand, II
honor you. You have deserved well OF
our country for the fran&ness with
which one Of you admits his fault. for
1t was a fault, and takes the blame
upon himself, and for the heroic reso-
luton by which the other sacrifices his
love for his duty. Laurens, make out a
captains commission for Mr.. Talbot.
Hamilton, / wish you would write out
a general order declaring the capture
Of the transport and her lading and
the sinking of the Juno and the wreck
Of the English frigate. 1t viii hearten
the men for our enterprise tonight.
AS for you. Mr.. Seymour. | shall use
what little influence | may be able to
exert 70 ret Won q shiD NJ once. Mean
4 time. rs Wg c~1n.erulafa attacking the