Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-01-02

He-he doubted it," she whispered
hesitatingly. HE handed the paper
! to Edward and asked him if tiff it
was all right
"And Coventry"
'He took it and looked at it, looked
at mel had forgotten him, l must
confess"-she went on brokenly-''and
then he handed it back to Captain
PEARSON and-and said it was correct
the signature. | mean"
HE knew, think you?'' asked her
lover, with deadly calmness.
"Yes, he knew" she faltered.
"And the sentry-our unheeded es-
cape2"
Edward took his place. might as
well tell you all now," continued the
girl desperately.
| "Ah!" he said coldly and sternly.
"And do you know, Lady Elizabeth,
| what the penalty is for such actions
as his?".
"No," she replied in alarm. 81 never
thought. They will not harm him. He
is the son Of the admiral. What is itY'
'They will shoot him or hang him
like a dog to the very yardarm pre-
pared for mev' he answered with stern
emphasis.
"No, no! 1t is not possiblev' she
! cried, appalled, at the naked fact.
"Aye, but it isl he replied, land it is
through your actions and my blind
acquiescence therein that this honor
able gentleman is done to death. This
puts another face on the whole thing.
I You have made me a craven. l am
dishonored, his life is sacrificed for
mer'
II did not mean to do it, 1 did not
know" she walled, stricken to the
heart by his bitter reproach
"Aye, but you should have known.
But when women NEEDLE in affairs of
state the consequences oft exceed their
narrow views. Pray God there may
yet be time to rectify the frightful hap
pening," said O'Neill bitterly, putting
the helm hard over as he spoke. The
boat swept around. the sail jibed and
they headed for the northeast
"What is it that you would do?" cried
Elizabeth in alarm, laying her hand on
the tiller.
"Follow the Serapis," he answered
shortly.
''For what?"
ITO give myself up if possible, and
thus insure his freedom"
II knew-I knew it would be So" she
whispered. Il loved him." she muir
INJURED. turning away. Il have sacri-
feed everything for him and he repudi-
ates, reproaches me. Oh, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me?' she walled in
unconscious imitation of a greater Suf-
ferer. She drew away from him and
knest down jim the boat and buried her
face in her hands, leaning upon the
weather gunwale. He looked at her
moment, and before the pathetic
abandonment of her grief his anger
melted. She was woman With her.
love was all, -r. v, -: ..,-,~,-'->-'@t
elizabeth" he said tenderly, "the
bitterness of having caused that good.
mans death, his apparent dishonor.
overwhelmed me. l lovesyou, as you
know, more than life itself. You are
a woman. You see things differently.
There is nothing above love in a
woman's heart. Come back to me.
Your place is here, whatever happens.
love you the more for your great
sacrifice, but now we must undo it
If we can. Heaven has not smiled
upon our meeting. Perhaps. if we go
hand in hand before God together, we
may find mercy, perhaps joy"
She made no answer, but nestled
against him forgiven, contented. For
time they sailed the sea in silence.
The clouds had broken and left a clear
sky, whence the moon had flooded the
ocean with her silvery light. But the
breeze came ftfully and gradually
died away where they were now under
the lee of the land. 1t was such a
night as lovers dream Of. They loved
and they were together, side by side,
alone, in the soft autumnal night,
adrift on q summer sea. There was
that in the past which kept them
silent, and yet in their very proximity,
in the hands that touched and clasped
each other. the head that nestled on
his shoulder, the arm that encircled
her waist. the lips that met, the eyes
that spoke-there was a sweetness
which neither had ever known be-
fore. The gentle wind whispered OF
love. The curling. Tipping waves ca t
ressed the keel with sounds like kisses,
and to it all their hearts kept time.
1t was a respite-a lull between two
phases Of the conflict. There was love |
and there was peace in the little boat,
and war and tumult were far off on
the horizon.
By and by Elizabeth slipped down !
from the thwart and crouched down |
in the boat at his feet. O'Neill held
the tiller with one hand, the other |
lightly strokede her golden head. She
was perfectly content. Everything was
out of her heart but he and the pres
ent. She was very still. He could see
the soft curve Of her cheek resting
upon her sweet white hand in the
s~Lk 80 In v<A in