Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-01-08

80 my tate. l hope to God
may arrive In time to take my part in
1t! The Richard is fearfully short Of
officers at best; Landais, who has the
Alliance, Is crazy and coward: Cotti
neau In the Pallas Is an unknown
quantity. and the rest have fed. Jones
has only Richard Dale and q lot Of
midshipmen with him upon whom he
can absolutely depend, and there are
over two hundred prisoners in the
hold. He needs me. If this breeze
holds on think we may intercept
the Richard before the battle Is Joined.
Pray. dearest, as never before, for the
success Of our arms! It means life,
and you, for me-"
ut means life for me as WELL" she
answered, nesting against him and
nerving herself up to the inevitable
confession. How he would take it she
did not know, or rather she would not
permit herself to say. She was con-
scious only Of an impelling necessity
to tell him the whole story, though she
had deliberately waited until she be-
heved he could do nothing.
"Ah, yes, it's sweet Of you to say 50.
but not the same. Me they will hang.
but not you," he answered fondly.
Ives. they WILL" she replied. IL
must confess 1t to you before we go
further. 1t weighs upon me. I also
am guilty"
Guilty! You! OF what. pray? OF
loving me too muchT he Queried,
laughing in pure lightness Of heart.
mo, not that" she answered, 'but
that-that order-your reprieve. 1t
was-the admiral did not sign it." she
added desperately.
The secret was out.
"And who did it, thenT he asked.
still unsuspicious Of her meaning.
Il did it myself" she answered,
with averted head.
ut Is not possible!" he exclaimed,
Withdrawing from her a little in his
establishment
""Twas for you-for you did 1t.
Reproach me not-nay, you shall mott"
she cried, on fire to defend herself and
her love, now the truth was told.
Captain Jones said six hours delay
and you were saved. There was no
other way. begged, implored. en-
treated the admiral. He left me-went
away. 1 saw the man fixing that
block-the rope-I ran to him to make
one more appeal. He was not there
On his desk was an order giving me
permission to see you. which he had
intended to give me and had refused
at the last moment and left unsigned.
His watch was there and his seal.
added the rest and signed and sealed
1t myself. Do not shrink from mew
she pleaded, with changed mood again.
"Your anger-your disapproval-kills
me. Is there no excuse that you can
find for me" Her appeal was so ten
der, her affection SO apparent, she was
her own justification.
mo man would have done it." he
said irresolutely. wavering.
But every woman would" she re-
piled promptly, pressing her advan.
tage. "Why are you SO silent? Your
precious honor Is safe, and as for
mine
"'Twas nObly DONE" he answered
at last, In complete surrender. There
Is not woman In the world but would
honor you for it. Not a man who
would not love you. You have done
that which I could not, and for me.
My heart before. and now my lie is
yours. my hearts dearest"
Il knew you would not like it." she
answered simply, ''but there was no
other way. l confess I was terrified
when Edward"-
Good heavens-' cried O'Neill. HE
saw the orderT'
YES" said the girl, covering be-
fore him again. In truth, this phase
Of the transaction had actually e.
capped her memory.
Captain Pearson accepted It with.
out questioning himT he Queried. She
would have given all the world to lie
to him, but even in the darkness she
could not be further untrue, In his
very presence, though now like fash
she saw 1t all.
"He-he doubted It," she whispered
hesitatingly. HE handed the paper
to Edward and asked him II it-if It
was all right"
And Coventry"
"He took it and looked at It, looked
at mel had forgotten him, I must
confess"-she went on brokenly-"and
then he handed 1t back to Captain
Pearson and-and said it was correct
the signature, mean"
HE knew. think yOuY asked nor
lover. with deadly calmness.
Eyes. he knew" she faltered.
"And the sentry-our unheeded es.
cape"
Edward took his place-I might az
well tell you all now" continued the
girl desperately.
"Ah" he said coldly and sternly.
"And do you know, Lady Elizabeth,