Morris tribune., 1905-03-18

bentley.
II know it." answered Seymour at
last Il suppose there is no use beat
ing back around the shoal, Bentley?"
he said tentatively.
"No, use: no use. and, besides in this
wind we could not do 1t, and. sir, you
know nothing will live in such sea-
Look at the Englishman now, sir.
The captain turned at last. The
frigate was a hopeless wreck. All
three of her masts had gone by the
board; she had run full on the rocky
ledge of the shoal at the mouth of the
channel The wind had risen until it
blew heavy gale; no boat, no human
being, could live in such sea. The
waters rushed over her at every sweep,
and she was fast breaking up before
them. Night had fallen, and darkness
at last enshrouded her as she faded out
| of view. \ drop of snow fell lightly
upon the cold cheek Of the young sail
or, and the men gazed into the night
in silence. appalled, by the awful catas-
trophe. Bentley, understanding it all.
laid his hand lightly on Seymour's arm,
saying softly:
Better clear the wreck and get the
mizzen topsail and the fore and main
| sail In, sir and reef the fore and main
! topsails The spars are buckling fear
| fully. She can't stand much more"
"Oh, Bentley" he said with sob.
| and then. mastering himself, he gave
| the necessary orders TO clear away the
| wreck and take in the other sails and
| close reef the topsaiis in order to put
the ship in proper trim for the rising
storm; after which, the wind now per
mitting. the ship was headed for Phila-.
delphia.
AS Seymour turned to go below he
came face to face with Talbot. The
two men stood gazing at each other in
silence.
1--WE still have an account to settle.
Mr.. Talbot" he said sternly.
"My God" said Talbot hesitatingly.
wasn't it awful? How small, Sey-
mour, are our quarrels in the face Of
thatw pointing out into the darkness.
"Such tremendous catastrophe as
! that is!''
Seymour looked at him curiously. The
man had not yet fdthomed the depth or
the catastrophe to him evidently.
"As for the quarrel" he continued in
q manly, generous way. .1-perhaps
was wrong, Mr.. Seymour. l knox |
was, but have loved her all my life
I am sorry spoke so, and l beg your
pardon But-won't you tell me about
the note now?"
A great pity for the young man filed
Seymour's heart in spite of his own
! sorrow. II loved her too" he said
! quietly. THE note was sent to me
! from Gwynn's island, where they were
confined. l had offered myself to her
the night of the raid-just before it, in
! fact-and she accepted me. The note
was mine. Where is it?"
! "Oh!" said Talbot softly, lifting his
J hand to. his throat. And loved her,
too, and she is yours. Forgive me, Sey-
mour; you won her honorably. was
| toe contident-a fool. The note is gone
into the sea. We cannot quarrel about
! it now"
| "There can be no quarrel between us
+ now, Talbot. She is mine no more than
| yours She-she"- He paused, chok.
! ing. She
"Oh, what is it? Speak, man" cried
| Talbot I'm sudden fear which he could
not explain. Philip Wilton had drawn
near and was listening eagerly.
''That ship there-the Radnor, you
] KNOWS lost. and all on board of her
must have perished long since"
"Yes, yes. it's awful! But what of
that-what of Katharine?' :.
Don't you remember the note? Colo
mel Wilton and she were on the Rad
nor"
The strain of the last hour had un-
dermined the nervous strength Of the
| young soldier. He looked at Seymour,
half dazed. "
| TT can't be-" he murmured. "Why
did you do it? How could your The
! world turned black before him. He
| reeled as If from blow and would
/ have fallen If Seymour had not caught
him. Philip strained his gaze out over
| the dark water.
"Oh, my father, my fatherv' he cried
''Mr, Seymour. is there no hope-no
i chapcew
"None whatever. my boy; they are
gone" -
"Oh. Katharine. Katharine! Why
did you do It, Seymour?"' said Talbot
again.
Seymour turned away in silence. He
J could not reply; now that It was done
he had no reason. rs
The dim light from the pinnacle Ian
tern fell on the face Of Bentley. Tears
were standing in the, old mans eyes
as he looked at them. and he said slow
/ b as IL In response to Talbot's ques-
tt0n:
For love OF COUNTRY. gentiemen.''l
And this. again. is war upon the sea!
CHAPTER XIX.
I"lHE day before Christmas the
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