The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-09-07

-SJ "SAC AC0A cuOuSu u COUNT tue
gun ports-it was indeed heavy frig-
ate-thirty-s!1; just the rating Of the
Radnor. Talbot had made ready his
heldplece, and in a moment the heavy
boom of the gun echoed over the wa
tiers. The shot fell little short, but
was in good line. Much encouraged,
the men FASTENED to load the piece
again, While the Mellish crept along,
all too slowly for the eager anxiety Of
ner crew, toward the mouth of the
channel, of which most of them, how
ever, knew nothing The frigate, part
~ because in order to bring a gun to
bear on the chase it would have to huff
up into the wind and thus lose valuable
Instance, and also because the rapidity
with which the Mellish was being over
hauled rendered it unnecessary, had
hitherto refrained from using it's bat
terles. The chances Of escape under
the present conditions were about even
had it not been for the complication
introduced by the presence of Kath-
arlne and her father upon the frigate.
Seymour was in a painful and fright
ful state of indecision. What should
he do? The dilemma forced upon him
was one of those which Katharine had
foreseen. and of which they had talked
together He, apparently, must decide
between his love and his country. If
be held on when he reached the mouth
OF the channel and passed it by, the
capture of the ship was absolutely in
ev1table. If he went through the chan
mel and enticed the English ship after
him, the death Of his sweetheart was
likewise apparently inevitable.
Chasing with the determination
shown by the English captain, who
had his topgallant sails still set, and
with the little warning he would have
OF the existence of the shoal, owing to
the rapid closing of the day, the frig-
ate would have to attempt the channel
and in that way for that ship lay de-
struction.
Save Katharine, lose the ship. Save
the ship, lose Katharine. Love or
duty-which should it be? The man
was attacked in the two most power
full sources Of human action. He saw
on one side Katharine tossed about by
the merciless waves, white faced with
terror, and stretching out her hands to
him in piteous appeal from that angry
sea in the horror Of darkness and
death. And every voice which spoke
to the human heart was eloquent Of
her. And then on the other side there
stood those grim and frozen ranks,
those gaunt, hungry, naked men.
They, too, stretched out hands to him.
Give US arms, give us raiment," they
seemed to say. you had the oppor-
tunity and you threw it away for love.
What's love-to liberty?'
And. every incentive which awakens
the soul of honor in men appealed to
him then. Behind him stood the des-
TIMES OF great people, the fate of
great cause. On him they trusted. upon
his honor they had depended, and be-
tore him stood woman. He saw her
again as he had seen her before on
the top of the hill on that memorable
night in Virginia. What had she said !?
IF stood in the pathway of liberty
for one single instant should despise
the man who would not sweep me
aside without a moments hesitation"
30 Katharine, Katharine!v' he groan-
ed in spirit. pressing his hands upon
his face in agony, while every break
ing wave flung the words duty and
honor into his face and every throb
of his beating heart whispered '1ove-
love-"