Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-09

snips were iIlied with Gsao and wound.
 ed men and were much cut I'D allow
 and aloft.
 Grafton fought to win his wife. tC
 serve his country. to avenge the shat.
 tering of the little Boxer five years
 before, and with no bitterness in his
 heart. De Kersaint fought not only
 for the honor of France, but with a
 jealous rage in his heart to kill the
 man who stood between him and his
 hopes Neither would be denied
 They drew nearer to each other. De
 kersaint resolved to resort to a coup
 de main. Grafton also at last made
 up his mind that he would have to
 carry the opposing ship by boarding
 which was quite in consonance with
 his desire. He had even gone so far as to call his boarders away, when
 8 sudden squall struck the two ships. For the moment the wind blew hur- ricane.
 The two vessels heeled suddenly un- der the terrific impact, going over and over under the irresistible pressure until they lay almost upon their , heam-ends. De kersaint put the helm of Le Thesee hard down at once But ; she did not respond The water rushed in her open ports. She began to settle like stone. fighting slowly as she went down. The Torbay was ! scarcely in better condition. On the return roll to windward the water be- gan to rush in her main-deck ports also.
 1 Close the main-deck ports!" shout ed Grafton, as he saw the French ship going so fast, his first impulse being i 10 save his own ship Lively, for Gods sake!" The peril of the ship was reflected in his voice.
 The men below sprang to the port ! shutters, and in spite of the fact that 1 the water was already sweeping in. by superhuman efforts they got them closed but not until the ship had been half filed. She lay like sodden log in the waves, six feet of water in the hold. The gun fire had ceased in- stantly.
 Meantime, what of Le Thesee?
 Grafton stood in the darkening even- ing on the rail of his own ship and stared at his rival. She was sinking in silence. No human power could keep her afoat. Before his eyes the water was streaming through the open ports and gushing in through her riven sides. It had come so suddenly that there was scarcely time for those below to reach the spar-deck, which was yet swarming with men, Where was Anne? o God, was she below still?-abandoned! lost,
 A little group still stood on the quarter nearest him. There was de kersaint the bold captain by his side young man, his head bound about with b!ood-spattered cloth, his arm hanging usel1ss by his side. t was de Vitre. There was the mar quls, too, tall, spare. imperturbable as ever. There was old Jean-Renaud staggering aft, and in his arms-God
 
 old Breton placed her on the rail and held her there erect. The stop of Grafton's heart told him who. Her black hair was blown away from her face by the force of the wind. She stood, without cloak, in a white dress, like bride of death. She rec Ogn;zed him, stretched out her hands toward him in love and appeal. It was his wife. There was nothing he could do. He was helpless. He could only look and look-hc could not pray, even
 The French ship was lower now. Her decks were awash. Anne waved her hand to him in farewell He cried ! out to her over the dark water. She could not hear His wife! His wife! 0 God. his wife.
 The old marquis laid his hand ten derly upon her shoulder. striving to calm her. De Vitre had fallen for ward and lay motionless on the rail. ! Perhaps, happily, he was dead already. l De Kersaint stood undaunted. with folded arms. looking at Le Thesee sinking before and with him. The habit of years had re-established it. , self He was a sailor first of all now. He would go down with his ship with colors flying.
 Old Jean-Renaud suddenly stepped upon the rail. He took Anne in his arms. What was he about to do? The marquis nodded his head. kissed his granddaughter hand. and that faithful Breton leaped with her far