Morris tribune., 1905-03-18

lSs2 etIsSs ~ "saTy u
Nv E are lKr01gn lie pass, Sir, SAID
Bentley.
II know it." answered Seymour al
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 it, and, sir, you
know nothing will live in such sea.
Look at the Englishman now, sir"
The captain turned at last. The
frigate was 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 tie
channel. The wind had risen until it
blew a heavy gale; no boat, no human
being, could live in such a 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. A 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"
ooh, Bentley" he said with a 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-
hitting. the ship was headed for Phila-
delphia.
AS Seymour turned to go below he
came face to face with abbot The
two men stood gazing at each other in
silence
1--WE still have an account to settle.
Mr.. Talbot" he said sterniy.
"My God" said Talbot hesitatingly.
wasn't it awful? How small, Sey
mour, are our Quarrels in the face Of
thatv' pointing out into the darkness.
"Such tremendous catastrophe as
that isl"
Seymour looked at him curiously. The
man had not yet fathomed the depth OF
the catastrophe to him evidently.
''As for the quarrel" he continued in
a manly, generous way. "I-perhaps i
was wrong, Mr.. Seymour. | knoU l
was, but have loved her all my life |
I am sorry | spoke so, and 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 bis own
sorrow Il 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?"
ooh" said Talbot softly, lifting his
hand to his throat And l loved her,
too, and she is yours Forgive me, Sey
mour; you won her honorably. | was
too 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, mani" cried
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 persisted long since"
eyes, 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 I'M
dermined the nervous strength of the
young soldier. He looked at Seymour,
half daZed
''It can't be-" he murmured. ''Why
lid you do it? How could you?" The
world turned black before him. He
reeled as if from blow and would
nave fallen if Seymour had not caught
him. Philip strained his gaze out over
he dark water.
ooh, my father, my fathery' he cried.
Mr.. Seymour, is there no hope-no
nance"
''None whatever. my boy; they are
,One"
''Oh. Katharine, Katharine! Why
lid you do 1t, SEYMOUR said Talbot
gain.
Seymour turned away in silence. He
Ould not reply now that 1t was done
le had no reason. l.sE
The dim light from the pinnacle Ian
ern fell on the face of Bentley. Tears
we're standing in the old mans eyes
e he looked at them. and he said slow !,
7 as il in response to Talbot's ques-
lon: !
For love Of country. gentlemen" =
And this. again, is war upon the seal
CHAPTER XIX. .
YYYv = <xa- 4