Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-07-31

ged her not to forget him, out sue. witn
a perception greater than his own,
swept away these despairing protesta.
tions with disdain. The daughter Of
one king. the sister Of another, could
she not meet force by force? These
fierce intruders. with their rough voices
and drawn pistols. who were they to
threaten princess Of the royal blood
and carry away her lover before her
eyes? II they were strong she was
stronger, and what ship cannon, she
asked. however murderous or far rang
ing. could penetrate those mountain re-
cesses whittier she would carry him be-
fore the morning? All. she said. II
was for him to choose between her
and them; between Britain and the
island; between love and the service Of
the white queen beyond the seas.
II have chosen" he said.
Her eyes flashed as she freed herself
from his arms.
II am hateful In my own sight for
having loved y0u," she said.
"Will you not even wish me we'll,
Tehea 2" he asked.
mo" she cried. II hope you will
diew
| He turned away.
"Siati!" she cried after him.
He came back to her. downcast and
silent.
Remember" she said in an agony
Of sweet relenting. that wherever
thou goest, however many the years
that may divide us. however wide the
waters or the land, shall be here
waiting for thee. here In this house Of
our happiness. and II die before thou
comest here thou wilt find my grave"
"Tehea." he said. "as God sees me-
some day shnll return"
| She took his hands and looked up
into his face with such poignant long
Ing and tenderness that Jacks COM
rades. already uncomfortable enough,
were quite overborne by the scene
Tough old Hatch snutfied audibly, and
Brady could hardly speak.
"Come. come. lad" he cried huskily
''you mustn't keep us longer"
Jack unclasped the girls hands and
suffered himself to be led away by his
comrades. A few minutes later they
clambered up the ladder. the boat was
hoisted in and the boatswain's whistle
was rousng the watch on deck.
"Mainsail haul"
BY morning the island had sunk be-
hind them. and, standing on the dizzy
main royal yard. with one arm round
the mast. Jack could make out nothing
but little cloud on the horizon.
At sixty John Garrard was a post
captain, knight commander Of the bath,
and within year Of receiving flag
rank and the command Of feet. His
career had been more than distinguish.
ed, and he had won his way to the
front as much by his fine personal
qualities rs by his invarlable good
Judgment and high professional at
tainments. He had earned the char
acter of man who could be trusted
In situation involving tact. temper and
diplomatic Skill. and no captain In the
navy was more confidently ordered to
those scenes of international tension.
which In spite Of statesmen 80 often
arise In some distant place to menace
the peace OF the world.
He had never married. and when raj
lied on the subject was wont to say,
with laugh. that the sea was his only
mistress. No one had ever ventured to
question him much further. though bis
friends were often piqued. especially
the women. as to IN implied romance
in the captains earlier life. 1t was
known he supported two Old maid Sis
ters. the Misses Hadow. the impover.
ished daughters of his first commander.
but in view of his considerable private
fortune this drain Oh his resources
seemed scarcely the reason of his re-
nunciation.
He was In command Of the lnilexible
battleship, one Of the Australian
squadron. when she developed some de-
fects In her hydraulic turning gear and
was ordered home to England by Adj
miral Lord George Howard for over
haul. The captains heart beat a little
faster as he realized his course would
take him south of the Societies. He
spread out the chart on his cabin table
and sighed as he laid his finger on Bo-
rabora. He shut his eyes and saw the
basaltic cliffs. the white and foaming
reefs. the green, still forests of that un'
forgotten island. He was boy once
more. will, flowers In his hair, wander.
ing beneath the palms with Tehea.
How often had he thought of her dur
iag all these years. the years that had
left him gray and old. the years that
had carried him unscathed through 30
many dangers In every quarter of the
world. For him she was still In her
adorable girlhood. untouched by time,
radiant princess In her radiant Isle,
waiting by the shore for his return. 1t
shocked him to remember she was not
far short Of sixty-a fat old woman,
perhaps, married to some strapping
chief and more than likely with grown
children of her own. How incredible 1t
seemed!
Dawn was breaking as he slowed
down to leeward Of the island and
watched the shadows melt away. 1t
was Sunday. day Of heavenly calm,
fresh yet windless, with u sea 80
smooth that the barrier reefs for once
were silent, and one could hear from
across the hushed and shining water
the COO of pigeons In the forest. Under
bare steerage way, with the leadsman
droning In the forechains, the ship
hugged the shore and steamed at
snails pace round the island.
With every mile the bays and wood
ed promOntories grew increasingly IA
miliar as Sir John was borne toward
Lihua, the scene Of his bOylsh folly.
He looked ashore In wonder, surprised
at the vividness and exactness OF his
recollection.
II was like q home coming to see all
these familiar scenes spreading out be-
fore him. He looked at his hands, his
thin, veined. wrinkled hands, and 1t
came over him. with sort of surprise.
that he was an old man.
"That was forty years ago." he said
to himself. Forty years ago"
AS Lihua opened out and he per-
ceiyed with an lnexpressible pang the