Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-10
Forty Years
Between
By LLOYD osnoURNH
Copyright bv the S S. Mcclure Co

AL
captain, knight commander OF the bath,
and within year of receiving Tag
rank and the command of fleet. His
career had been more than distinguish
ed. and he had won his way to the
front as much by his fine personal
qualities as by his invariable good
Judgment and high professional at
tainments He had earned the char
acter of man who could be trusted
in situations 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 so often
arise in some distant place to menace
the peace of the world.
He had never married, and when raj
lied OH the subject was wont to say.
with laugh, that the sea was his only
mistress. No one had ever yentured to
question him much further. though his
friends were often piqued, especially
the women, as to an implied romance
in the captains earlier life. 1t was
known he supported two old maid SIS
tiers, the Misses HadoN. the impover-
ished daughters Of his first commander.
but in view of his considerable private
fortune this drain on his resources
seemed scarcely the reason OF bis re-
nunclation.
lie was in command Of the lnfiexible
battleshin one Of the Australian
squadron, when she developed some de
fects in her hydraulic turning gear and
was ordered home to England by Ad-
miral Lord George Howard for over
haul. The captains heart beat little
faster as he allied 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 foaning
reefs. the green, still forests of that I'M
forgotten island. He was q boy once
more. with flowers in his hair, wander
ing beneath the palms with Tehea,
How often had he thought of ter dur
ing all these years, the years that had
left him gray and old, the years that
had carried him unscathed through so
many dangers in ,Sery 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
tar 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. Ii
was Sunday. day Of heavenly calm,
fresh yet MINDLESS, with sea SO
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 Storage way, with the leadsmaD
droning in the forechains, the ship
Rugged the shore and steamed at d
snail's pace round the island.
With every mile the bays and wood,
ed promontories grew increasingly ia.
millar as Sir John was borne toward
Lihua, the scene of his boyish folly.
He looked ashore In wonder, surprised
at the yiyidness and exactness of his
recollection.
1t was like home coming to see'al.
these familiar scenes spreading out be
fore him. He looked at his hands, his
thin, veined, wrinkled hands, and 1t
came over him. with 8. sort OF surprise
that he was an old min.
"That was forty years ago. he sale
to himself. "Forty years agow
As Lihua opened out and be per-
ceived with an inexpressible pang the
matched houses set deep in the shade
Of palms and breadfl.uit trees he felt
himself in the throes of strange and
painful indecision. lie paced up and
down the bridge, he lit cigar and
threw it away again, he twice ap-
preached Commander Stillwell as
though to give an order. and then, still
in doubt. turned .shamefacedly on his
heel.
"By the deep. ninew came the hoarse
murmur Of the leads1nan.
1t lay with him to stop the ship OF
not-a word and she would come shiy-
ering to standstill; word and the
boatswain would pipe away his gia