The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-05-25


rank and the command OF feet His
career had been more than distinguish.
ed, and he had won his way TO the
front ns much by his fine personal
qualities as by his inyariable good
Judgment and high professional at.
talntncnts Ilc had earned the char.
ncter Of n man who could be trusted
In altuntI tons involving tact. temper and
diplomatic skill and no captain In tho
navy wns more confidently ordered 10
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. aud when raj
lied on the subject was wont to say.
with a laugh. that the sea was his only
mistress. No one had ever venturcd TO
question him much further, though bis
friends were often plqucd. especially
the women, ns TO nm implied romance
I'm the captains earlier lfe. II was
7 known be supported two old maid sis.
ters. the Misses Hadow, the impover.
fshed daughters OF his irst commander.
but In view of his considerable privntS
fortune this drain on his resources
seemed scarcely the rcnson OF his re.
nunclation
lie was In command OF the iniexiblc
battleship one Of the Australian
squadron. when sho developed some do
fects In her hydraulic turning gear and
wag ordered home 10 England by Ad
miral Lori George Howard for over
haul. The captains heart beat n little
faster as h. realized his course would
take him south OF the Societies. lie
spread out the chart on his cabin table
aud sighed "a he laid his finger on 10.
rabora. He shut his eyes and saw the
basaltic cltln. the white and foaming
reefs. the gre n. still forests OF that i'm.
forgotten Isl nd, He was n boy once
more with fi'wcrs In his hair. wander.
Ing beneath tho palms with Tehea
How often had he thought OF her dur
ing all these years. the years that had
left him gray and old. the years that
had carried him unscathed through no
many dangers In every quarter Of the
world. For him she was still in her
adorable glrlhood untouched by time
a radiant princess In her radiant isle,
waiting by the shore for his return. II
shocked him TO remember she was not
far short Of slxty~a fat old woman,
perhaps, married TO some strapping
chief and more than likely with grown
children OF her own How incredible II
seemed!
Dawn was breaking as he slowed
down TO lecward of the island ana
watched the shadows melt away. III
was Sunday, day OF heavenly calm,
fresh yet wIndlcss with sea 80
smooth that the barrier reefs for once
were silent, aud one could hear from
across the hushcd and shining water
the coo Of pigeons In the forest Under
bare steerage way. with the lendsman
dronIng In the forechaIns. the ship
huggcd the shore and steamed at n |
snails pace round the island.
with every mile the bays and wood |
ed promontores grew Increasingly IN.
millnr as Sir John was borne toward |
Lihua. the scene OF his boylsh folly. |
He looked ashore In wonder surprised |
at the vlvldncss and exactness Of his
recollection,
II was like n home coming TO SEQ all |
these familiar scenes spreading out be.
4. fore him. lie looked at his hands, his
'\thln. veIned. wrlnkled hands, and II |
came over him. with sort OF SURPRISE
that he was nm old man.
THAT was forty years ago." he said
TO himself, Forty years ago"
AS Llhua opened out and he per
celved with an nexpresslble pang the
matched houses set deep In the shade
of palms and breadfrult trees he felt
himself In the throes OF a strange and
painful lndecson. He paced up and
down the bridge, he lit a 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 nIne!" came the hoarse
murmur OF the leadsman.
1t lay with him TO stop the ship or
not-a word and she would come shlv.
ering to standstlll; a word and the
boatswan would pipe away his gig
and the crew would be running to
their places. His heart ached with the
desire to land, but something-he knew
not what-wlthheld the order on his
lips.
Did he not owe 1t to her to keep the
promise of forty years. promise CIV
en- In the flush of youth and hope and
sealed with scaldlng tears?
His resolution was taken. He or.
dered Commander Stillwell to stop the
ship and lower boat.
u am going to treat myself to a run
ashore" he said by way of explanation.
The vessel slowly stopped The COW
ers were whipped Off the gig She was
holsted out and lowered, the crew drop
ping down the ladder into their places
at the peep-peep-peep of the whistle.