Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-02
XIX.
Mrs. Randolph in Command.

| pu Ill SOAAA1AA0N'
Jerome went ashore with the messages,
| mine a peppery and peremptory one to
| Rand l hoped itwould blister him into
activity.
While we awaited Jerome's return we
| held another consultation in the cabin,
| Capt. Qunby sitting with us.
This reminds me- he said. "of the time
| 1 was captain of the yacht Lothair. in the
Mediterranean, and an Algerian pirate who
was mayor of the town, or something tried
| to hold up for hundred pounds, claim
| Ing it was customs duties. He swore by
| the beard of the prophet that if we didn't
| pay it he would have us all in jail before
| morning. We pitched the beggar into the
| sea. and while his crew fishing him
| out we sailed away
| Mrs. Randolph was porting over a chart
| on the table.
I'VE will keep far enough out to make
| sure miss the tug if that man has been
| foolish enough to go for one" she said.
| And then we will steer for Yarmouth,
| Nova Scotia. Here it is. The answers to
| our kilograms can be forwarded to that
point.
| She looked up from the chart.
That will put outside the jurisdic
ton of the United States. captain. which is
what we want just now. We will sail as
soon as Jerome returns"
That some new rumors were afioat con-
| corning US was shown by the appearance
| Of small fleet of rowboats in the wake Of
| Jerome's, as he pulled off to the Idler. In
| one of them a reporter, who wanted
| to come aboard and interview us. We re-
| fused. But for his benefit Benson picked
up a conversation with a boat that bobbed
| its light like drunken FREELY under our
| bows.
Whats the news from Jepson?" he
asked.
Are you going to fight him?" was the
answer.
Sure thing"' said Benson. Did you
| think we wouldn't? II you're harboring
that idea under your hat just take look at
| our brass cannon up here. She's loaded
Jepson doing?" :
Some say he's gone to Portsmouth to get
| tug. But they're goin' to send another
boat out from shore pretty soon"
''Oh, they are?' said Benson airily. Just
| stand by then and see US blow that boat
out of the water"
But at this juncture our anchor began
| to come in.
| Say. you amt goin to sail now?" arose
| from the boat in a wall Of disappointment.
! We're off for Portsmouth. to meet Jep
| son. Benson declared. I'VE intend to sink
| that tug, and then come back here and
fight any boat that is sent against
| Well sink that tug as soon as we meet it,
| Apparently Benson had irrevocably cast
| his lot In with mine. in spite of his anxiety
| over matters at Cambridge. My heart went
out to him in a great wave of thankful
| ness.
| We were not moiested as we steamed out
of the harbor. The boats drew away and
| gave US ample room. The channel to the
| sea is like the neck of a bottle, and the
| night was dark: but we passed out slowly
| and without accident And soon the lights
| of the town faded into the mist that was
| thickening over the water.
Fair Harvard is the chief thing that
| worries me- Benson confessed, walking
| the deck with me- III have to fabricate
20 h1o b. I,o, 30
| laughed without merriment. Say, I'll
| claim that you held me aboard there in
| New York when the Idler sailed and re-
| fused to land me afterward."
You might add something about the ire
sistible power Of pair Of brown eyes," l
suggested.
| But when I considered what he was do
| ing for me, l added:
Jack don't think I fail to appreciate
| your kindness. You've made a tremendous
sacrifice for me, and l know - and shall
| not soon forget it,
l had slept very little the night before.
| This night 1 slept less. we fed north
ward over the tumblng We saw
| nothing of that tug from Portsmouth, and
| hardly a light after we left the lights of
| York Harbor behind us in the mist Mrs.
| Randolph had directed the captain to run
well out to sea before laying his course.
| and so we were out of sight of the light
houses, even if the mist had not hidden
| them.
This mist made gray-gold halos round our
| lamps, and transformed Capt. Quinby into
a moving ghost as he walked the deck.
| I'D advise you to go below, Mr.. Ran
| doph,' he said, when it was long past mid
night Its a nasty night"
Il will, captain" l answered. las soon as
| l have smoked cigar with you
He gave me his to serve a light. The
misty fog blew in our faces with salty
| sting and made his oilskins shine l drew
| my heavy coat closer about my shoulders.
Along about this time of year you can
rao ha foo tc ,,,ftt
| knife he said. Il hope we don't go
| laundering into any of those Gloucester
J fishermen. When they're. loaded they race
| along here from the Grsixl Banks for Bos-
| ton as II they were after the Americas
| cup
| II want to thank you, captain" 1 said.
| for standing by me SO manfully there in
| the harbor."
He laughed, shaking the water from his
| sou Wester.
Mr. Randolph" he said, with an earnest
ness l could not mistake. 'he would be
poor captain who wouldn't stand by the
| owner in a case like that"
l saw that his faith in me as Julian
Randolph had not been shaken.
l continued to walk the deck even after
| had smoked out that cigar, my thoughts
| on Mrs. Randolph. 1t vexed me that had
| brought this trouble and annoyance to her
| She was of spirit so true and fine that
! she ought, knew. to be kept from things
! like this. She was continually an uplift-
| ing and refining influence; like the pure air
| of a mountain top, sttmulatin healing, re-
| freshing. buoyng. In spite of all, l had
! been another. and, 1 hoped, better man
| since had known her.
| My mind went back to the time when
| she had called to me from her carriage, and
| it followed her through all the events since
| that memorable meeting Something new
had come into my life then 1t could be
| felt but not defined. 1t had transformed
me- What had since done 1 had done. for
| her; Ny situation was anomalous. Yet /
persAladed myself that at bottom it was
not base. Nothing could be base and
breathe the air where she lived.
Yielding to these thoughts, 1 unused and
dreamed dreams. I felt that was battling
| for her even now as we fed across the
misty seas l was but retreating, that !
might be able to deliver stronger blow In
her behalf when the time came for it. My
! desire was sincere to protect her and shield
her.
1 pictured her as asleep in her state
room. perhaps dreaming of me; or If
awake. thinking of me. as 1 was of her
Strange that 1t was SO, she still believed
me to be her husband. Julian Randolph!
To change that belief syld let her see me
as I was. not her husband, but her de-
voted lover. and at the same time not to
shatter the love she felt for me, was now
my delicate task That was of more i'm
portance than even the overthrow of Court