The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-06-27

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aft. Here are my papers. As you
win see, / am directed 70 assume
charge. the captain not being aboard,
and take the ship around 10 Wey-
mouth, where he win join us
And the court-martial?' asked
Parkman.
"The king hath pardoned me"
And your wife?"
God only knows." said Darlington.
desperately. "All | know Is that she
is well and under the kings especial
protection We are bound for the East
Indies for three years. Three years
away from herl God. what a fool I've
been. Strathgate was right" Car
rington turned away, putting strong
eonstraint upon himself in order ia
compose his features. "Well," he said
at last, are you all ready
Ready to trip" returned Parkman.
call all hands. III read them my
orders and then Wen get up anchor"
In a moment the shil piping of the
boatswain and his mates along the
deck was followed by the trampling of
many feet The crew, a splendid set
of fellows, assembled in the gangways
Darlington read his orders to them.
directed the commanding officers pen.
nant to be hoisted and babe Parkman,
who for the present acted as first lieu
tenant. to get under way.
As the Bellona drew abreast the
! liner a bRrly figure suddenly appeared
3 on the edge Of the high poop Of the
Britannia. Recognizing the admiral,
I Darlington, who had stood aft on the
q quarterback of his frigate, barred his
head and saluted. The admiral re-
, turned the compliment with his own
! chapeau. then he turned and waved 1t
forward. Instantly the rails Of the
? Britannia swarmed with men, and
from their threats at another signal
from the admiral came such a burst of
. cheering as warmed the very cookies
of the melancholy C"arrington's heart
9 And with this cheerful sea compliment
and these words of good will the
frigate shot ahead and presently clap
ping on more canvas bore swiftly
Z down the river,
Darlington stared long and desper-
ately back toward the shores, fast
dropping behind him. on which some
: where his wife's foot rested. What
- was she doing? Where was she Nv
ing? What was she thinking of him?
- He knew nothing save that in some
manner she was under the especial
protection of the king; that was assur.
= ance enough that she was well cared
- for, for no man questioned the hon.
= esty, sincerity or kindness of George
- the Third. 1t would be three years
~ ~ before he would see her again. The
- thought was maddening to him. HI
did not even know where to write t
80 her. He Was not at all sure that thu
" king would cause his letter to be de
llvered to her. He came to a desper
. ate resolution. He would write he
Y another letter and send it from Wey
mouth by special messenger to tn
A. king and beg him to see that 1t wa
ST delivered.
1t was not until late in the after
q, noon, when the Bellona was fairly II
'p' the channel beating down toward he
destination, that Darlington went be
lg low. AS there was no captain yet Oh
IT. the ship the quarters of that function
airy by right belonged to him. H,
n entered them without ceremony. TIL,
cabin on the new ship looked brigh
and CHEEKY. Its equipments we're rude
nv Of course, as were those of all ship.
n. in those days, but they were bette
than those in ordinary vessels, tn
Bellona being the newest and most ad
yanced product Of th~eshipyards.
To a sailor Of that day it was both
A. spacious and delightful sea home. T
Darlington It was only a prison. H
did not attempt to enter the state
,rooms on either side, but sat down a
IN the table, buried his face in his hand
and groaned aloud. It was the frs
moment Of privacy that he had Ell
~ joyed, It was the first opportunity al
forded him to give way to his fee
ings, and he INDUCED himself at viii
|. Separated from his wife. and throug
~ his own folly The future that ha
opened 50 fairly before him utterl
wrecked Three long weary years a
the least, and possibly four, to inteI
vene before he could see her agar
He almost envied strathgate-fghtin
desperately for life at Blythedale Ha'
Il" and likely to be an invalid for the res
!, Of his da%ys-because he would be /
England while Darlington was ia
away.
He had gone through SO much. H
had drunk so deeply the bitter cup {
repentance that he gave way con
q. pletely to his emotions.
,se This will never do" he said at las
~ my punishment seems greater than
can bear, and yet ] must bear it;
Il, must show myself a man for her"
A little hand fell softly upon hi
49, shoulder with touch as light as this
OF thistledown. Where that han
touched him was the center of his b.
ing. My lord turned his head, locke
at It slowly, turned his body. foilowe