Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-06-11

that Is why you have avoided me dur
ing the past few days. But there.
Now, indeed, am not acting quite
fairly. 1t Is unfair to ask you to con-
fcss when want you to wait until we
win clear of our present difficulties be-
fore you decide whether or not you can
find 1t to your liking to make a poor
sailor man happy"
Joey was highly accommo dating
dog under certain conditions. He had
curled up 30 complacently that Elsie
found she could hold him quite easily
with one arm. SO the other went out
in the darkness until It rested timidly
on her lovers dsengag cd shoulder.
ut is easy TO confess that which
Is already known" she murmured.
whether we are fated to live one day
or fifty years, 1t will be all the same to
me, dear"
She lifted her face again to his and
would have returned the kisses he
gave her were 1t not that they lost
their one sided character this time.
There was a chance that Joey might
have been partly suffocated, though to
all appearance he meant to die will
Ing martyr, had not Suarez leaned
over the upper rail and asked in his
grating accent If he heard the senior
captains voice below.
Elsie. all tremulous and rosy and
profoundly thankful for the darkness,
withdrew herself from Courtcnay's
embrace and answered the Argentine.
"Ah," said Suarez. 81 am glad you
are there, too, senorita Will you tell
him that am very hungry and that I
have not been relieved at the proper
time? have been waiting half an
hour or more"
There" cried the captain. squeezing
Elsie's arm; that comes of using so
many unnecessary explanations.
ought to have adopted the recognized
Jack tar method aud just grabbed you
round the waist without ceremony. l
wonder where Boyle Is He and Chris.
tobal take the first watch, and it must
be two bells or later. I will hunt
them up. Goodby sweetheart; meet
you at supper in ten minutes"
1t was strange and peculiar fact
that Boyle had cornered Christobnl in
the salon and had insisted on telling
him various remarkable anecdotes con-
corning the one legged skipper Of the
Flower Of the Ocean brig 1t was still
more odd that when Christobal yielded
to unwonted and melancholy silence
after learning from Suarez that the
senior captain had been talking to the
senorita for a very long time on the
promenade deck Boyle should feel in
clined to sing. And then, with chill
ing inspiration. Chrlstobal knew why
the chief officer had caused him to
miss The hour for relieving the watch.
Boyle had seen those two together and
had planned to leave them unds-
turbed.
The Spaniard was a dlgnifed man.
He had Inherited from his English
mother saving sense OF humor. IT
was intolerable that the pleasant rela-
tons existing between the few sur
vivors on board the Kansas should be
disturbed by reason of any failure Oh
his part to acQuiesce In Esie's right
to bestow her affections where she
listed. He wondered jf the girl had
come on deck after supper. Her habit
was to retire early. as she rose soon
after the sun. He had seen her for a
moment only IN passing out Of the sa-
Ion. and there was a suspicious bright
ness in her eyes FOR which solictude
on the dogs behalf would hardly nc
count Why not put his fortunes to
the test that night and have done with
it2 Yes; that was the right course.
So 1t was on the cards that Elsie
would be the amazed recipient Of two
proposals in one evening, which Is a
better average than most women are
favored with in lifetime. Chrstobal
had entered the chart house with the
fixed intent of warning Boyle that he
was going below for moment to ask
Miss Maxwell TO come on deck when a
hurried step on the bridge companion
caused the imminent words TO he with
held.
1t was COurtenay. who had run up
from the salon to procure those fate
full letters which had so nearly parted
Elsie and himself. lie had laughingly
refused to tel! her their history. That
would spoil their effect, he said. She
must take them to her stateroom and
read them at her leisure. Then she
would sec their true inwarlness. and
his feelings would he spared, as he
could not deny that the majority OF
them had been written by ladies'.
On his way he looked into the wheel
house. There was no light. in the in
terror. Boyle, wrapped in heavy
coat. was seated Ia the most sheltered
corner.
"All quietf" asked the captain In
his brisk way.
"Nothin' dom, SIR" answered Boyle
II expect you are both feeling pretty
tired. Tollemache and | propose to re
lieve you Mt six bells"
"But whyi' demanded Christobal
ut IS you who have passed an exciting
day. am ready to mount guard unit
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