The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-07


 the young naval officer impulsively. | grasping the smugglers hand. "I can never chase you after this. If you in tend to remain on this coast I will seek | another station"
 "The Witch will not cruise in the l Americas again." said the smuggler. "This has been her last run to this coast. I have gathered all the wealth that de- sire and 1 feel that there is no stain on 1t, for I have simply resisted tyrannicai and unjust laws"
 Before he could say another word a fierce light glared. From the forward hatch leaped flame as high as the lower spars Instantly the crew responded to the fiery challenge, but the great ship was doomed. Before dawn her men were landing on the Long Island coast in the smugglers boats. while the hrigsnttne carried Captain Ludlow. the alderman, his niece and seadrift toward the Sandy | Hook.
 When they reached harbor and went ashore at Lust in Rust Seadrift had dis | appeared In his place was a girl whose | long ringlets, no longer confined by a | sailors cap, framed face that showed | it's real beauty as soon as 1t was set off l by the natural garments of her sex. | Alderman van Beverout," said the Skinner of the Seas, leading her to the l burgher, Tt is now many years since you | began your trade with my adopted father and predecessor after he had been driven | by tyranny from the marine of the | Stuarts. You married his daughter, but | dared not acknowledge her, and she died on his craft in the eastern seas. That you know. But what you do not know is that she left child. Here are papers to prove it."
 He gave the alderman a packet which Van Beverout read earnestly. Where is she where is my daughterY' exclaimed ha forgetting the embarrassment that had overwhelmed him. q will acknowledge her openly and thus atone for my sin to- word the mother She shall have dowery and all that heart can demand. l am an old man, Master Skinner, and l thank thee from my heart"
 Here she is" said the Skinner of the Seas. sadly. Here she is. Eudora,' add ed he, turning to the girl. whom the ai- derman had taken into his arms, Tor give me for having deceived thee so long. It was in response to the dying command of your father, my benefactor, that l called thee sister till now"
 The girl looked at him and sobbed.
 "Captain Ludlow, said the Skinner. 1 "I have duty to perform toward you understand that you have been accepted by Miss Aida. In declining to ask of her an explanation of her sojourn on my ves- sel you have shown a noble confidence. have to tell you that carried her off be- cause wished to tell her of Eudora and beg her sympathy and her influence with inc alderman to give her the position that belongs to her"
 The girl tore herself from the alder mans arms and ran to him. T will not ,aaya vour, she cried. ''We will go to- getherv'
 "Think of what you say" gasped the 7 st,mmer "You have a father-friends- a home"
 with you, and with you alone" said she. throwing her arms around his neck
 q am an outlaw" said he choking, "one condemned and hunted, with a ship for dwelling, the ocean for nomei
 your home is my home; your world IS my worldl" answered she.
 A cry of exultation burst from the sail ors throat. You are mine" said he. "Before your love for me and mine for vou the claim of such father is for gotten
 He lifted her from the ground, BeioIe the others could stir he bore her rom the room and to the landing. In a mo- ment his boat was afoat. In another mo- ment the brigantine's sails broke out ilke while clouds. The party ashore saw waving cap from her deck, and then the beautiful ship glided through the inlet and bowed to the rollers of the Atlantic ocean.
 Never again did the Water-Witch re- turn to the Americas. Never again did the skinner of the Seas touch foot on his native shore. The inquiries of the alder man and Ludlow were fruitless, except for a story brought from the Mediter- ranean that A brigantine like the famous smuggler had been seen lying before a neaceful villa on a serene and lovely is- land where there dwelt rich American sailor and his wife.
 Next Sundays one-page classic will pc rrhe Adventures of Roderick Random, 1.. u,obioS Snollett