The Glenwood post., 1909-03-27

ly virtue of prudence was not among
great uncle. Now understand: Your
position in the cockpit is that of this
hat. In fact. you will take the hats
place"-which l found to be true, and
l was called to account every day for
some part of the conduct OF Admiral
Hawksbaw, although l did not see him
twice in the week.
Mr.. Buxton. our first lieutenant, was
fine officer. and celebrated for lick
ing midshipmen into shape; and II l
learned my duty quickly he, rather
than /, deserves the credit.
My experience of other ships con-
vinces me that the juniors in the Ajax
were clever fellows; but Giles Yer
them. He had, however. another vir-
tue in a high degree-a daring and
invincible courage. That, and his
smartness as an officer, made Mr..
Buxton his friend. and caused many
of his peccadilloes to be overlooked.
The fact that at 10 Giles Vernon
was still only midshipman made mo
think that he was without fortune u
influence: but was soon enlightened
on the subject, though not by him. He
was the distant cousin and heir of Sir
Thomas Vernon of Vernon court, near
York, and of Grosvenor square, Lon
don. This man was generally spoken
of as the wicked Sir Thomas. and
mortal hatred subsisted between him
and his heir Giles had been caught
trying to induce the money sharks to
take his postobits: but as Sir Thomas
was not yet 50 years of age, and 1t was
quite possible that he should marry.
the only result was to fan the flame OF
animosity between him and his heir,
without Giles getting shilling. The
next heir to Giles was another cousin,
remote from both him and Sir Thomas,
one Capt Philip Overton of the
Guards, who was as much disliked by
Sir Thomas as was Giles. Giles, who
had been at sea since his twelfth
year, knew little or nothing of Capt
Overton, although he swore many
times in month that he meant to
marry the first woman who would
take him, for the purpose of cutting
off Overton's hopes; but it occurred
to me, young as | was. that Giles was
not the man to give up his liberty to
the first woman who was willing to
accept of it.
We were fitting Cor the Mediter-
ranean, and the ship lay in the inner
harbor at Portsmouth. waiting her
turn to 20 in dry dock to be coppered.
There was plenty for the seniors to
do, but not much for the midshipmen
at that particular time; and we had
more runs on shore than usual. The
rest of us were satisfied with Ports
mouth, but Giles was always raving of
London and the London playhouses.
Knowing how long | had lived in
London, he said to me one day:
Were you ever at Drury Late thea
ter, my lad?"
| said no, | had never been to the
playhouse; and | blushed as | said it.
not desiring my messmates to know
that l had been brought up by Betty
Green, corporal's widow.
Then, child" he cried. whacki7ig
me on the back you have yet to live.
Have you not seen Mistress Trenchard
the, divine Sylvia-as Roxana, as
Lady Percy. as Violetta? Oh, what
galaxy of parts! oh. the divine
creature!"
He threw himself across the ness
table at that, for we were in the cock
pit at the time. | laughed, boylike at
his raptures, and he groaned loudly.
Such face and figure. Such n
foot and ankle! Such melting eye!
Such a luscious voice,"
own that this outburst did more
TO make me realize that Giles, after
all, was but 10 than anything that
had gone before; for knew that older
men did not so rave.
And he cried, wildly, Il can not
see her before we sail. BY heaven,
will see her! 'Tis "A miles between
me and her angel face. 1t can be done
in hours and 20 minutes. l can get
"a hours leave-but not word Of
this, you haymaking son of a farmer" :"
CTO BE CONTINUED)