The Ordway new era., 1909-03-26

merable good qualities. but the beggar-
! 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 | found to be true, and
was called TO account every day for
some part of the conduct of Admiral
| Hawkshaw, although did not see him
| twice in the week.
Mr.. Buxton, our first lieutenant, was
| a fine officer, and celebrated for lick
ing midshlpmen into shape: and II
| 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
'Thcm. He had, however, another vir-
tue in n 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 me
| think that he was without fortune or
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 Grosyenor square, Lon
| don. This man was generally spoken
| OF as the wicked Sir Thomas. and
I 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 80 years OF age, and II 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 a month that he meant to
marry the first woman who would
take him. for the purpose OF cutting
of Overtons hopes; but 1t 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 for 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 Iaidshipmen
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 I 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 1t.
not desiring my mcssmates to know
that | had been brought up by Betty
Green. corporars widow.
Then. child" he cried. whacking
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 mess
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 a
foot and ankle! Such a melting eye!
Such a luscious voice!"
l 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 I hours and 20 minutes. I can get
"A hours leave-but not word Of
this, you haymaking son of a farmer"
CTo BE CONTINUED)