The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-09-11

I NV mistress had been so kind to MI
that; had dwelt in fools paradise
I awoke to realize that she had no
lforgotten the difference between on
stations. l had forgotten 1t in thes
long months at sea. BY heavens. tn
sight Of her was enough to make
man forget anything If he loved he
las L.
There! The secret is out, but max
mo doubt you guessed it long before
But she had not. There was no miro
lin the cabin. but l could well CUES
THAT the sight of me was not Sufficient
lily prepossessing to make any woman
lforget Yet she had been so kind.
was her only eonf1dant or companio
in the ship. l had forgotten. ha'
endeavored to leap the gap. ] ha'
fondly hoped that the one thing In m
that was truly great-my passion 10
her-would land me safely by her side
/ did not see how she could fail to
comprehend it, though did try to dis
suise it.
Well, that love of mine, it had not
brought her nearer. On the contrary
1t had put me under lock and key.
And here l was, shut up like crimi-
nal in my own cabin in her ship, or
mine, for that matter. Come to think
Of it, that moment l believe love had
completely disappeared. | could recall
land can to this day, for that matter
the fierce, burning rush Of color to her
cheek where l had kissed 1t; the fire
of rage and surprise mingled which
sparkled in her eyes. The Duke of
Arcester l had marked for life for less
than this, l recalled in shame.
hardly recollected the fierce blow OF
her hand upon my face That was
nothing. But l was und0ne. All the
patient devotion Of years, all the re-
straint Of the long voyage, had come
to naught
There was plenty Of bright starlight
On deck She had stepped out from
the dark shadow Of the spencer, and
had followed on her heels. The first
night watch had not yet been called
and the men. idled about the decks
waiting the boatswain's shrill whistle,
had noted it all. l can see their sneer'
ing, laughing faces even now.
AS it was. drew myself up and
waited while she sent for good Old
Captain Matthews and, vouchsafng no
explanations, imperiously babe him
stow me below as prisoner in my
cabin. He didn't relish the job, but
went about it forthwith. Indeed. |
did not wait for further orders after
her look and glance. l stalked belo"
rs haughtily as you please 1t was her
ship, as she had said and as she GER
tainly believed. and had it not been'
who could deny her anything? Not l.
forsooth. I could steal kiss. but moi
balk her will. And here l was the
mate of the Rose of Devon, and but
for nv own remuneration | had been
her captain. engaged in this Wild
goose chase. this foolish search to1
treasure. for so it seemed to me then
locked up below like any mutlnous
dog at the behest of a woman that
could have broken between my thun'
and finger. And after all l had done
and sacrificed for her too.
Come to think of it, had always
loved her, ever since those days whe1
/, the gardeners boy, had been bel
faithful and devoted slave. AnC
through the long years when l mac
been far voyaging in distant seas haC
kept her memory fresh and sweet anc
true. Although l had been in many
rough places | had seen life from the
seamy side, and the common lot or
sailor of my day had been mine.
There are no better seamen In mar
row seas or broad than |. l had work
ed my way up through the forecastle
to the quarterback. had natura
gift for figures. could take sight ant
work out a position as we'll as any
book taught navigator, and had beer
a great reader too. My private cabir
was ever crowded with books. Mucf
of my earnings were spent that way
I had wit enough to choose good books
too, and perseverance enough to study
them we'll.
l knew more than she-oh, mucf
more! - about everything but the US
ages Of good society, and l had a
least learned something Of good man
ners in her company since her fathers
death. My shipmates used to laugh a
me for being a book delyer-a worm
they were wont to call it. Well, the!
didn't laugh very long. There wa:
nothing physical for which nee(
stand aside for any man. | was owe
six feet high and built in proportion
1 could, unaided and alone. hold tn
.l,..1 20 +bo hast shin m tho fiprc0S