The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-26

I pass over the events of the next six months, but not because they were uninteresting. Oh, no. One could not sail from Plymouth, England, to the south seas, touching at Madeira, the Canaries, Rio and Buenos Aires and rounding the mighty and fearsome Cape Horn, without seeing many things of interest and participating in scenes as dangerous as they were ex- citing. But l am not writing book of travels.
 We were drawing near to the island we sought, according to the calcula- tons of good Captain Matthews and myself, when something happened.
 had brought it on myself realized, but that made it no more bearable. Indeed, was mad, mad all through; outraged in dignity, humihated in self respect, and were it not foolish to speak so. of a man of my years and sturdiness I should say was broken in heart.
 My mistress had been so kind to me that had dweIt in fools paradise. awoke to realize that she had not forgotten the difference between our stations. I had forgotten it in these long months at sea. By heavens, the sight of her was enough to make a man forget anything if he loved her
 
 as I!
 There! The secret is out but make no doubt you guessed it long before. But she had not. There was no mirror in the cabin, but I could well guess that the sight of me was not sufficient ly prepossessing to make any woman forget. Yet she had been so kind. I was her only. confidant or companion in the ship. I had forgotten. I had T. . fondIy hoped that the one thing in me that was truly great-my passion for her-wou1d land me safely by her side. I did not sec how she could faf1 to comprehend 1t, though did try to dis guise it.
 We'll, that love of mine. it had~not brought her nearer. On the contrary, it had put me under lock and key. And here was, shut up like a crinnt- nal in my own cabin in her ship, or mine, for that matter. Come to think of it. that moment I believe love had completely disappeared. I could recall and can to this day, for that matter the fierce burning rush of color to her cheek where 1 had kissed it; the fire of rage and surprise mingled which sparkled in her eyes. The Duke of Arcester had marked for life for less ! hardly recOllected the fierce blow of her hand upon my face. That was nothing. But was undone. 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 .eher heels. The first night watch had not yet been called, and the men, idIed about the decks waiting the boatswain's shrill whistle, had noted it all. I can see their sneer- ing, laughing faces even now. As it was, I drew myself up and waited while she sent for good old Captain Matthews and, vouchsafng no explanations, imperiously bade 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. I sta1ked below as haughtily9as you please. It was her ship, as she had said and as she cer- ! tainly believed, and had 1t not been, who could deny her anything? Not I, 1 forsooth. could steal kiss, but not ba1k her will. And here was the mate of the Rose of Devon, and but for my own renunciation I had been her captain, engaged in this wild goose chase, this foolish search for l treasure, for so it seemed to me then, locked up below like any mutinous | dog at the behest of woman that could have broken between my thumb 1 and finger. And after all had done and sacrificed, for her too.
 Come to think of it, I had always loved her, ever since those days when I, the gardeners boy, had been her faithful and devoted slave. And through the long years when had 1 been far voyag1ng in distant seas had kept her memory fresh and sweet and 1 true Although I had been in many rough places had seen life from the seamy side, and the common lot of a sailor of my day had been mine.
 There are3no better seamen in mar row seas or broad than I. had work ed my way up through the forecastle to the ouarterdeck. I had a natural gift for figures. I could take a sight and work out position as well as any book taught navigator, and had been a great reader too. My private cabin l was ever crowded with books. sMuch of my earnings were spent that way. ! had wit enough to choose good books, | too, and persev verance enough to study them well. | knew more than she-oh, much more! = about everything but the us- ages of good society, and I had at 1 least learned something of good man. ners in her company since her fathers death. My shipmates used to laugh at me for being a. boos- delver-a worm, they were wont to call it. Well, they didn't laugh very long. There was nothing physical for which I need stand aside for any man. I was over six feet high and built in proportion. i I could, unatded and alone, hold the wheel of the best ship in the hercest storm.