The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-10-23

calde was an officer and a gentleman.
There was no war between our Eng
lish king and the Spanish monarch
then, and he treated us courteously.
gave us food and raiment. assigned
spare cabin to my mistress ana
berthed me aft with the officers. He
was bound for Valparaiso, which in
due course, without mishap, we reach
ed. There we took ship for the Portu-
guese possessions on the other shore
of the continent and thence we got
ship from Rio de Janeiro to Lisbon,
and so at last we came to England
and to Plymouth harbor. whence we
had set forth nearly year ago.
I paid the captain Of the Spanish
frigate which had picked us up with
an emerald of great price. which he
was loath to accept. but which we
pressed upon him. We had little diff
ficulty, through his kind offices, in sell
ing another stone or two for ready
money at Valparaiso. so we expert
enced no difficulties which could be
avoided by the expenditure of money
upon the way.
l took my mistress to the house of
the devoted Master Ficklin. who. with
that kindly woman. his sister. greeted
us as if we had risen from the dead.
and. greatly rejoicing in my lady's good
fortune. gave us the warmest OF well
comes. There l had what | expected
would be my last interview with her.
We had been thrown constantly to-
gether during the six months that had
elapsed between our great adventures
upon the Island Of the Stairs and our
arrival in England We had discussed
everything else think. but had said
naught Of my love. Indeed. each
league Of sea over which we passed
on our way homeward seemed to re-
move her farther from me.
We were alone Good Mistress Flick
lin had given US her parlor for the att
ernoon. l took from my pockets the
canvas pouches filed with her treas
ure and laid them on the table.
"These. Mistress Wilberforce." said
l, formally enough. although my heart
was beating rapidly. "are yours
She waved her hand as If they were
of small moment.
1--WE have discussed that BEFORE she
said. "What of yourseIf?''
Last night replied. 81 went down
IN the docks. A companys ship sails
Cor India next week. They want
chief mate, and if my references serve
they will engage me-"
"And you have these references?'
Il thought, madam, that your friends
in the city might give them to NE
when they know"
But l have no friends in the city,"
she said.
"These," said I, pointing to the table,
twill buy them for you"
"And so," she said, without looking
1t me. land so it is goodby, then. May
you be happy"
She extended her hand to me, and
caught it. kissed it passionately, but
when l made to let it go she would
not.
Master Hampdon,'' she said, looking
at me, her eyes brighter than the dia-
monds and bluer than the sapphire
upon the table, you are fool"
Fright well do know that, mis-
tress," said I, striving to fetch smile
to match her own. 50...".
''And blind man as wei"
Whereat was blind man indeed.
for my eyes misted up, but not with
the blood as in the battle And l, as
strong and tough as mountain oak,
was as like to faint as any lovesick
girl.
'sJohn, john came the sweetest.
voice in the world to me through the
darkness, don't you see? Don't you
know that love You and you only.
that you have all my life, and that my
life, which Is yours thousand times
On ~ and shore, = not worth living
without you 4
..Bat 1onr friends, your World