The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-10-07

"NelIie, the fleets are fiqhtina!"
] understood that he could not tell more,
but the letter half maddencd her by
its concealmcnt OF what she had to
know-had to know about him-and
what it could so easily have told. He
had received one letter from her and
was happy for it: where he got it, and
how, he did not tell, nor was there
postmark or other indication of where
his letter was mailed She read the
dear lines of his writing over and over
again, and she was at her mothers
desk and was writing again to him
when some one entered the room.
Whoever it was came a few steps
inside the door and then started back.
Nellie turned and saw Agnes, and ut
the sight of Angcs' face Nellie was on
her feet. cold and trembling.
"What is it?" she cried.
"Nothing," Agnes denied in panic.
Il wasn't looking for you. | was
looking for Mrs. Ashhy; I'm going"
But Nellie caught her Something's
happened, Agncs!" she cried tenscly
you've heard something. What is 1t :
Something about JIM"
mo, Nellie! The fleets are fighting!
They've-thcy'vc been fighting since .
O'clock. All our ships and nll Of tho
regents fleet are fighting. they say
They're Off the New Jersey coast, out
of sight Of land. but they can hear the
guns ashore!
Ncllie's eyes gazed through and
through Agnes. "That"-her lips
steadied and she went on-"that is all
you know?"
"That's all, swear"
Nellie gaZed Mt the clock. It was
after 3: the great battle by that time
must be over. She stared down dizzlly
Mt the letter. almost finished. She sat
down again Mt the desk. and as one in
n trance she added two lines and wrote
her name below them; then she sealed
the letter and stamped It.
"We'll mail this on the way" she
said quietly to Agnes. "1'm going with
you to where they'll get the reports
first"
|
"A strange experience came to me
that night" said Nellic's letter, which
Bob had received last before the fleet
put to sen for the great battle. at
was the night. dear. Of the hurricane
on the coast. and knew that YOU had
been in battle. was taken with terror
for you: am contrasting it. was on
my knees by the window of the room
which had been our bedroom. praying
In desperation. Bob, I lost all control
Of myself. l was so afraid! Then the
thing came. my husband; vision! 1t
was not n dream. for was wide
awnke-only alone in the dark, just
before dawn. was looking toward
the east. where you WERE and saw
you and knew that you were snfe.
There was something strange about It
which l could not understand Mt all;
but 1t told me you were safe. More
than that. 1t told me you would still
be safe. You see 1t was very
strange. Bob. saw 1t again last night,
ns was sleeping that time. and It was
very clear. So you are coming back
to me; I will see you again-that I
know. God has promised it to me-"
Bob put down the letter with the
others which he had reread and locked
them all away in his desk. 1t was
time for him to be up on deck.
"Ships in column!" the signal was
flying from the halyards OF the new
Idaho. which led the American line.
The Arizona, second in power only to
the Idaho. was taking position In
column 500 yards behind: astern the
Arizona, MS Bob saw when he gazed
back. the sister superdrcadnaught
Pennsylvania was placing herself
third. The Oklahoma. Nevada, New
York and Texas steamed next in order:
then two older drendnaughts, the Ar
kansas and Wyoming. followed by the
Florida. tho Utah. Della ware and North
Dakota.
These completed the roll Of the
dreadnaughts-the first line battlcships
Of the United States; but, astern them,
the column Of ships still stretched, the
Michigan and South Carolina. the New
Hampshire, Kansas and twelve more
Of the old, prcdreadnaught vessels Of
the second line. Five more such yes
sells might have been there. Bob knew,
but their fighting value would be even
less than the weakest in the line and
they would have taken a knot from
the speed of the feet. As it was, the
column could do no better than eight
cen knots: 1t was steaming at sixteen
now, letting the light cruisers and
destroycrs dash ahead to watch the
waters for drifting mines and for sub
marines. Air craft circled overhead;
some of them, scouting, were bringing
back to the flagship intelligence Of the
cnemy's strength and disposition. The
American feet was steering north and
east.
,, The van Of the regents feet had Just
come in sight. steaming north. also, and
west The regents ships seemed to
be In column. tOo-in line appearing
almost parallel to the American col.
umn but really s!antine little sn