Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-08-26

she implored him.
Every well, ii you'll consent to risk
this miserable tub we found on the
beach," q
"Til risk anything raft, even. II
there an even chance of our getting
acrossW
Perhaps. 1t all depends upon the
weather."
When fnotnin&scanla, OReilly made a
closer exaininatiphE Of the abandoned
boat. The result was not encouraging,
but he determined to make use of 1t,
and the crazy craft was launched 1t
was necessary to handle her gingerly,
and when she took the water she Leak
ed abominably. But during the night
She swe1led and in the morning it was
possible to bail her out.
From the point of leaving it was per-
! haps five miles across the sound to the
fringe of keys which in This neighbor-
! beod bordered the old Bahama chan
mel with its unp1umbed depths OF blue
wafer Here it was calm, SO the run
was soon made.
| When the coastline of Cuba had be-
come blur astern Rosa crept back
and seated herself beside her husband.
How much love you" she whispered.
But ! never can tell you. for we ere
never alone. Was there ever such a
eourtsllip, such a. marriage, and such a
wedding journeyeas ours?"
1t proved TO DE long long night for
the boat, though roony, was uneom-
Portable. Daylight brought an IN
creased breeze which heeled the boat
further. Fortunately the haze was not
thick enough to3whoHy obscure the san
and so O'Reilly was enabled TO hold his
course, But he did not like the look
of things. In time there came spite
full drizzle which completely hid the
sun and left no indication of the course
except the direction whence drove the
rain. @tta
No one spoke now Even Esteban lay
silent, shivering miserably upon his
sodden bed. Rosa. finally Strengthened
her aching back and smiled at her hns-
band.
"Are we going DOWN." she asked
ooh no! This is merely squall,'' he
told her, with an assumption Of conf
dence he was far from feeling.
Deliverance came suddenly. and from
the least-expected quarter. Out of the
mist to starboard there materiaized
shape, schooner driving ahead of iht
wind. The refugees deserted her stimuli
taneously and stood ankle deep in the
wash, waving their hats and their Gala
bashes, and shouting crafty until she
saw them and fetched up.
There was a babble of voices, shout.
ed questions, hysterical answers. Rosa
was weeping softly; Norine had lifted
Esteban and now clutched him tight,
while, her tears fell upon his face.
The schooner was a sponger bound
for Nassau < It's hlackbird crew spoke
English and they Willingly helped the
strangers oversize, laughing and shout
ing in q childlike display of excitement.
Soon there was ~.hoty food and coffee
dry beds and blankets for those VINO
needed them.
Johnnie tucked HIS bride snugly into
one of the hard berths then stopped
and kissed her. Rosa's teeth were
chattering, but she smiled happily.
Goods hand directed u.s. she said
Zone only needs to pray long enough
and strong enough and he Will hear
1t was a month later. Quaint old Mas.
coy In of
Up from the beach came O'Reilly and
his youthful alter ego, Jacket. They
were clad in clean white clothes; a
month of rest had done them good.
jacket was no longer wizened j; he was
plump and sleek and as full of mischief
as colt, while O'Reilly's leanness
had disappeared and he filed his gar
ments as a man should.
They turned in through picket gate
and up walk. At the end stood cot
tage with wide porches hidden beneath
jasmine and honeysucisle and morning
glory vines. @ss 81 e
"Look, Rosa " jacket lifted the
heavy string of fish. eve had stu
pendous luck" But Rosa was in her
husbands arms and neither she nor
O'Reilly had eyes for anything but
each other.
Rosa had vastly changed. She was
clad in charming little muslin dress,
there were dimples in her cheeks, she
Wore a heavy Marechal Neil bud at her
breast. O'Reilly held her off and de-
youred her with his eyes.
Sweetheart, you grow fresher and
more beautiful every hour" said he.
Rosa danced upon her toes, and
tugged at him. 'But come quickly and
see the surprise we have. I've been
wild for your return, SO hurry" She
led him swiftly up the steps, and there,
standing beside chair, was Estehan
Varona, HE dressed himself and
walked out here alone. He's well! !"
"Estcban! Really"
The brother nodded decisively. Its
true. rebelled at last. Tomorrow I'll
walk to the gate and the next day Wen
go fishing Here's letter from Leslie,