Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-22

from the fleet to hinder her depdr-
ture. Lord Julian had carried the
message effectively. and had added
to it his own personal commands.
CHAPTER XXIV
War
Five miles out at sea from Port
Royal, whence the details of the
coast of Jamaica were losing their
sharpness, the Arabella hove to, and
the sloop she had been towing was
warped alongside.
The captain smiled into the SAL
low. bIoated face and the little eyes
of Colonel Bishop.
"A safe voyage home to you,
colonel, darling" said he. Its the
second time we've served me for a
hostage"
They pushed off the craft from the
| red hull of the Arabella, bent to
their sweeps then, hosting sail,
headed back for Port Royal, intent
| upon reaching it before darkness
| should come down upon them. And
Bishop, the great bulk of him hud-
died in the stern sheets, sat silent.
| on the mole at Port Royal, under
the low, embattled wall of the fort,
Major MaIlard and Lord Julian wait
ed to receive him, and 1t was with
infinite relief that they assisted him
from the SiDOp.
Very early next morning, before
the heat Of the day came to render
the open intolerable to his l~ordship,
he espied Arabella from his window
moving amid the azaleas in h gar
den. He hurried forth to join her,
and when she had given him a good
morning, he explained himself by the
announcement that he bore her a
message from Captain Blood.
He fingered the ringlets of his
periwig, a little embarrassed how to
deliver himself, considering how he
should begin.
HE desired me-" he said at last,
''to give you a message that should
prove to you that there is still ONE
thing left in him of the unfortunate
gentleman that that . for
which once you knew him. 1t is not
easy. He was a man who deserved
well. And amongst us we have
married his chances"
At know. I know now" she said
softly. Then after a pause she added
the question: "And you? What part
has your lordship had in this-that
you should incrimtnate yourself?"
"My part?" Again he hesitated,
then plunged ~recklesslyy on. "If I
understood him Alright. if he under
stood Alright, himself, my part,
though entirely passive, was none
the less effective. He thought, then
he told me-that my presence
here had contributed to his inability
to redeem himself in your sight; and
unless he were SO redeemed, then
was redemption nothing"
She faced him fully, a frown of
perplexity bringing her brows to-
gether above her troubled eyes.
"He thought that you had con-
tributed?' she echoed. He plunged
on, his glance a little scared, his
cheeks flushing.
ave. and he said so in terms
which told me something that 1 hope
above all things, and yet dare not
believe. But first let me tell you
how [ was placed. l had gone
aboard his ship to demand the n
slant surrender of your uncle whom
he held captive. He laughed at me.
Colonel Bishop should be a hostage
for his safety. BY rashly venturing
aboard his ship, L afforded him in
my own person yet mother hostage
as valuable at least as Colonel
Bishop. Yet he babe me depart; not
from the fear o. consequences, for
he is above fear, not from any per-
sonal esteem for me whom he con-
fessed that he had come to find de-
testable; and this for the very rea-
son that made him concerned for
my safety. The fact is, Arabella,
this unfortunate maj has the
the temerity to love you"
She cried out at that, and clutched
her breast whose calm was suddenly
disturbed.
Il . I've startled you" said
he, with concern. Il feared I
should"
Go on" she babe him.
"Well, then: he saw in me one
who made it impossible that he
should win you-so he said. There
fore he could with satisfaction have
killed me. But because my death
might ause you pain, because your
happiness was the thing that above
all things he desired he surrendered
that part of his guarantee of safety
which my person afforded him."
She looked at him with eyes that
were aswim with tears, He took a
step toward her, a catch in his
breath, his hand held out,
WAS he right, Arabella? My
life's happiness hangs upon your
answer"
1--WE have been good friends; we