The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-20
CHAPTER 1e--Continued

not graced by womankind is more or less of stagnation. And Miss Ara bella Bishop was young woman and lady; and in the latitude into which Lord Julian had strayed this was phenomenon sufficiently rare to com mand Attention. On his side, with his title and position, his personal grace and the charm of a practiced courtier, he bore about him the atmosphere of the great world in which normally he had his being-a world that was little more than a name to her, who had spent most of ther life in the Antilles. It is not therefore wonderful that they should have been attracted to each other before the Royal Mary was warped out of St. Nicholas. Each could tell the other much upon which the other desired information. Con- sidering how his mind was obsessed with the business of his mission, it is not wonderful that he should have come to talk to her of Captain Blood. In deed there was a circumstance that di- rectly led to it.
 T wonder now,'r he said, as they were sauntering on the poop, If you ever saw this fellow Blood, who at one time was on your uncle's planta- tions as slave"
 ...,, 1T !. saw him oftens I knew him very
 "Ye don't sayv' and came to lean be- side her. And what manner of man did you find him?'
 .'In those days I esteemed him for an unfortunate gentleman"
 You were acquainted with his storyr'
 'sHe told it to me. That is why I esteemed him-for the calm fortitude with which he bore diversity. Since then, considering what he has done, l have almost come to doubt if what he told me of himself was true."
 If you mean of the wrongs he suffered at, the hands of the Royal commission that tried the Monmouth rebels, there's little doubt that it would be true enough. He was never out with Monmouth that is certain. He was convicted on a point of law which he may well have been ignorant when he committed what was construed into treason. But, faith, he's had his re- venge, after a fashion"
 That" she said in a small, voice, lis the unforgivable thing. It has destroyed him-deservedly."
 Destroyed him" His lordship laughed little. Be none sure of that. He has grown rich l hear. He has translated, so it is said, his Spanish npoils into French gold, which is being treasured up for him in France. His future father-in-law, M. d'Ogeron, has seen to that.''
 His future father-in-law!" said she, and stared at him round-eyed, with parted lips. Then added: M. d'Oger- on? The governor of Tortuga?"
 '"The same. You didn't know?"
 She shook her head without reply ing. After a moment she spoke, her voice steady and perfectly controlled.
 But surely, if this were true, there now. If he if he loved a woman as you say, surely he would have abandoned this desperate life, and
 "Why, so thought" his lordship interrupted, until l had the expla- nation. D'Ogeron is avaricious for himself and for his child. And as for the girl, I'm told she's a wild piece, fit ate-for such a man as Blood. AL most I marvel that he doesn't marry her and take her aroving with him. It would be no new experience for her. And marvel, too, at Blood's patience. He killed man to win her"
 He killed a man for her, do you say?" There was horror now in her voice.
 'Yes-a French bucaneer named Le- vasseur. He was the girls lover and Blood's associate on a venture. Blood coveted the girl, and killed Levasseur to win her. Pah! It's an unsavory tale, I own. But men live by dif- ferent codes out in these parts"
 She had turned to face him. She was pale to the lips, and her hazel eyes were blazing, as she cut into his apologies for Blood.
 "They must, indeed, If his other as- sociates allowed him to live after that"
 "Oh, the thing was done in fair fight, I am told"
 "Who told you"
 "A man who sailed with them, a Frenchman named Cahusac, whom found in a waterside tavern in St. St. Nicholas. He was Leyasseur's liet- enant, and he was present on the island where the thing happened, and when Levasseur was killed"
 And the girl? Did he say the girl : was present. too"
 "Yes. She was a witness of the en- counter. Blood carried her off when he had disposed of his brother-buc- cancer"
 And the dead mans followers al- lowed it: He caught the note of in- credulity in her voice, but missed the note of relief with which it was blent. "Oh, I don't believe the tale. l won't believe it!'
 T honor you for that. Miss Bishop. It strained my own belief that men should be so callous, until this Cahusac afforded me the explanation. Blood purchased their consent and his' right to carry the girl off. He paid them in pearls that were worth more than twenty thousand pieces of eight. His lordship laughed again with touch Of contempt. "A handsome price
 Your Cahusac Nseems to have been accurate enough. Alas!
 You are sorry, then"
 "As we are sorry to hear Of the death of one we have esteemed. Once l neld him in regard for an unfortunate put worthy gentleman. Now Such a man is best forgotten.
 And upon that she passed at once to speak of other things.
 The friendship which it was her great gift to command in all she met grew steadily between those two in the little time remaining, until the event befell that marred what was promising to be the pleasantest stage of his lord ships voyage.
 The marplot was the mad.dOg Span ish admiral, whom they encountered on the second day out, when halt way across the Gulf of GonVasa. A shot