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“ Ask anybody in this rt of Boscastle, where I was born, who er I had e‘er a. brother or a sister. A gell can't be a man’s niece when that mania a. only child. Like- wise as orphan.” “ She might be your daughter.” “ I’ve not got no daughters. Picked her off of a raft, I didâ€"just as I told herâ€"â€" wrapped in four bandannere, with five- and-twenty dead niggers around in the China seas." “ Steve." said the captuin, clapping him on the shoulder. “ you ve got a. head after all. The rewerd is not unlikely to come 06‘. But we must move carefully.“ “ We ?" 7 Thib‘seemed like a. faint reminiscence of the Litany. but the allusion was lost on ngtgioflumsay who had not yet " found .7 “ I oouldn’ 3 let on about the raft, bless you. Why. she might he’ claimed the to- ward herself. " " The Eéwaa was a. fixed idea. with him just as the marriage settlement had become, only the former was the growth of years. "As it is." he murmur“, “ I've done wrong in tellin' her. But the temptation was greet to take down her pride. There, perhaps she won‘t think of It, sad I can edve‘rtise and get the reward all the same." A-_-j LL; ____L_:_ -!___._4 L:_ "Yes, we.' I shall be entitled to all the reward if there is any. But I’m not oing to play it low on an old shipmete, an you ahall have a fourth of whatever comes." “i? nilâ€"05s?" 7 implied Csptsin Ramsay, " that there are more ways than one for s nun to get whst he wants. I! it suits me to 3313 small and prettyâ€"hymn book is the wor ." ‘ hiStephen shook his head; this was beyond m. “ About this raft business, Steve ?" " All truo. cap. Eve word true.” " You are such an mighty liar, as 9. 8°“?! “11°77". 01-: ,,,,, I, W '“71‘ben why did you call her your niece whey you ggngehpme ?"_ “Only this; that I’m going to be the lady’s husband. and as such. you see Steve â€"â€"-Ahl you ahouldn'tlot out little secrete. That was always your great halt." V“7'.V[‘héh. what thunder made you bring “P, ‘3“ 0W1 ?I’. r .1. “ I put it this way, cap'en. I said to myself: ‘ Here's a child of respectable people, ‘00: she‘s got a nurse all to herself; and the bandenners was the very best. They'll think she's drowned. Wait a. bit. When she‘s four years old, or riain’ five, 3 age when children are pretty, I’ll advertise for; her pea-eats, and I will tglxe the reward.’ ” “ Wine on airth 113’ you got to do with it. “9’3"?" .. one e§er dresm'o'd of, with the workus not fur off; which was mesnt by heaven. and built by religious Yh' for Pick-ms- ”ups and such us are wi owsss sud 1n affliction. an_d__d_ependen§ 911 that? Insoles): . 'IIJE CLEVERNEBS OF THE COMMODORE. " I! that in what you mean'" said Stephen blankly. “ hmgme if I know how you are gonn' to do it. int. you tells the girl on ere ver sorry and you wish on In n't spoke. ext, you sends your ove to her a ark. Alter tellin' her. straight. that you ou't want her no more, and you're sorrry you spoke, you tell meâ€"-â€"hung me it know what you meen." “ Because," Stephen explained, “ I forgot the child. When I was away to North Carolina, in the piloting line, I forgot her alto ether; and there she was eating her has. 01?, and my money meltin’ away with- out my knowledge. _Suoh wickedness as no A Story 01' T0411. “Cap’on,” whis :93 Stephen homely, “ what the blues oeaithis mm ?: obeying them orders‘ind no (fibers: and $1199 ygu the.“ m_."_ _ ‘ nodded his heedeethey fell one by one from his superior officer's lips. They were one tolearn audio execute.hnt herderto un erstend. As his captain proceeded. however. the good old men's face lit up with surprise. edmiretlon. end delight. For asimpler plea of diabolical villun was never before unfolded. It wee 91: most too simple. Stephen sleredhie leg as the plan unfolded itself. til the echoes were awakened among the rocks and re- sounded from cliff to cliff like it volley of musketry. The gestures he naturally accompanied with e pmsn of congratulation and joy. consisting entirely of those inter- joctlons which ere not found in grammars. yet eregenerslly sou ht after by persons who aim at streig tforward clesrnees rather than elegance of language. “I elweye sold it.“ he cried. when the orders had been fully laid down. "i always ”id it i" He looked st the ceptein with the most profound edmiretion. Thiefthe cafitain assured him, was a pru- dent and far-seeing design. But why had he not cmiod it out? while Igive the aiming orderu. You get t!xem_ in_your boa}! fig t._and y_9u go 09 Ho'tben rooeeded in brief but intelligible terms 09 agate ghoul 01-6913. Th9 pilot on. swat In the loam and now at And bun m the ”In" Mm And chill m tho summn winds. um ‘ T319 wlnm' a “new! nu noun. _.‘ And the world goes round end round, And the sun Illdee lnto the eon; And whether I‘m on or under me around, The world core: lmlo for me. 06m. why at than so bright end boon ! breuh why or: thou eo wees l 0 friends. how con glory“ so soon The loud once w lie at your loo: 2 But the world one round end round, And the sun pl into the lee, And whether I'm on or under the ground, The world wee little (or me. The ways of men are busy Ind bright; The eye of woman 18 klnd ; It ll sweet for the e as to behold the light, But the dying on deed ere bllnd. And the world goo: round end round, And chill on tho outumn winds. um hm. Tho wlnur'n llnsorlng hours. And the world sou round sad round, And the Inn sinks Into tho no: And whom” I'm on or under tho around, Tho Iofld com um. tor mo. The but all. our the mun hm ; The brook mu- on In tho ; But the Mend. I hove loot llo oold nnd still Whoa their Imam form: were Md. And the world cogl round,“ round, And the world OBI round wd round, And the sun In into the too. And whether I'm 0 or under the ground, The world on“ ittlo for me. But l! mo fluke. and will never cease On the future's distant more, And the tone of love md the lily of peace Shall bloom than forever-more, hot the world go round and round, And the Inn slnk into the sen! u For whothet I'm on or under the ground. Oh, whnt wlll It mom: to mo ? -J. G. Hollond In “ Scribner" {or May. hat Sou mun." f‘_I i9 n_ot tyink ygp woul_d. Lisgm now, ion." N0 RELATIONS ; CHAPTER VII. “Then she is not our niece at an 7" “Not at all. whio brings my onerous conduct out in a more beautiful lig t.” “ Well. I am glad of that anyhow. Now tell me the story of the raft over again.” “ We icked up the raft in the Gulf of Mexico a at two days’ run to the west of Cuba, whither we were bound.” Jack re- marked that this statement contradicted the previous one as to the sition of the raft. “No one was aboard t at raft except the dead ayah and the child." Here again was another alteration. “ We took the child aboard without waiting to search for proofs of who she might be, and we sailed away.” Another, bnt trifling variation in the etory. “Nonr omnhull tho world hi! oqud (or dovflmut Ind out" VWho'd In" tho to! “lunacy?" " at you, Steve. «thinly. In this better than turning the 3.1 out-o'doors. And driving her into the can of her ohsp ? I guess Stove, you don't quite know my sort 0"‘113. ”‘3" .. .. n. _,|,__ 2..-... - I--.â€" "- â€"â€"‘-‘... “You are always welcome, Mr. Dave- nant." he exclaimed. “ Come in and sit down. Never mind the marriage settle- ments. The Cobbledioks,sir (Avis’ mother having been a Knobling, also a most respec- table family), can afford to be generous." “ How about the raft story, then?” “Oh! yes.” He was not in the least diseancdrted. “ The raft, Mr. Davenant is the truth. But I’ve always been accus- tomed to consider that dear gell as m niece, so that the family, as it were, grow . I shall be sorry to lose the Knoblings, too, for they're agood stock to know and to talk about.” “Ah! what was your cargo? Could it not wait while you had the common curi- oaity to find out:y if possible, who the child “Betterlâ€"Ah!" Stephen drew 3 long breeth. “And now, consider' the high honor to which Avis is goin' to ruined. I'm only son Itold her any ' 5“ till ebout the r t. She'll only be rettin', when it’s ell over. thet she isn't a Cobble. dick utter :11.th to give her a position more equal to her future renk." “ You think the scheme worth trying. then?" “ It will reel off. oep'en, like u heevin' of the log. No vi‘lenoe; no querlin'; no ery- iu' and lorein’; and the end of the story most beautiful. I dweye did like a story to end well. So they lived hepp ever ulterwarde. and had ten sweet 0 ildren nine of 'em twine." The pilot spent the rest '0! the tie in s. kind of enltstion; he felt light of esrt; his soul was merry within him. And when J sek stensnt. whom Avis had without delay informed of this new revelation re- specting the raft. came for more informs- tlon. he was received with s hilsrity and joyousnese which made him suspect strong waters. For once he wss wrong. Stephen was perfectly sober and unfeignedly glad stadium!- sAAA-__ If. n-..- oaity to 11m migyf be ?" “My cargoes, in those days, young gentle- man, was the kind that spile a good deal by keepin’, particularly if there's any part of it gone off a bit, so to say. when it comes aboard. Some 0' mine, that trip, had al- ready begun to spile." “ Oranges, fruit, lemons !" “No, sir, not fruit. A kind of cargo it was which certain piratioel cruisers pre- tendin' to beBritish werefond of scoopin' up for theirselves. Lord! the losses I've seen in that kind of cargo; a whole ship- Iosd I’ve seen tossed overboard before now to save the skipper and his ship. And the sharks as busy as sneppin‘~turtles round thet_ship." no -r I 1,,"nJ L- “Do you meanâ€"" Jack stopped be; «use he was “raid, in a «use. to say the word. " I mean ni gers. Three hundred niggers I had about thst ship, apiling fast for want of breathin‘ room. fresh air, fresh weter, and fresh provisions. Three hun- dred and sixty-five, as many as the days in the ear. I landed on the hoapiteble shore of ubo. But the number that I iled on the way you would hudly believe, sir. Well. the little aid was ver soon aboard. and‘uoomfortab e negrese 11 her in a jifiy, and there we were." “ Old Stephen, dear Avis," said J ack, presently recounting his interview. “ is not, suppose, your uncle, though I confess to doubts about the raft story. When a man cannot give the details twice in the same afternoon without varying them in every particular, I should say that the story would not be taken as evidence." “ I must be some one’s daughter. Jack." “ You probably came straight dowu from heaven, my‘darling.” I always set down on paper as few of the raptures of lovers as is consistent with conveying a clear im ression that there were raptures. It wil be seen from this specimen what nonsense Jack was capable l) talking. and how very much he was in ove. Be sure that Avis told her lover of the surprising and extraordinary behavior at Captain Ramsay. who had shown a chiv- alrous courtesy worthy of the ohivalrous South. She also told, and it was ascribed to the vivid imagination of the old mob, how Stephen had minted this true-bred entlemau in the [wheat colors. Jack. or his art, mode severe unimodvereions on the b indneee of the pgfiple who practice the tnde of t. "He ledhimetiger." said Jack in ignently. That evening he sought tn opportunity of a nking to Capuin Ramsay in the nuns. place_o!__reao_tt. “ I Have to thcnk you, sir." he said. “ for your great courtesy and forbearance in the mutter of a certain young lady." " hey no more Mr. Usvensnt," said the captain. “ A man must be a mean skunk to force himself on sxyoung Indy when she‘s already promised. beg our pardon. sir. most sincerely. for intru leg to the extent I did. Bed I known earlier. I should not have done so. Shske hsnds. sir. and take a whiske oooktoil made in Baltimore style. I've tsug t them how_ to go it." _ From aontimonta, the 0; Min passed to the narrdion of deeds. hose had no hearing. it in true. on the ennoblin nature of love. but they brought out his 0 muster in vivid lights asaprnctioor of a code which. though not Enfdiuh, yet seemed in some rgupoctgjuntifiah o. _ _ Vlit vii: 7 irritating to observe the scowi with which the Poet. who was present, ant on his side of tho settle and iiutoned to this conversation. " And Mm " Jack subsequently con found. " it was not till afterwards that I found out that he had bcen simply confoun- ing Qimaeltatpprgororflj 7' Stove Cobblodiok tells me." the captain "rmâ€"- â€"- â€"‘â€"_-_ paper into the fire, Jd'itrok'ed hit chin tho htfully. “ on oome hook on Soturdny. Good. Do not be later. because we. Steve Cobble. dick and I. hove very important business to look alter about then. It would be a. pity it you wereto oome otter we were gone." In the mornin . with loud farewells. J wk took lesve of is fiancee. " It is only for a week." he said. while she clung to him and wept. “ Only for o. weetk, my Avie. I go to make my duling 3 nos ." “ I cannot bear to let you 30. Jack. Oh! it is all like a dream to me. I came here in a dream of hope. It changed to adream of gloom and deepair; then came another dreamâ€"of you, my lover; and I have lost my name and the people whom I thought to have found. Now you are going away. How do I know that I ahall not to-morrow awake and find that on. too. are a dream?” He took off his ring, a simple seal. his watch and his chain. “ Keep them." he said, “ for me. Wear the watch and chain. Hang the ring upon the chain, and when you look at them, think I am no ghost or phantom of a troubled brain. because no ghost who ever walked was able to carry a watch and chain}: sdd Jack. mum": reunite mm. "c. low Fatima- to e.” ":0” And you come bunkâ€"- when ?"r “ On Btturdny. To be untried on Mon- dn. not then s telegnm wu bro ht to the «pm. He opened it. read it. row the .5 -a.__l.-.1l.:.. -L: .â€" ..'â€"-J _"_, It was on Tuesday, then, that Jack Dave- nant left Boscastle, driving to Launoeston to catch the train. He begged the Poet. before he went away. to keep Avis under his special charge. while he was away; there was then nothing to fear; Captain Ramsay was entirely to be trusted The Boat mounted guard With zeal. He was suspicious of the old man, whose sud- den change of front was inexplicable; he was suspicious of the gentleness assumed by the American ; such suavity was unna- tural in a person of his calling and his self- confessed antecedents. Yet what harm could they do ‘2 .u n n 1 ,l 1’- -L!_ 'vjrfetâ€"Fâ€"aioveiidâ€"“ Yet I cannot hear to let you go. A week; a. whole week. And what may happen, meantime ?" “What should hop n, dearest? You are surrounded by riends. The Poet " I am foolish," she said. “ Yet it is so hard to let you go, even for a week. I am not afraid of Stephen, nor of anything that I can tell you. Yet, Jack. I am afraid.” He kissed her again and again; he assur~ ed her that there was nothing in the world to fear. Alas! that kiss was the last of Jack that the girl would have to remember for many a weary day.__ - .I .I ,A 1’_-I_‘l’\__- want 011.}: ms you no going to London to. c -'â€"â€"J â€"â€"“V-, i, “What should hop 1:, dearest? You are surrounded by rionds. The Poet stays hero to keep watch over you. Cap- tain Ramsay will aufier no wrong or harm to ho done_yo1_1._ gourago,‘doar." _, "_L 2L 2- __ Itâ€" seefnsâ€"d' on the first day of Jack’s absence as if Captain Ramsay. in his zeal for his "brother," was also mounting guard for the protection of the girl against un- known dangers. For he fol owod her about and left the Poetjow opportunities oftalkjig morrow'?" ' ' “Y... (or s low (by- only. 1 Ian. add Jack. gm u: upmgalve blunh. “ This was on Wednesda morning. The reason why Avis was Is t to the Poet by Captain Ramsay was that he was havinia serious conversation with Ste hen. T e Maryland. he told him. had a ready left Liverpool; she would arrive 06 Boscastle port: about noon the next day. Therefore it behoo'ved Stephen to make such arrange- ments as might be necessary forimmediate departure. Ramsay gave him.in Iulfllment of the agreement. the sum of three hundred and seventy-five poundsin Bank of England notes, hall his pay as Hot from Nassau to Wilmington and hue . with a written a reement for the other half on the com- is etion of the round trip; and then the? aid their heads together and whispe , though no one was within ear-shot. for a good half-hour. When two men whis r together it is generally safe to consi or that they mean mischief to some person or persons. When these two men are old slavers. fllibusters. blockade-runners. and the like, it is quite safe to consider that to her alone. Now he so thoroughly dis- liked the Amorioan that he could not best even his grammes. On the second day, however. a other to walk with him on the cliffs. and of course they talked of Jack all the timo. “ Then. I think. " said the captain at last “ that we have made all square and ti ht. There can't be an diflioulty. The wheat or looks as it it will tine. yMate. this little job shall be pulled ad in a wav to do us credit. As for me. I shall ive all the credit to yams Stephen. I shal say,devised the plan. Bmfihen carfied it through. Stephen did it an the like, itis mm: they__gnean_m_i§o_ i_e_f. 'fiis old man grinned with pleasure and pride. Then he thought of some disagree- sbis side of the business. and he became serious and even troubled. “ She'll take on awful. she will.“ he said. “ Let her take on. That won't matter." " You’re goin' to behsvs honorsbls. and trust her kind-vw" " And msrr her in the first port. and settle down a terwsrds where's there no chance 9! pasty: inquiriesâ€"77“ " And kee her out 0! the way of that other oneâ€"O lve 7" “I“Ayl She shall never hear of Olive at Stephen had bunineae that afternoon which tookhimto Camellord. Hie buai- none was to arrange for the collection of his rents and the safety of his money while he was away. As for his kit. which wae not extensive, he packed it in a water- roo! bag. and stowed it in the locker of us boat. A busy and eventful day it was for him. in fact. it was more full of late than he at all antioifated. While he Was tiun oeeupied Captain “ The Mnryland went out, of dock this morning. She will lie to off Boaoantlo Port. About noon to-morrow. If the weather in bad she will put in at. Falmoutli." 7 " The wut'hor." he mid. “ promises fine. It is a» pity that she does not go to Falmouth, or xou might have run down with Stephen m me and no aboard berg" WWMIQ he was than ooou iod Captain Ramsay «pant l\ifl_ time with via. “Vitigom'o to tell you." he be on, “ thnt I hays received aulegmm." e handed it to nor. .M'rlmiIEQEEovor Mich a ship, " Avis said. “ Except the counters which put in here." u h..-- nl‘flo‘ I" nah! H‘- nnninin min: Inn]- “Wfiéficbila I" ma the uptiin. with (eel. ing. “ Bho bu never seen I ship I" Now shout 11 o’clock in the forenoon of Thursday. the Poet was sitting on the rocks tuning the see. While he pondered and made notes, he become swore of e. steamer standing in, sppsrently for Ben- oestle. whither no stesmere ever come. She have to, however. a. few hundred yords from the rocks, the see being nearly calm end the day being hit. and presently her whistle sounded shorp and elesr. It was a. "U"“" v Then a. very singular thing happened. J ust: below the Poet's feet wee the mouth of the little harbor; there came out, sailing slowly in the light breeze, Stephen Cobble. diok’s boat. He himself est midships, handy for the sail: Avis held the rudder- lines; beside her set Ceptein Remsey. It was obvious that the steamer won in some way connected with the American} then the Poet new that the sailors on board the steamer were running about. en_d presently a companion was lowered. It must be Captain Ramsay’s ship. Then he was going away; that was a ood thing; Avis and Ste hen were takin 'm 03; that was a frien y thing to do. he little boat ran alongside the steamer; Stephen hauled in sail. while the captain made the painter fast to the ladder. Then he assisted Avis to olimib the steep and narrow ladder, and sprang up himself. Arrived on deck. the girl walked for’ard, looking about her with a curiosity and interest. She was invited to see the shi , that was plain. What on earth. then, di old Stephen mean ? Here, indeed. his behavior became inexplicable. For, with so much deliberation as to show premeditation and intention, he carefully untied the painter, stepped out upon the ladder. and climbed up; as for the boat. she drifted slowly asters. Then the stea- mer, without more delay, suddenly and swiftly forged ahead; the boat was in a moment far away. The Poet saw, as the ship glided over the smooth water, Avis rushing to the side and the captain clutch- ing at her arm. He sprang to his feet and shouted and waved his arms. Avis saw him, and he saw her strugglin , while Ramsay and Stephen held her k, as if she would spring overboard in a mad attempt to escape. Then he saw her free herself from her captors and sink, despar- ing, on the deck. But the ship went on her course ; the figures became more difficult to see; soon there was but a black hull; then but a line of smoke; then that vanished; allwas out of sight. __ “ And Bhpbn. do. be all with you to. m “I" “No; homo-ulnar on; we mgoi for s trhl 0min first.” The 11.0 drop out of this muinor’l mouth u «3in u out o! Stephen's. “ He comes aboard her Inter ox; Layne we!!! or a. month." With such dieonaeion the crafty oeptein strengthened and increased the 11': eon. ddence in him. so thet ehe tho t she hed e friend indeed in this rough at gentle spoken sailor. And while the Poet wetehed with e disguietyhieh he could not_explein. the apt-ii: ind Avis at .11 the “Miami togather. When he left her he held out his hand. . Avis was gone! She was enticed on board the ship by the crafty American and the villain Stephen ; it was no accident ; she was treacherously and foully deceived; the thing was deliberately done; he had seen with his own e on the old pilot untie the painter and set is host adrift; she was in the power of as black a villain as ever walked. “I always said," cried the Poet, “ that he wss_a tiger I”: in the place. He oughFâ€"And what would Jack Bay yâ€"poor Jack. who had lost his bride ? With what face would the Poet meet him and greet. him with the dreadful news ? He hastened dowu the rocks and told the sailors and people about the rt what he had seen. And in the Wel 'ngton Arms that night. when the little club met and realized the vacancy caused by Stephen's absence. they began slowly to perceive that a great crime had been committed. A 11 that nightâ€"the nights in June are lightâ€"the Poet wandered about the rocks on the chance that Avis might yet some- how be brought back. He ad betrayed his change, he said to himself. He ought never to have left her while that man was THE WRECK OF THE MARYLAXD. I have now to tell a story of the most wieked treeghery and deceit that was ever practiced u n any girl. There never. surely. con (1 have been a greater villain than Captain Ramsey. or c more ready accomplice than Ste hen Cobbledick. ‘They lulled me, tween them, into so rent 5 confidence that I believed the man emeey to be my firm and most trust- worthy friend. He said Jack and he were sworn brothers. All this time the plot wee laid. and the plan resolved upon, although it was not until the last moment. and then only by e pretence at e. sudden thought that I was enticed on board hie ehip._ It was on the Thursdayâ€"Jack. having been gone two daysâ€"and early in the fore- noon. that the man Ramsay came, walking slowly. to the cottage where I wee writing 9. letter to Jack. e had stuck one of his big oigers_betwaen hie_l_ipa. and in his hand. w-“ "n"â€"â€" __-_ .. I romomber. was a wilt! tone. which gave him somehow the look of 3 mm of peace. But he had put off his black clothes. sud wore a smart aeoman like dreamwith a. gold bonggound hlq pegkgd cap. ‘_ "The unit i5 off the niouth o! the port, Mine Avis." he said. sadly and gently. ” I be you will run down and give me a. fare- we 1 wave of your handkerchief from the point. when I am on bond. Where is Ste- phel_1_?" “Here I am on ‘en."said the old man, coming out of the 'tohen. Now there was nothing. not the least sign. to show that he, too. was on the point of ssilin . He was dressed as usual. He had :11 ie. so far as I â€" Raidieéfi iprepoiotions. Tobe sure, I was not suspecting any. " Is the gig sent ashore ?" “No. Stephen. You ahulltake mo of! yourulLin your own boot.” I thou ht tint friend] of him. " I wil , on. ’on; I wil ," replied Stephen. oheerily. " t's the last thingl can do be- fore I jingle“ month." M‘T'vlllxen. Miss Avis"â€"the cs tein held out his lnsndâ€"" I will as {news 1 here. You will promise to stsn on the point and see the set of mo ?” “ by should she go to the point so all?" Stephen suggested. " Why can‘t she come ofl up the host. “page! ?" 7717107 'ssid those words. I suppose, to ut me of! any suspicion. But. indeed. 1 ad none. 7 _ VI- u..- w: an..." " Why “not ?“ nixed th'o uptoin his kind thoughtful {we lighting up with a smile. CHAPTER VIII. “ A happy thought, old Mend? Will you do an Iomnohbonorutoltoor me on bond my own Ikip T" I was planned to be 01 .um. service, and ya :11 Iglkod sway t9 thy qugy. where the we .11 Inlkod “u to the qua bogtnwu lying r9 ylgor t_h_etr_i} uy asked me if. an I was there. I would like just to run up tho oom ion ond no what an ocean steamer won iko. ”3:11;“ us moke the pointer tut first." be He gave me his bond up the stopa. Ste- phon romoinipg behind. I began to look about me curiouely. when suddenly I heard the engines beginto work. and (e16 the screw revolve. The ship wen moving. “ 0h. esptein,"I seid'leughing. " you must stop her quick. for me to get out." " Ay. ix." he replied. but said no more, and still 0 eorew went on. “OWE!“ ! " I cried. Then I ten to the side. ere was our boat drifting uwey for atom, and beside me stood Ste hen, himself, a water-proof in his and. looking so guiltily ashem that I guessed at once the truth. The boat had been sent adrilt on glrpose. I was s prisoner on M93696 9 '9: If Stephen looked ashamed. not so with the captain. He drew himself straight. with a. glitter in his eye. and a. smile upon hisilips. It was a. cruel glitter. and a. herd sm e. The man's face had changed ; the thought. fully and expression was gone. “ This little plan, Miss Avis." he ssid gnietly. "was arranged between me and tephen. We were annions thntjt should come of! without any hitch. which was the rea’aon why you were not' 1n the secret. You “9. 2‘3”. 999°???" _ “ There is not." said the ca tein, “ one single men aboard this ship w 0 will help you. Therefore you had better spare your cries. And now. it you please. on there'- the ship to nevi ate and the work to be done, p'raps you‘ 1 let me show you your cabin." He led the way. and I followed without: word. I set down without a. word. 0111 J eokl J wok}? \Vho would tell_y_ou_?__ At night of her. the captain stepped back with an oath. " Olive! B all the powers 1" “ Oh! Let i" cried Stephen. starting. ‘ Here's his wife 1" “ What do youâ€"how did you," etammered the captain. It was not pretty to look upon his (8.00.011 which was ex tossed a vehement desire to brook the s xth oom- He made no'reply. fie hung his head, and looked at the captain. as it for help. Rewokqmrmhly .wd. readilx _ 0’ use to be skeered because the girl’s riled. She’s nst‘rslly riled; anybody would be. first go off. What you’ve got to think is. that you done it for the best. Wh , st this very moment,cometo listen. you'l heu- your conscience singing hymns in your bosom with grateful joy.” "All for your own good, Avis." said Ste- phelkwith an effogt: ' “'1‘th is so. Meantime, Miss Ans. it you feel like letting on, why, let yourself rip :__W.° 699.’t._mi99-’:_ 7‘ Not a. bit," said Stephen hoarsely. “ I never heard a woman let on out at sea. be- fore.” “‘1 fold you that I was in love with you. I am a man. and not a. maid; so that. when I set my fancy on a. thing. that thin I must have. I set my fancy on you. an no other. I am powerful in love with you. I am so much in love that, rather‘n lose you. I’d sink this craft with all her cargo. and the_0tew, and you too. I would byâ€"-_â€"" He sti‘engthenad the murmu‘with so great an oath that it ought alone to have sunk the ahip by the violence of its wicked- “ Let‘s have no einkin' of crafts," snid Stephen uneaailv. “ Avis will come round bime by. Give her rope." “As for your lover." the captain went on. “ he counts for nothing, You‘ll forget him in e week. Make up your mind to forget him at once. for you‘ve got to merry me. That‘s settled. I stand no eulks from my gel. They've got to look cheerful. and to do what they‘re told to do. Then things go well. and they find me a. good sort." He spoke as if he hed l dozen wives. New. I know not whet. I mewa'ed, be- cause, indeed. my mind was confused. I think I prayed them. of their mercy. to eet me ashore. When I was worn out with appealing to ooneoienoe as hard as the nether mill-atone, I fell to tears and Weeping. There was not one among the crew who could be moved by the tears of a women. Yet they all knegwhat _their oapfiajn had done. “ The captain means kind," said Stephen hoarsely. " Come, Avie. be comfortable. A run across the herrin' pond, and a hus- band on the other side of it. Such a bus- band, too! Why, it's honor and glory, not cryin' and takin' on I" “ Let her be." said the captain. " She is riled. Give her time. Just now. Miss Avis, you think it is mean. Why. all‘a fair in love. And after a. few days. when you've picked up a bit, we shall be friends again. I am only sorry there's never a stewardess on board." Here one of the cabin doors open and a woman stepped out. “ There is a stewardess, Captain Ram- mundmem. I suppose I was still silent. for presently theAgaptgin wept qn_: She was a tall and handsome woman of flve-and-twenty or so, with a profusion of black hair and black eyes. She was plainly git-eased; on her finger I noticed a wedding- ng. " I am a stowaway,” she said. “ You did not expect me here. YetI told you at Liver. pool that I would never leave you. And I never will 1" “ Oh I 'villain'!" It was not to the captsin, but to Stephen, that I spoke. uvvv- u " She never will,“ murmured Ste hen. in a kind of admirin stupor. “ She ooks as if she never woul ." " I will murder you! Do you beer?" The captain snatched at his waistcoat, as it to draw the revolver which he generally carried there. “I will murder you! You shall be thrown overboard! I say, I will '0‘ hill on. “ 0 not beefroid, child," she said to me. apparently pa in, no attention to his angry gestures. " e will not urder me. fie would, it he dared, but even , he sailors of this ship. rough as they are“, Would not screen him if he did. And he does not desire to be hanged l" 7 M wu lying rend J for thotrip p. When} w_e rosoh up ship, Captain Run_ ogmkep up ,ro ughly and readily. ou did it for the beat, Steve. No kind Iiivbrd’oonunuwl