The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 14, 1901, Page 5

THE SUNDAY CALL. 5 ELL, we can understand Mus- grave's marrying, but you, Drake, such a blatant misogyn= ist, to fall to a peti~ © ““There's where you're wrong, old man,” a prey Y s214; “t wasn't a petticoat.” *Wasn't a petticoat!” excl friend. “Not a bit of ft. You Xnow I'd for~ Eworn pe J ce did you get married hangs a tale” T remarked . Mg B through Jack Musgrave's love with in or gardem The affair, however, complexion later; for it hat Eva's papa nd Jack’s gove terms of the bit the 11 not be personal in ere were six trafning ships on r a fictitious Captain Beauchamp commanded during Y i his superior off e, had reportec llow that the ship should de ough the lifs evelopment; e Grampus was an old school His sessed 1t~ ed to be the . She was a proved herself to she was de- the good wev er, a sweet will of her own. 4 of the engage- je the atmosphere nd thanked 1 moored out He was cap- could rule all No medieval effectively ore hter than it was Eva was locked night and confined to iay. He vowed he'd er senses. e into his confiden ome means of to be able to manage tha boat is moored under the he Grampus and I've often seen standing on the gallery. w days aboard and communication with M3 Miss Beauchamp soon was rather a quaint et leaning over the rail ery of the old warship sou'wester) serenading om my dingy. He and she quick to was established by s carried on suc- tters that passed strain. Her father she could of her coming would take counsel appeared om the day—a piquant lt- affectionate and impul~ Judge from her bearing. ng in thinking that this bring matters to a brought us the My cousin and I have seriously dis- ed y ion, and I have resolved olerable captivit as there 1s al- m watch to prevent the We hope, however, some opportunity will aid us.” We discussed the matter half through the night, and the result of our delib- erations was that Musg e asked her to elope with him, that they bo ried at once. so could d asked Jack to help them to escape ship, stipulating that Madge me, 100, for she wo w0t leave her father’s wrath, leave th until got safely a ed on we made our plans. captain in the name of a asking be supplicd of time-expired lads. The w. was always glad to flad . and I received a re- liable lads w is had to arrange scapade, and ie contract. by our knowl- boys on the ship they hated the e doubt the b vould soon surround ¥ n of leyal vacht half a mile down he eve. a tri in our confi- “I've seen some rum sir, but this beats all.” , but of fact it was a bit un- g conventional, fault. 1 am ready to admit that T funked go- ing aboard the Grampus for those “boys " I told Jack it was clearly his duty, but he excused himself on the ground that he might be recognized. He remained in the boat while I ran up the accommo-~ datlon ladder and stepped through the gangway, where a pelty officer was nding guard. “My boys ready?" T asked. *Oh. let me see, you're from the yacht. TYes, I think they're rcady, sir. Here, boy, run down and send Davis and Wood on deck.” 1 desired to get on friendly terms with the officer, so produced my cigar case. It was all I could do. Had it been possible I would have stood him as rhuch whisky as he could swallow, regarding the ex- pense as nothing. Two boys came on deck with their kit- bags. There had been a bit of a shower a few minutes before, so they had their sou'westers on. “Now, iben, are you Jzady, therg¥ though that was not our You're: keeping the gentleman waiting,” #aid the officer. 7 “Half a minute, sir, if you don’t mind £aid one of them. The other young beggar actually winked at me. Two other young boys took the bags down to the boat, while my two dived below. “More farewells, I suppose,” I said to the officer, with a smile. Some youngsters were skylarking aloft—doubtless with a purpose—and their daring gymnastics caught the officer’s attention. He took a few steps forward and shouted for them to come down, which they did not appear anxious to do. Just then the two boys re- appeared, and skipping across the deck, descended the ladder. They had their sou’- westers pulled well over their faces, and their oflskin coats were thrown over their shoulders. I followed hastily, leaving the officer rating the larkers. He came to the gangway as we were entering the boat, and hurled some sarcasm at the boys for wearing oilys now the rain had stopped, and also passed disparaging re- marks at their want of smartness in tum- bling into the dingy. It must have struck the fellow as being strange that the boys sat aft while Jack and I took the oars. In fact, I saw a puzzied loek come into his face, and heard him utter an ejaculation of surprise. He evidently thought some- thing strange was happening. We bent our bac to our work and sent the little boat flying over the water. Our two new hands sitting on the stern-bench did not have the appearance of rollicking young sea-dogs. Poor girls, they had been through a trying ordeal. Eva was"deathly pale and not far off fainting, I imagined. Madge had stood the strain best, and now clasped Eva’s hand tightly in hers, and in o mute little ways tried to cheer and comfort her cousin. As we increased the distance between us and the Grampus her eves brightened, and her face caught the flush of excitement. She did not allow her embarrassment to overpower her, as did Eva, but seemed to catch the true spirit of adventure and rise upon it. As I watched her little flushed face peeping from beneath the scu'wester, I was forced to admit that for the first time in my life I was afloat with a girl who harmonized with her surroundings. “You're a plucky little girl, Miss Madge,” I thought. “They are not chasing us, are they?” she asked me. “No, ne,” 1 answered, reassuringly, “we've completely given them the slip.” “Hurrah!” she cried. We soon arrived alongside the Lilith and found Rogers had everything ready BY ) | OPYRIGHTED IN U. BY OFT S.A . PIERCE. J.ASHCK DT for a start. There was a nice whole-sall breeze from the westward, and in a few minutes the yacht was under way, hurry- ing seaward. iy Musgrave gave a sigh of relief, and the tension of his features relaxed. ‘“‘So far, §0 good, Jack,” I said. “You're a good fellow, Drake,” he re- marked, “and your nerves are like iron.” I did not tell him what a miserable funk T'd been in aboard the Grampus. The girls had retired to the after cabin to attire themselves more conventionally. The skylight was opened an inch or so for ventilation, and I heard Madge chattering as 1 stood at the tiller. Then I heard Eva utter an exclamation of dismay, and her cousin exclaim, *“Oh, g00dp A st lence followed—broken by Madge's rip- pling laughter. Evidently nothing very serious had happened. Presently Eva sald, r Madge,"—and the reply came, ““Certainly not, £ I'm all right as I am—I don’t care.” Jack came aft. “There's something wrong with the wardrobe,” I said, nodding toward the ladies’ cabin. In a few minutes Eva's head appeared at the companion, and Jack ran to her. “Oh, Jack,” T heard her s=ay, “those stupid boys have made such a terrible mistake. They packed their bags intend- ing to escape later in the evening, and somehow Madge's bag got mixed with theirs, and now she finds that she has got Wood's things, and I suppose he has got hers. What shall we do?” I admit it was most heartless conduct on my part, but really I could not help laugh- ing up sleeve. But, you know, I did not feel that the roguish Madge would be overpowered by the contretemps. If it had been Eva who had lost her bag, I should have been sorry for ‘her. On a strong ebb tide, and with the wind dead aft, we made a good ten knots past the land. The night was clear, and we should have the moon presently. One thing was certain—none of the ship’'s boats could overtake us while the breeze held. I began to feel hungry. which was a* sure sign my anxlety was wearing off. Rogers came aft, and T went down td tea. Eva was looking pale and interestingly distraught, but she gave me a generous smile and offered her hand. I was always a lout with women, but to show how im- pregnated I was by the spirit of romance, I bent down and kissed her fingers. Think of that, ye fair damsels who have flouted me! Jack was quite affected. I expected our sailor boy (the very uniform suggest- ed impudence) to laugh, but she didn’t. She gave me quite a respectful glance, then threw her arms around Eva’s neck and kissed her. She was a sympathetic and affectionate little rogue, We got quite cozy and companionable over the tea-table. There is something in the very smallness of a cabin that seems to bring you all physically and psychical- Iy close together—and I dare say you've noticed it. Where have you any snugger times than in a yacht's cabin? You see you're altogether out of the world. Madge was just charming—a captivating little burlesque sailor boy. No Grampus uni- form had ever before been so graced; and certainly no man-o’-war hat had ever perched more daintily above such a bright little face, or tried in vain to cover such obstinate masses of wavy brown hair. I reluctantly went on deck to relieve Rogers, but piresently Madge joined me. “Two's company—you know the rest, Mr. Drake,” she said. “I don’'t care about the rest, Miss ‘ “IT WAS A RATHER QUAINT BALCONY SCENES THE CHASE OF THE, LILITH . Madge, but the first s the solid fact.” “Jack told Eva, and she told me, that you were a wretch—a woman-hater.” “That's another fact,” I remarked. “I think it's shameful. You really can’t mean it, Mr. Drake?” “To apply to you?” T put in, ‘“certainly not—that would be absurd.” “Oh, I think I had better again But she didn't. ““Whet a glorious night,” she said pres- ently. “It must be lovelv to be a sallor,” and she commenced singing “A Life on the Ocean Wave.” Laugh if you like, but we callous beggars are softer than we think. “I say, won't you feel cold? I can't leave the helm, and you'll find my pilot coat hanging by the side of the ladder. You'd better go and get it.” She went below and got Lhe coat. “Eva’s looking very much better,” sald. “I'm glad of that. Let me help you on.” Steadying the tiller with my knee, I held the coat for her to slip her arms into it. Girls always used to glare at me when I helped them with their wraps and things; but then I never knew which was the right side up, and as often as not held them upside down, or inside out, or hind part before—never getting the right bear- ing of the things. But a pliot coat's dif- ferent. Madge slipped into it, and I but- toned it and turned up the collar. You see, her hands were half way up the sleeve, so how could she help herself? She didn’t say “thanks, very much,” in a tone that implied “you clumsy idiot, you,” like girls generally do, but just looked at me, and a good deal more sen- sible and expressive I thought it. There was a softened glitter in her eyes, and a little smile at the corners of her mouth that spoke the truth. A good binnacle lamp is always desirable. That was rather a pretty sail down Sea Reach—take it altogether. “I suppose Jack and Eva are discussing the wedding,” said Madge. % “I expect so. Jack has made all ar- rangements. A chum of his, a clergyman, is doing temporary duty at the viliage of Raglesham and that's where we're bound for. Jack told him to be ready first thing to-morrow morning. If all goes well, they’ll be man and wife in a very few hours now.” ‘We had left the Nore Light astern when Rogers came aft. “What's that chap doing” astern, sir?” he asked. “Looks like a tug.” go below she Sure enough there were three bright lights—red, green and white—following in our wake. They secmed to be glaring at us like a hound in pursult of its prey. “‘Are they chasing us?”’ asked Madge. “Well, it looks a bit like it,” I answered. “Call Mr. Musgrave, Rogers.” Jack came on deck, and his countenance fell as he saw the vessel astern. “Drake,” he sald, “whatever happans they are not going to take Eva away.” “No, they shall not,”” said the fierce lit- “They can’t, Mr. Drake, can “We'll do our best to give them the * I answered, “but they have got tiie ntage of us in speed.”” The tug drew up, and when her bow was overlapping our quarter, a gruff voi hailed, *“What yaeht is that?"” Rogers, with a capability for ready lyving tihat did him credit, answefed, “Fleur de Lys, Gravesend for Harwich.” at can't be her,” 1 heard some one say soito voce “ CAPTALIN BEAUCHAMP COMMANDED THE GRAMPUS™ “It's a — Mle,” an angry volce ex- claimed. (“Oh, that’s Captain Beau- champ," sald Madge.) “It's the ‘Lilith’ and my daughter and Musgrave are aboard. Let us come alongside, or by — we'll sink you.” “What's to be done, Rogers?” I asked in & whisper. “He'll be drawing more water than us; let's gibe over and run into shoal water on the edge of the Maplins.” Jack sprang to the weather runner and cast it off. The tug was closing in upon us when I put up the helm, and the boom came over with a jerk that made the ves- sel heel. Madge was standing by my side, and I clasped her round the walst to steady her. You know a man can't stand on ceremony in a sudden gibe, Trimming in the sheets, we started off on a broad reach for the sands. “If we can pick up the East Shoebury buoy,” sald Rogers, “I know a little swatch-way we can run into.” The tug was after us, but as we neared the sand, 1 heard the engine-room bell ring, and I guessed he was slowing up. We sighted the buoy, and Rogers taking the helm ran the yacht into the swatch-way. The tug dared not follow, and we noticed that she came-to just inside the buoy. ““What's the next move, acked. “Well, sir, If you want to give the old gentleman the slip, I should run oa tiil we ground. Then go ashore.” “Jack,” I said, ‘‘that's the very thing. Beauchamp is gure to come off In the tug’s boat.” “They're getting it over now, sir; I can hear 'em.” “Come along, Jack, fetch up Eva; we're not caught vet, nor will be. Hurry up, old Rogers?” I fellow; moments are precious. Hallo, we're aground. You'll be all right here, Rogers?”’ Jack dived below and brought up Eva. The dingy was alongside and the girls were helped in. “It's just possible, Rogers, that T may come back presently, so keep a lookout for me.” A few strokes brought us into shoal water; and we carried the girls on to the dry sands. The moon had risen clear of the Kentish hills and I was able to see the tug's boat making for the Lilith. “Come along: let's run for it,” I said. Jack took Eva’'s hand and I Madge's and off we started. Those Maplins are a con- founded width and it seemed as though we should never reach the shore, At last, however, we struck the wall just below Havengore Creek. I knew tha spot well, which was lucky. Looking back over the sands, I saw two distant figures follow- ing us. “Jack,” T said. “if we can only put Beauchamp on a false scent, you and Eva will be safe. There's no time to be lost: listen to me. You and Eva go on by the side of the creek, and you can either walk to the village or get a bargee to take you to Raglesham in his boat. You will be sure to find several bargees off the bri fields yonder. and T will decoy Beauchamp northward toward Foulness; then weidl give him the slip and return aboard again before the tide has had time to flow."” “I can't leave Madge.” sald Eva, anx- fously. “You must. Eva,” said Madge. ‘“Don’t trouble a bit about me, and besides I can’t go into civilization like this. Don't ruin everything, Eva.” “Jack, we must not leave her,” Eva said Madge, and fling- ing her arms around Eva's neck kissed her good-by. We crossed the dry mouth of the creek and hurried north along the sands. Our phrsuers sighted us and changed their course. Presently we mounted the sea- wall and ran across its summit until we came to some saltings that afforded ex- cellent cover. Being out of sight of the captain, we took refuge in a dry gully In a few minutes we heard the heavy tread of feet and the m ered cur: of panting lips, and the captain and one of his officers passed. The old man seemed pretty well done up and dragged himselfy along painfully. As the sed 1 felt my companion thrust her ‘arm through mine and the moonlight fell upon a littie face plaintive in its excitement. pa “Thank goodness, he's gone.’ she sald. “Oh, how my heart is beating.” We walted a few minutes, then com- menced our walk back. Madge was feel- ing the effects of fatigue and excitement and leaned rather heavily on my arm. I would have gladly picked her up and car- ried her. Well. to get to the end of my yarn, we ®ot aboard the yacht and told Rogers how that the runaway- couple had made good their escape. We got the yacht off as the tide flowed ana sailed round to Raglesham. The tug was lying at anchor With her crew turned in as we got under way. Bringing up off the village at about 9:30 o’clock, I hurried ashore and was met at the causeway by Mr. and Mrs. Musgrave. They had spent the night in the village of Barling, and gone on to Ragl am in the morning and got married as per arrangement. On leaving the church the welcome sight of the yacht sailing serenely up the river in the bright sunshine met their gaze. Eva ran up to the Vicarage and bor- rowed some attire from the vicar's wife * for Madge, and then we all went aboard. We congratulated the happy pair, but it was easy to see that a shadow of anxiety rested on the bride’s face. I guessed its generous cause. The wedding breakfast was to be given at the Vicarage and thitker we all presently repaired. Jack ard his wife went on ahead to warn his frlend that two more guests Were coming along. “What a funny experience it has all been, Mr. Drake, sald Madge, “it seems like a dream.” “A pleasant dream.” “I hope dear Eva will be happy. Do you know, Mr. Drake, I had a wedding present for her in my bag, but those wicked boys have got it now. Its loss worried me yesterday; I thought it was a bad omen.” “T never thought a word about a pres- ent—that was just like me. But we ¢an “DONT WE JEEM TO HAVE KNOWHN EACH __ OTHER FOR A LIFETIME,MADSE > get over that when we return to town.” I knew what Eva would have preferred to the most valuable present—something that would have completed her happiness. Alas! my sailor boy no more, and women froze me. Still she was Madge. There was a stile on the seawall-an awkward one—and she Tequired helping over. There are two ways of helping a girl over a stile. the polite way, which amounts to nothing, and the hearty ome, which does everything. The former was foreisn to me, the latter promised a ater success, Ra g the little burden I lifted her over the obstacle ling of an eye—her eyes, for they certainly did le, and her lps they smiled and her cheeks blushed. It seemed a make a man feel you know the it can. be called a most value this 1 know?" at least I'm not quite ting her eyes on that ling—a mut the ground “Don’t we seem to have known each other for a lifetime, Madge? Of course, if cire stanc > otherwise T would 1t when we meet t) sign articles?” ich a le sailor-boy." pluckiest little float. TI've never to be shipmates ne a life. But you, nt little Madge, I've . vage with and now I want you to sign on for life. I'm pper for you?" r forget your kind- too rough a no, I shall nev Well then, Madge, agree to be my nd we'll defer starting on our o as long as you like.” “You reali t poor little me?” she d ingenuou: You know I do, Madge. rself to me?” T think so. Captain,” she sald. We kept them waiting at the Vicarage. How long you have been, Madge,” sald Can you trust have been delayed ar- Madge and T wedding sift, ing about a mutual Musgrave,” I sald. va,” exclaimed my at all only sailor boy, You will Be that I've agreed “It's not a present so disappointed. It's sign Sign on, Madge, what do you mean?” he atmosphere of matrimony, Mrs. Musgra nd the thoughts of yo hap- piness have been too much for Madge and me, and we’'ve agreed to follow suit—at some time or other.” “Oh, are you really engaged? Madge, my darling, let me congratulate you. This is noble of you, Mr. Drake, and I do so hove y¢ will be as happy as you have made me. o - . There you have the complete yarn; now ve scoffers, scoff to your heart’s content. But they didn’t. “What became of the heavy father?” asked some one. “I hove the two boys got away,” said another. “I'm not on speaking terms with the old man, but a friend of mine heard the whole story from ome of the officers. Oh, he trudged on to Fouln and arrived at the'village comvletely done up, so he got a bed and slent till late next morning. Obtaining no tidings of his daughter, he drove to Snoeburyness in a cart, and then returned to the ship, where a telegram awaited him announcing Eva's marriage. The boys escaped ashore during the com- motion that the discovery of the girls® flight caused. The whole affair was un- attended by a single regret—tor the gap- tain didn’t count.