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I _^|%Fwin jean rCorTTIGBI Eocscx B, I fTT A TVTT?.TT TV. I (Continued.) This suggestion was aeted upon immediately, and the tenants of the, nearest cottage gave them ready admittance and assistance. Every one' on the island was awake and fearful In that terrible storm. No one could sleep or rest with the roar in the heavens and the thunder of waters on the l>each, the lightning glaring as though the heavens had opened with fire to swallow the world. But, Interesting though It might be for Graham to be petted and flattered and cared for, it was but ten minutes at most ere he was thoroughly recovered and declared his intention of returning to the hotel in spite of every objection. "My wife will be anxious," he said, .quite steadily and smiling. "It is a rtlrrlii- In irhipli tn ho l/Ulliti uu^iuaauut ut0ui. m ???v- ~ out, and she will be certain to think jthat I have been offered as sacrifice to iNeptune!" "Nonsense," retorted Gregory Bensonhurst, with prompt decision, doina iiis utmost to detain his friend, that he should be entirely recovered after his brave struggle. "We'll send word up, Harold! Do be sensible and wait till the storm passes, there's a good, fellow! It Is abating very much now." But the "good fellow" would not be persuaded. He shook his head, smiling. ? "Dcn't be ridiculous. Bensonhurst!" be said lightly. "There is nothing the, natter with me. Come! Mr. Earle ia safely cared for here until morning and the rest of the party are all right, save for the wetting and the scare, and we'll go up to the hotel. The .Grants have been very gracious to this lot of shipwrecked sailors, but we'll not infringe upon good nature. There 9 ~ ?- ? - A T loll tA is uue lillUg, uunctci, luru. A men vvr j \ say, and I shall think you no true friends of mine if you do not agree .with me: It is that I wish you all to ' promise?all of you, remember?that i you will withhold from those who are not present to-night, tLat I saved! Palmer Earle! I have my reasons. JThey are good reasons, too, as you will acknowledge to-morrow. I cannot* make the matter more clear to you now, but I must have your promise!" Gregory Bensonhurst looked at his friend as though he thought him bereft of his senses. He and Graham were alone for the moment, as the others prepared to go up to the hotel. His eyes were keen and steady, searching the other's face; but so were Graham's eyes, and a new sternness was about his moutht. "Come!" he added, impatiently. "Don't tell me so plainly that you are not my friend, Bensonhurst. I have my reason? for requesting this prom ise. You will understand?to-morrow." "Why not to-night, Harold?" "Because"?Graham moved away ir: ritably, a frown on his face?"because to-cight it is nothing to you, Bensonhurst Come! Give me your promise, / will you? Or shall I go without it and know that your friendship is not atrong enough to stand trial?" Gregory Bensouhurst laid his hand upon the arm of his friend to detain him as he was passing to the door. His face was very grave. His memory was keen with the words of warning uttered by Leland the previous afterneon. Why should this man speak so strangely of to-morrow? "Look here. Harold," he said, quietly; "I call myself your friend. If it is a friend's duty to give you this promise, I do so. You can trust me. And if ever there is other need to try my friendship?try me!" A peculiar change struck Harold Graham's face, but he grasped the other's hand warmly. "Very well," lie said. "I thank you, Eensonhurst. I^shall try you sooner than you know, perhaps. Let us go." They joined the others in the hall and upon the piazza?a group of drenched men. with their coats well buttoned up about their throats and their hats pressed close down on theif heads. Few would, have recognized among them the half-dozen fashioua wie ^uuug uion lunug inruugu me pre'.vious day. The yachting party were rwith thein. save Palmer Earle, the boat's owner anil the one most se-vcrely injured. Tlie storm bad somewhat abated and they could reach the (hotel without such difficulties as they (met in starting out. They pretty well 'filled the cottage and were unwilling longer to trespass on the hospitality of the Grants. Mr. Earle was well cared for and comfortably asleep, the stimulant ordered for him leaving liinj .little time before slumber. His friends , 'could safely leave him and secure thei? own comfort at the hotel. They looked considerably mystified when informed of Graham's wishes regarding his share in the rescue; but most of them assented readily enough. Iwith a skeptical shrug of the shoulders and uplifting of the brows. It way none of their business if this man ? THROP'S DEFEAT. a Noo;!. BY KATE LUDLUti. -L>? J cliosc to hide his bravery. If be had reason for his reticence, was it for ! them?some of them the men he had j helped to save?to bruit his business i to the world? The group in the hotel parlor had : learned souie time previously that their friends were among the rescuing ! party upoq the beach, and if it were possible for their fear to increase, it , was then increased. Alecia endeav- j ored to retain her brave face and com- i fort her companions with her words of cheer; but it wus a difficult thing for her to do. knowing that her husband was in the storm. Many women would have been still more terrified, knowing of the burden upon his shoul- j dors that might make him reckless : of his life. You are such a dear, sweet, brave tiling, Alecia," said Katliryn Franklin, | admiringly, nestling nearer her friend i upon the 6ofn, and patting one of her ; bands tenderly. "I don't see how you ' can sit here tolling us so quietly not to be afraid, when you know that your | husband is in this horrible lightning." | "You must be a fatalist, Alecia," j Althea Dunravcn cried, with Sudden animation. "Though I don't see how you can believe that he Is as safe out in the storm as in here away from it." ; "Oh, but we're not away from it, j Aithea," moanea poor nuie preuy .oi-ps : Catherwood, with reproachful eyes, j "We're just right in the very midst of it! I'll never again come down to j the sea in summer?never, never, nev- i cr! It's too dreadful." "You'll forget all about it to-morrow when the sun shines." said Lelaud, j comfortingly, in an undertone. "But you're not to forget, wicked little Bess, that you have given me your promise tc-night." "Oh, dear!" she cried, wretchedly, "dear, dear, dear! ll' you'll keep me safe through this, Laue Leland, I'll j never be bad to you again! I'll just love ypu forever and ever! I am so afraid!" "Well," he said, calmly, "I shall remind you of this, if you do forget, Bess. I cannot be patient forever, you know!" But she could cot quarrel with liirn, for she was too terrified, and only ! lifted those great black reproachful eyes of hers to his with a grieved curve to her red lips, that gave him a deplorable feeling of base ingratitude, and caused him to be infinitely tender : to her for that time. "I am not a fatalist?no," said Alecia, smiling, in reply to Althea's remark. "It isn't that, my dear, but if there is need for hiin to go I would not keep him. I would not have him a coward, you know, even to save his life." "That's like you," said Clara Ercdley, softly. "I never saw another, woman to equal you, Mrs. Graham! , But I'm not brave, and I don't want ' to be in such a horrible storm. Just , think of our being cut off from home by all that water, with no way of get- j ting there should we wish, and the ; hotel liable to be washed away " ( "There is the lighthouse," said Alecia, quietly. "If the worst should j come?which isn't probable?we could ! go there, you know. That wouldn't 1 be washed away!" "Oh, but you don't know." protested | Miss Clara, fretfully. "And, besidee, we would all be blown into pieces be fore we could get there. I tell you it's awful to be here in a storm!" "I'll not let ycu come then, next summer. Clare," said Ninette, roguishly. "I'll tell Uncle Hallett what a coward you are. and he'll cut you off from his will without so much as enough to buy a bonnet, and then what will you do;" "What do I care about bonnets?" retorted Clara, with tearful eyes, "in such a storm as this, Ninette Bradley? But you will be a mean, mean girl if you tell Uncle Hallet anything. I never do." Her sister laughed. They all knew sufficiently well Clara Bradley's passion for bonnets. "Oh. this is simply dreadful!" cried ATI'jo Potliortrnnrl ctortinop fn hnr fpAt with her hands over her ears, her ; face deepening in pallor with fear, as a peal of thunder crashed overhead, shaking the building, and thundered on and across, the water into the far distance and was still. "The lightning is bad enough, but it isn't anything compared with the thunder. You ought to be ashamed to laugh aud talk about bonuets in this storm, you wicked girls." "Well, it's very nice to have bonnets in clear weather, anyway," retorted Kathryn Franklin. "And we're not wicked to talk about them, you little craven!" "Everybody is so unkind to me," said Bess, pitifully, with quivering lips that brought her lover's heart to still deeper subjection, "because I'm afraid of thunder. I can't help it I didn't make myself. If I had, maybe # I'd have made myself more lite you, Alecia, or lite Kathryn." "Poor little thins," said Alecia. kindly, with quick sympathy, as she rose and crossed over to the girl. her. hand touching lightly the curly dark head as she stooped and kissed the soft cheek nearest her. 'Toor little thing! It is unkind to he unkind to you." "And you're such a dear!" whispered Bess, impulsively, catching the soft hand from her head and dragging it down to her lips. "You're such a dear?and so beautiful. Mrs. Graham!" Lane Leland looked shamefully jealous of all this privilege, and Bess, knowing tills very well, even in her fear could not resist being the least bit wicked. "It is so nice to have people comfort one instead of teasing." added this cm o U Irvonl Tt-ltli lint- t-o/1 lir,c nnrl great eyes and eloquent face lifted to i the beautiful woman above her, as j Fhe held, the caressing hand between j her own two hands. "It is so sweet 1 of you. Mrs. Graham, to understand i just little me." Just Little was wickedly under- i standing of what was in her lovers heart. lie had taunted,her with being , cruel and forgetful, and. although she ( needed his companionship and strength j too much to quarrel with him, she , could repay him for all slights most , cruelly. i Probably Mrs. Graham understood ( that quite as well as Miss Catherwood herself. Anyway, she laughed as she patted with her other hand the two , hands clasping hers ere she turned and resumed her seat. "Just Little Me is a charming child," she said, kindly and sweetly. "Already the storm is passing. Miss Catherwood. You need fear no longer. The lightning and thunder are still severe, but they are too far away now Jo harm us. Be of good cheer. Just Little Me!" r "And here come the others!" cried 1 Alt hea Dunraveu, delightedly. "Now a we will know what is the matter and t Imro thorn snfp!" (3 "I* tliey are safe!" supplemented c Constance Armitage, wickedly. 1 For Miss Armitage knew quite well d that George Priestly was one of the ( party in the storm, and that George q Priestly was more than a friend to ^ pretty Miss Dunraven. And Miss c Armitage could he a trifle spiteful, i too, because her fiance was camping c in the Adiromlacks instead pf board- f ing at the Surf Hotel on Fire Island. "Of course they're safe!" said AIthea, indignantly, a flush on her pretty cheeks and her blue eyes shin- js ing. "Don't you suppose we would { have heard of it if anything haT] hap- * pened? Dad news travels always faster than good!" 71 But Miss Armitage was saved .the * necessity of replying to this con- s vincing remark by the entrance of the 1 J Doll an/1 11tn P Urt'llCUl'U 1'Uil^ IUIU mt; uau, uuu iuv. I prompt adjournment of the parlor , r group to learn what news they ? brought. Sufficient news, indeed; and '' the group that had shuddered in the 1 parlor, through the storm, felt uncom- j fortably small when compared with a these men who had passed through 0 so much in the midst of it. What heroes they made of them! Crowded about them in their pretty gowns, regardless of the sea-water or the rain, ? their bright eyes eloquently alive with t pride. 1 i Knew tnat you were wave, sum Alecia, very softly, with her hands g around her husband's arm and her j. shining eyes upon his, her lips half j trembling in spite of their smiling. For a they had told her of his bravery, with- s holding only his rescue of the man In t the cottage. "I couldn't be afraid, ? Harold. I had such faith in you!" And he was grateful in the inner- * most depths of his soul, that he could meet her eyes without shrinking with guilt. "And I don't see why you couldn't ^ have gone with them and been brave, too, instead of staying safely in the v parlor," said cruel Miss Catherwood f petulantly, as she parted from Lane j1 Leland at the stairs, a few minutes g later, not even yielding him her hand. r 1 CHAPTER V. I LEAVING THE OLD LIFE. t The Ziugara. anchored at the pier, c had been badly battered and tossed * rue events of the night, were going ; town to the (lock to see them efT. the i ittle steamer's departure and arrival j being the special events of the day. You must premise to come back to us, Mrs. Graham." Alecia smiled upon the eager face l>e;ide her. She knew quite well that this small woman and her lover had quarreled, for her eyes, seeing all that concerned her friends, had noted their avoidance of eac-h other. She would make some one happey ere she left her aid life, she said to herself, bravely. ?o she patted the fingers upon her arm, replj'ing to some rer-.ark of Ninette's aefore she spoke to this other friend. "I cannot promise," she said then, uniling gently. "You are kind to wish It, Miss Catherwood, but I think it scarcely probable that we shall return. Unexpected business calls my husband away, and doubtless are shall reman In the city for some time. When we leave, I think we shall travel through the West. We intended last fall to take a California trip, but were prevented. So. you see, it is not likely that we shall return here." "I see," said Miss Catherwood, sorrowfully. "I wish I could not see so clearly, Mrs. Graham. But"?a soft rose color deepened upon her cheeks and a smile stirred the parted lips as though she scarcely dared tender her request?'"if ever you have time?and care to ? will you write to me, dear Mrs. Graham? I 6hould be so pleased! You somehow understand me better i than my other friends, and, perhaps, I may?mind, I only say perhaps I may -"i'nw lirnve from knowlne VOU." (To be continued.) Agricultural Appropriation. Washington. Special?The HousVednesday passed the agricultural apiropriation bill, the last but two reguar supply measures. By the terms ol i special rule adopted before the Disrict bill was taken up it will be in orler to attach a rider to it to make iperatlve the existing personal tax aw of the District, which has been a lead letter for 20 years. Chairman Gannon estimated that there was $100,'00,000 of untaxed personal property in Washington. The Goldfogle resolution ailing upon the Secretary of State for nformatiDn as to whether American itizens of Jewish faith were excluded rom Russia, was adopted. Squadron Anchored Off the Capes Old Point Comfort, Va., Special?The ,'nrth Atlantic snnadron is anchored ust outside the Virginia Capes, where he battleships will be inspected by the [aval board of inspection, headed by tdmira 1 Dewey. The squadron will pend ten days target practice outside he Capes. The battleship Alabama ame up to Old Point, reported the arival of the ships in the capes, and ifter taking on the mail and provisons for the squadron, proceeded back o the spot where the big fighters are nchorad. The Cincinnati arrived in iampton Roads from Galveston, Ten., nd will remain here waiting sailing irders. Fatal Duel in Georgia. Wacross, Ga., Special.?Dr. J. M. Ipence has received information that lis cousin, James Spence, was killed n am impromptu duel at Pineblooin vith a log contractor named Smith. ?he two men had quarrelled some time igo. This morning they met at Pineiloom and each pulled a revolver and >egan shooting. Young Spence was ihot in the neck and died almost intantly. Smith received one bullet hrough the stomach and is said to be lying Spence was prominently conlected in this State. Smith i? a naive of North Carolina and is ;onneced with a large lumber company. Americans Still in Prison. Rome, By Cable.?The officers of the j Jnited States cruiser Chicago, who | I'priv arrested at Venice, remain in I irison there. An application for their lischarge has been rejected. The Italan law does not allow the court to ;rant pardon in cases of assault. The lewspapers mention the cases of the ynched Italians in the United States, t is considered probable, however, that he prisoners will be released by order if the King, June 1, the date of the ete of the constitution. Information Wanted. Washington, Special. ? Represauta.ive Hay, of Virginia, introduced a resilution directing the Secretary of War o inform the House as to the cost of he army in the Philippines since May L, 1898; also the cost of maintaining he civil and military government in .he island; the cost incidental to the nsular service of the War Department md other items of cost connected with J he occupation and possession of the Philippines by the United States. CaDtain Dropped Dead. Berlin, By Cable.?Captain A. \lbers, of the Hamburg-American steamer Deutschland, fell dead of aeart-failure in the chart house of his vessel as she avas approaching the port of Cuxhaven. He expired in the arms of his first officer, who caught hipi as he fell. The long hours spent by Capt. Alters, on the bridge of the ressel after the loss of her rudder at sea, which occurred before the Deutschland reached Plymouth, and during the passage of the North Sea, probably hastened,the captain's collapse. - ' 1 during the nigh*, but when morning broke and the sun slioue in a cloudless sky, she rose and fell quietly on the waves, waiting for her passengers across at Babylon. Few passengers came that morning, for there was little interest evinced in business among fthe hotel guests. Gregory Bensonhurst was going for the day, to take a look at Wall street, he said, easily, though in his heart he was not easy regarding ,.tlie condition of Graham's affairs- as hinted by Leland on the previous afternoon. The yachting party were to cross, also, to report the' wrecking of the Queen Taphenes and the rescue of her passengers and crew. And as though J it were the merest matter of course, Mrs. Graham announced that she was 1 going to the city with her husband, as they had changed their intention of re- , mainiug the summer through at the ] Surf Hotel. 1 "But you will come back to us?" queried Bess tPatherwood, earnestly, i her pretty face lifted to her friend in the broad sunlight upon the pier as * they walked dow^o the waiting boat. For those guests who were up after ? V " "* A : - CAPTURE OF MORO. Insurgent Stronghold Succumbs to American Forces A BIT OF REAL WAR AT LAST Fort Defended by 300 Natives and Shelled by Four Mountain Quns. Hand-toHand Fighting in the Ditches. Manila, By Cable.?General Davis, the commander of the American forces in the islands of Mindanao, cables that the 84 Moros who survived the attack and capture of the Moro fort by American soldiers, in Mindanao, have surrendered and that the Sultan of Bayan, Eajah Muda, Sultan Panda Padto and a number of the leading Dattos, were killed in the engagement. The assault on the principal fort, reports General Davis, was one of the most gallant performances of American arms in the Philippines and the regiment 'of Lieutenant Colonel Frank D. Baldwin, the Fourth Infantry, deserves the greatest credit of its conduct. The men of the Fourth Infantry had a hand-to-hand struggle with the Moros in the four lines of ditches under the walls of the fort. When the DOSition was captured these ditches were found to be lined with Moro dead. General Davis characterizes the rifle fire of the Americans as excellent and says he has never witnessed a performance excelling the capture of the Moro fort in gallantry. General Davis says also it is his painful duty to announce that the overthrow of Moro power was not accomplished without severe loss to the Americans. One officer and 7 men were killed, while 3 officers and 37 men were wounded. After the 84 Moros who survived the ^ assault had marched out of the fort, 3 others who were concealed there made an unsuccessful break for liberty. Some of the Moro wounded tried to stab the American soldiers, who were caring for them. It is impossible to give the total of Moro dead, as a number of them are lying in the tall grass. The fort was defended by 300 men. Its capture saves a siege, as it would have been impossible to carry the position without scaling ladders. General Davis further reports his intent'on of retaining his prisoners until the .>w adjacent Moro forts are occupied. Then, with the consent of General Chaffee, he will retain ten of his priscipal captives as hostages and release the others. The American force3 who attacked the fort numbered 470 men and four mountain guns. It rained hard during the night preceding the attack, and the men were without blankets. The battery fired 120 rounds at a range of 1,400 yards. General Davis adds that he is send ing the dead to Aiaiaoang ior Duriai. He intends to invite the Sultan of Tarac to an interview. His fort is of the same strength as Bay an. the one captured yesterday. General Davis id urging the people to return to the cultivation of their rice fields. He believes the Moros have learned a lesson which will prevent further trouble. Washington. Special.?The President ha3 sent the following dispatcn to General ChafTce, from whom he had received a cablegram confirming the Associated Press dispatch from Manila: "Washington, D. C., May 4. * "To Chaffee, Manila: "Accept for the army under your command and express to General Davis and Colonel Baldwin especially, my congratulations and thanks for the spienaia courage ana naemy wmcn have again carried our flag to victory. Your fellow countrymen at home will ever honor the memory of the fallen, and be faithful to the brave survivors who have themselves been faithful unto the end for their country's sake. (Signed) "THEODORE ROOSEVELT." Cigarmakers fleet. Cincinnati, Special.?The annual convention of the National Cigar Leaf Association began here Monday and continued for three days. About 100 delegates, representing associations in various cities throughout the country were in attendance, and in addition many members of leading firms in the trade were present. The pending measures before Congress looking to reductions on import duties on Cuban leaf tobacco and * cigars came up ior ?.\i?uuwru uio^ua;ion and a strong protest against any reduction in the tariff schedule, was adopted by the convention. 9 Wreck on New York Central. Clyde, N. Y., Special?New York Central fast mail No. 3, west-bound, collided with a fast freight going in tho opposite direction a quarter of a mile west of the station here at 5 p. m., killing the engineer and fireman of the mail and seriously injuring thirteen mail clerks.