Sandy

t ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wha

nted by the temporary interference. Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at

A sailor's blouse, two sizes too large, was held together at the neck by a bit of red cambric, and his trousers were anchored to their mooring by a heavy piece of yellow twine. The indolence of his position, however, was not indicativ

vored his speech as the salt flavors the sea air. "You don't want to be a bloomin' o

hen he was actually face to face with his decision. All sorts of memories came rushing pell-mell

est of all. There were persons in the large chairs, one a silent Scotchman who, instinct told him, must have been his father, and the other-oh, tricky memory that faltered when he wanted it to be so clear!-was the maddest, merriest little mother that ever came back to haunt a lad. By holding tight to the memory he could see that her eyes were blue like his own, but her hair was black. He could hear the ring of her laugh a

es with relatives in Ireland and Scotland, of various schools and unceasing work. Then came the day, two years ago, when, goaded by some injustice, real or imagined, he had run away to England and st

. He had had no thought of embarking until the big English liner Great Britain arrived in port after breaking all records on her homeward passage. She was to start on her sec

ps, had answered the call of fire at midnight, and tramped ten miles to see the finish of a great regatta. But somethi

asked a passing sailor as he

ed for an answer and usually got it-a smile so brimming over with good-fellow

he jumped to his feet. "Here's the shillin' I owe you, partner,

, and then went whistling away down the wharf. He swung along right cheerily, his rags fluttering, his chin in

in' good little chap," he said to a man near by.

off and on," he said. "He

e more passenger than she registered. In the big life-boat swung above the h

was doing light housekeeping. The apartment, to be sure, was rather small and dark, for the only light came

as Sandy's private larder, consisting of several loaves of bread, a bag of apples, and some canned meat. The other end of the boat was

e. It was exceedingly inconvenient to have to lie down or crawl; but Sandy had been used to inconveniences all his life, and this was simply a

ear. For they were evidently lovers, and Sandy was at that inflammable age when to hear mention of love is dangerous and to see a manifestation of it absolute contagion. When the great question came, his heart waited for the answe

ook best, for it was through this one that he found his way back again to that enchanted land that lay behind the peat-flames in the shadowy memory. Early in the morning he read it, with his head on the box of hardtack and his fee

ow; for she might not be delivered of it save by a knight who was of passing good name both of his lands and deeds. And after that all the great knights had striven in vain to draw the sword from its sheath, a poor knight, poorly arrayed, felt in his heart that he might essay it, but was abashed. At last, however

oming up from the deck below. Cautiously he pulled back the canvas flap and emerged like the head of a turtle from his shell. The bright sunshine dazzled him for a moment,

nch the America gained upon her, until they were bow and bow. The crowd below grew wilder, cheers went up from both steamers, the decks were white with the flutter of handkerchiefs. Suddenly the band below struck up "The Star-Spangled Banner." Sandy gave one triumphant glance at the St

d jerked roughly down upon the dec

to hatch out," he said. "I guess t

n terror. Had the deck steward not been familiar with stowaways, he doubtless woul

of curious passengers, then down again to the steerage deck, where he dep

sity. He bit his nails until the blood came, and struggled manfully to keep back the tears. He was cold, hun

anter leaning over the railing. He only knew that her eyes were brown and that she was sorry for him, but it changed his world. He pulle

took courage. Life had