Commodore Junk Part 79

"And old Bart, too, if he will serve," he said half aloud. Then two or three times over, as a pretty, powdered-and-painted image, all silk and gewgaws and flowers, filled his imagination, "What a release! Thank Heaven!"

At last there was but one gla.s.s left in the bottle, and raising the handled basket in which it reclined, he carefully poured it out, and held it up, seeming to see in the candle-lit, ruby rays a torrid land, a sun-browned face, and two dark, imploring eyes gazing into his till they grew dewy, and all around him seemed to be blurred and dim. He was almost alone in the great club-room, for the various diners had risen and gone, and for the time being the long, gloomy place seemed to be the old prison chamber, with its stone altar and great carven idol gazing stolidly down upon him as he said softly:

"Mary Dell! True woman! I shall never love again!"

He drained the gla.s.s to the memory of Commodore Junk, and, stubborn Englishman to the last, he kept his word.

THE END.