, 1884-03-12

"a Q
Amory reported below stairs that the sick
ady looked sad and very III, and begged to
go and sit with her. But Miss Learock sent
her down with the supper untouched Lyt-
ton sat smoking behind the vines and threw
away his cigar and asked his mother to go
with him up to the sick-room- He bent over
Rowena slightly and laid, his finger on her
wrist. She started and laughed, ioyously as
\ child.
@Come, how much longer am 1 to be e1-
led. Mr.. Lyttoni You sec 1 nm again
robust"
II am not SO certain OF that, miss; but you
nay try the sitting-room tomorrow. 1t Is
sight days now, and the danger is past"
How lovely she looked in her soft, white
garments, with a web of scarlet wool about
aer shoulders and her yellow mesh OF hair
browning her small head like the aureole OF a
Saint. She had her guitar brought, and sang
ieliciously to a little group, composed of
Lytton, his mother and Amory, whose brown
hands were clasped in her lap in ecstasy.
Dalton had stalked away to join
the rest of the party, who were fishing by a
waning light down at Frogs Neck.
You must not tire yourself" said Logan,
taking away the instrument. II believe
here Is a soul In this" he laughed, as be
aung 1t over the old harpsichord which a
lead sister, Gertrude, once worked to har-
nony.
Amory had started home, swinging her
sailor's hat by its strings, with a stony look
new to her eyes.
With a few rapid strides a hard breathing
giant overlook her as her feet were scrunch-
ing on the sands.
@Going home in tho dusk alone, childi
Your father would think me a clown"
81 hated 10 ask you" she said simply, with
pathos in her voice and a searching took into
bis face, but he turned away and spoke OF Q
,oming storm.
Amory felt it already raging in her heart,
and for the first time she longed for a super
natural beauty. She was pretty as girls
20, but she wanted the yellow hair and the
air OF a princess, with flashing jewels on her
hands.
Many days and nights followed this, and
Rowena grew strong and radiant as if drink
lng the wine OF life to the dregs. Miss Car
oline threatened to go back to the city, which
frightened up the company so much that she
repented at once and remained.
Amory felt that she was being spoken OF
Is shat poor child. and she spent her
iorenoons on the "neck'' writing in the sand,
calling up strange phantom ships from the
trough Of the sea, and her evenings straying
through the miserable little rooms, hearing
al the querulons questions of her doting old
daddy, who mended nets and wondered why
she was not at Lytton's so much.
"There's company enough there, daddy,
without me-" and Anory rocked herself to
and fro in the first throes OF a great agony.
In the meantime, as was natural, the cul-
tured flower outgrew the reeds because of the
gardeners care, and Rowena wrapped her
'pell more and more around the moth which
duttered ever near the cruel blaze.
Now she longed to try her power as to test
, cable that she had plated. Selhshness
dominated over every other sentiment, and,
although Us much as it was in her to love,
she loved Logan Lytton, she yearned to give
him pain to see that ashen look OF despair
creep over his face which had been presaged
once when a talk arose OF what men should
do who hazard their all upon ono woman,s
smile and find it the sheer OF ridicule. As
usual every afternoon they had gone out in
Eogan's boat, ON the stern OF which, in blue
letters, ono might read in his own scrip.
Lady Rowena-"
She had been playing with him, madly en-
joying as a beautiful leopard the nearer APP
proachof her powerless prey. As for the
rover, he dropped his oars and looked at a
phosphorescent glamour far out ut sea. A
faint "hallo' from old Hartegen brought out
q fro1n on his bronzed brow. Daddy sig
ualeu anu pOllbeu 70 the SQuaii coming up
on the black wings of a furious genii.
"Why can we not sail on and on like this
forever, Miss Learocki II there were no
brutal human animals to recall one to the
commonplace affairs OF life. But you are
chilled" He left his souls to wrap her
shoulders against the biting teeth Of the gale,
now blowing viciously. The fruil boat
rocked, and with a little scream Rowena saw
the oars drop from the oar-locks into the
hungry sea. A certain madness took posses
sion OF him; he clasped her in his arms, his
hot breath scorching her cheek. What docs
it matter, Rowena, my queen, living or dead,
IL together, you are mine. No power can
snatch you from me now"
"Oh, cowardl" walled Rowena, wringing
her hands, looking at the lights springing up
| on shore from the wreckers' torches. Cow
ard to take advantage Of my HOPELESS con-
ditionl'
ado you love me-have you, then, like
those demops l have read of, acted a pitiful
lie and woven the old net to enmesh my soulI
No, I'll not believe it, my beautiful darling.
| have watched your heart beat at my COM
ing, l know that you do love me us you cnn-
not love another in this life"
In the midst of her agony such words wore
sweet In her ears, but she was bent on having
revenge.
wretch, how dare you address me thusi
You are not worthy to tie my shoe latchet.
Do you think me madr'
"Yes, you must be-" he said, folding his
arms and looking into the foany waters.
Mad, indeed, to mock at me now, who
holds your life in my band. Do you know
that unless l will it, no human agency in all
probability can take you safe on shore AGAIN.
By the time our danger is apparent to your
friends, the swells will engulf any boat
citing Off to aid you. l am, indeed, a cow
ard, for l have br oxen one OF earth's truest
hearts under the spell OF your fiendish
beauty. You cannot despise me more than /
do myself
Her lips quivered to speak endearing
names, her white arms longed to clasp his
neck. and her head to drop on his breast, a.
the first wild, burning flame of her love
leaped into n whirlpool Of passion at his
touch, but pride withheld her while the
waves rose and the gale shrieked and their
boat rocked like a toy in the storm. Lift
had never seemed so dear. She, who had
thousands. baubles, friends, lovers, slaves
to go down at night and be dead in the bot
tom of the sea, while clammy fishes fed upon
those rounded arms and dimpled cheeks.
Horriblei HorriblelI
Have you no pity, Logani think what
you are doing" she pleaded, kissing his
hands Il do not want TO die; you saved me
from drowning once, you who were so strong
and good; you will not let mo die nowi I'm
not fit"
@No, you are not, v he says, calmly thinking
OF her sins She asked for pity had she anyi
The bits Of wreckage ON the sands tomorrow
would not outnumbe the lives she had
ruined, but he ropsnted OF his vengeance.
He would save hsr II he could But could
bel
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