, 1891-08-06

eA -
well. She asked no questions respecting
him, and, indeed, there was always a lit
tie air Of reticence about her which Sir
Denis found delightful. Accustomed to
the ways Of women, and smiled upon by
almost every type of them, he was
amused to find that this darkeyed little
sea maiden had wit enough to hold her
own against his attack. 1t made the con-
test rather more interesting. Had she
bent that dainty head of hers to his first
touch, he would have left her and gone
back to his old familiar haunts without
giving her another thought. But she
wa a hardy little flower, and, seeing the
bravery of her bearing. he waited on
from day to day, from week to week.
The season in town was a dull one; he
had been a little bored before leaving.
and this child was worth studying.
But Arthur Heathcote failed to under
stand the gradual change in her and
wooed her still in his somewhat heavy
fashion. He took courage to remark to
Lady Katharine: 81 declare | believe she
likes me best. Isn't she a bit shy with
B~eauchamp2 Just a little afraid of him.
it strikes me-"
Was she afraid of Sir Denis7 Her
words failed her now and then; her
merry speech had a trick of dropping
into silence when his hand touched hers
ever SO lightly. The sea murmured
strange things as they wandered together
in ~unfrequented ways.
"You love it2" he said, as she staid
her steps beside 1t.
at is my world. / was born at sea.
Its music was my slumbering song in in
fancy, my joy song in childhood, my
dream song always"-
"And shall be now?"-
Only a something in the voice, the
look; only a bent head and lips which,
stay; they did not brush the fairy dust
from the pretty butterfiy's wing. Not
yet, not quite yet.
Happy Marinar" he said; happy
child Ny sea sings a rougher song. It
is the sea Of the world"
You love ity' she questioned demure-
ly, echoing his phrase and beating pack
the riotous thoughts.
at loves mel; is not that enough"
She laughed softly. "Quite enough. 1
am glad you do not love it more"
who taught you to scorn the worldY'
"Scorn it? respect it as a mighty in
stitution. Do | not listen with due rev.
erence to the world maxims and world
stories you and Lady Katharine repeat?'
There was a faint infection of sorrow
in his tone as he replied: Don't let her
spoil you, little one. The life song the
sea sings you is a nobler one than ours"
Al Gods world is nobler than mans"
She stole away very quietly OIL their
return, and left him alone with Lady
Katharine. They talked on Indifferent
subjects.
"You are pleased to be dull, Denis.
Are you beginning to be boredT'
"Bored7 No."
"You find Marina interesting
Very"
Then silence. Lady Katharine poked
the fire to a blaze that she might see his
face. 1t was inscrutable.
At length he spoke. 81 wonder, Kitty,
what induced you to ask me here just
nowY'
Life in Thirltown was not amusing
me. Is not that sufficient"
"Flattererl might believe you but
for one thing. Since my arrival you
have scarcely ~vouchsafed me a single
hour of your undivided attention"
"You have, nevertheless, amused your
self
"Yes. You asked me to take her off
your hands for a time, and have taken
care to give me every opportunity. You
have told herr"
81 have not supposed it necessary"
at is necessary. You will tell her to-
night"
"And your"
1T is not a subject l care to allude to.
1 shall be silent. provided you promise
she shall know"
al will make my opportunity"
The days passed, and every morning
the dark eyes met the sun more gladly,
and every night the red lips parted in
more tender fashion on repeating his
name.
Lady Katharine watched her closely.
"All goes well" she murmured still, and
at last she made her opportunity.
Thirltown was en- fete for Easter, and
Lady Katharine Dyson gave a ball at the
park. Marina's first ball; a new delight
had entered that wild March morning.
The incarnation Of spring" said
Heathcote, moved almost to poetic fancy
by the sight of her radiant face.
Perhaps. But spring is capricious,
and chills with cutting breath when
most we are rejoicing in her beauty"
said Katharine, hating the child yet
more.
my little SIREN" whispered Denis as
he and Marina glided past.
ITO lure men to destruction? Say
rather
81 will say nothing beyond this rich
praise, that you alone are you"
Poor little butterfly, basking in such
sun rays Of speech, believing the flowers
would never fade or the magic light
grow dim.
Heathcote, with blind p~ertinacity, re-
fused to be discouraged. His chance
was surely a good one; he would put it
to the test at once. Katharine, divining
his intention, felt that the hour of her
triumph drew near. "She will refuse
him, and he will come to me then, and
will learn to care more than ever he
cared before. 1t is the way of men. /
have tricked her into it; | have done
well, and now
Marina danced on, innocent, beauti-
full, happy. This hour of delight was
the crown of her seventeen years, and
life was very fair. Sir Denis scarcely
left her side; he found her strangely in.
teresting, more SO than he cared to con.
fess. Was a child like this to snare him
into loves sweet folly? he asked himself
Bahi he would spend this evening with
her, and he would leave her forever to.
morrow-perhaps. Heathcote claimed
her at last, but she hardly noticed hi,