The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-05-20

the deck was covered with torn frag-
ments of canvas The Hebe's white
wings, literally in shreds, hung dismally
from the polished masts and yards; tho
rudder was unsh:pped and split into
kindling wood, and even the rail badly
splintered.
Burgess looked at the wreck and ruin
If his hopes; the damage meant heavy
oss to him. His brow darkened, and
disappointment quivered in every muscle
f his face. His men were loud in their
'onderings as to what enemy could have
committed the outrage and when it was
done. Frank had an idea, but would not
"oice it; he was unwilling to admit that
ue had been decoyed away on a pretence
Of illness. He could not bring himself to
hink that the fair, fragile girl, or the
eick man had done this evil to him,
tranger but he wished in the depths of
uis heart that he had not followed that
'-thewisp or her instructions. He
mad "steered south" to his ruin.
The men went ashore; boat load after
,oat load of friends and strangers gazed
,uriously at the damaged yacht and went
| iway sha aing their heads. The commo-
lore of the feet rendered his sympathy,
and the lib men all rushed on board
wondering and conjecturing. Franks
rones were rather unsteady when he tried
to say cheerfully:
"The Hebe isn't in it, boys" And
blur of disappointment came over his
eyes as the fleet started. while the Hebe
lay motionless like "a painted ship upon
. painted ocean"
The yachts winged their way down the
narrows as Frank went below, heartsick
and disappointed. An hour passed before
he reappeared, and with moody men and
knitted brows .unfastened his boat and
took up the course he had gone over the
night before, inwardly cursing the fate
that had made him follow the instruc-
tions of woman. Then better thoughts
prevailed, and pity struggled for SUI
premacy over his bitter disappointment.
He reached the beach; the marks Of
The two boats were not wholly obliter-
ated, He went up the path; there stood
the cottage, but about it there were no
signs of life, no evidence Of recent habi-
tation; it was empty and desolate, with
barred doors and shuttered windows. He
peeped in between the clinks; the front
room was as empty as birds nest in
winter. What did it all mean? Was he
bewitched? Had he dreamed his adven-
cure, OF was he the victim of cruel joke?
He struck his forehead savagely; what
a fool he had been to allow himself to be
decoyed from his yacht that an enemy
might ruin him.
He stumbled blindly down the path;
IS he did so his foot struck a soft sub.
stance; it was the little felt cap the girl
had worn, He knew then that the episode
had been no dream, He flung the hat on
the sand and strobe on toward his boat.
The day passed Franks friends had
put the case into detectives hands, but
Is the young man did not give them his
one clew, they were not successful in
finding the culprits.
Soon after this Burgess sought and OBJ.
sained clerkship in a shipping office,
and the yacht went into winter quarters
in August. at was chilly day for the
Hebe," the club wit said. But the void
she left when she fell out of the race was
soon filled by other boats no less beaut
full.
Summer passed and winter came.
Life grew brighter to Frank Burgess
friends had rallied around the popular
young man. and he found himself "in the
swim.
One night he stood in a crowded ball.
room, his back to the wall, his crush hat
embraced by protecting arm, and look.
Ing with all young mans interest at
the bevy of beauties on dress parade. AS
his eyes roved over the lovely faces his
attention was attracted by low, musi'
cal voice that seemed strangely familiar,
and tall, fair girl with golden hair
coiled around her shapely head, passed
him. She turned to speak to man be-
hind her, and Frank saw again the dark
brows, the luminous blue eyes, of his
night visitor to the Hebe. She was
richly dressed and diamonds glittered in
her pink, shell-like ears.
"Strangel And yet her resemblance
to my witch of ill luck may be
chance one, Frank thought, after the
first shock of surprise. "In any case,
can not believe the girl responsible for
the Hebe's disaster. 1t was that ole
man-confound him!"
One of the floor managers just then
paused near him, and Frank tried to ask
in a careless way though his heart was
beating quickly;
"Who is that girl in blue, Travers?"
"That one. Oh, Madeline West,
Beauty, isn't she?" was the reply. "Wanl
an introduction, if Barkis is willing:" lie
continued.
mo, " said Frank, shortly; and with
look of some surprise Travers passed on.
Burgess eyes followed the figure O;
the beautiful Madeline. He resolved tt
ascertain if she really were his switch OF
i'll luck" and to that end secured place
near her in the quadrille. He purposely
stumbled against her partner, friend oil
his, and as he apologized added, "Steel
south, old fellow!" looking the while a!
Miss West
A startled, Mortified look came into
her eyes, but the beautiful face never
oaled, nor did she give any sign that the
words bore special significance, though
they seemed to awaken an indistincl
memory of something terrible in the
past.
After that dance q friend introduced
Frank to Miss West, and she met him SO
frankly, so graciously, with such a per.
feet blending of ease and good-breeding,
that he felt sure he was mistaken as to