The morning call., 1893-10-08
of the storm, are you? 1t is nothing for
the bay. [ assure you"

"You feel quite safe here with me?" he
went on. sinking his voice lower yet.
YES" she answered, somewhat tremu-
lousy.
After pause he laid his hand on hers
as il rested on her knee, and said in an
odd, deliberate kind OF way:
"Will you let me- take care of you always?
[ mean s my wife. | have grown to love
you very dearly, and think could make
you happy"
For perhaps a minute there was utter
silence.
Then Carew withdrew his hand. saying
hastily and in an indefiGably changed
voice: "Ah. you do not care for me. Per-
haps it is as well, and perhaps | had no
right to ask you to do so. / forgot for
moment that am man under cloud-a
cloud that in all probability will never be
lifted; for / tell you honestly l have no
means of righting myself. Forget what /
have said" The words and tone were
hardly loyer-like, but there was slight.
almost imperceptibe quiver in the deep
voice.
A small hand stole softly into his.
Il do care for you" said happy little
voice. land Iwould take your word against
all the world.
press the hand he held. Then he said.
harshly: "But-suppose | cannot give
YOU nv word? Suppose 1 tell you that
am-what our fell0w-passengers think
amp"
II should not believe you," was tho con-
fident answer.
But If tell you that you must believe
me" His face as he looked down was
very pale and wore an expression she could
hardly fathOn
She uttered half-suppressed little cry,
but she did not take her hand away-only
nestled it further into his.
He grasped it almost painfully; then let
it go ,,.
said in a strange voice. Must l give you
proof that your trust is-misplaced ?"
He held out his other hand to ner. In
its palm lay the ring. Even in the dim
light She recognized it at once.
There was curious, breathless pause.
during which Carew never took his eyes
from the girls face.
"Well?" he quietly said at last. He felt
her little fingers close tightly on his.
Il can't help it," she said brokenly. ~
love you-I love you."
And you will be my wife?"
She could not see his face, but his voice
shook.
Yes" she whispered. hiding her face in
both her hands.
But the hands were gently drawn. In
the semi-darkness she felt his arm come
about her and his mustache brush her lips
"Darling! he murmured, passionately,
you shall never regret i'll swear and in
his eyes glittered something that looked
like tears.
Next morning one of the Englishmen
who had come on board at Corunna and
who had been i'll ever since appeared on
saw was Carew.
Tney greeted each other cordially and
after the fashion of old friends This
EnglishmaD, by the wav, was a we'll
known statesman, and very good fellow
besides
In the smokng-roem that afternoon
some one kindly put him on his guard as
to Carew. and supplied the details.
II thought | would mention it. you
know" appended the man who had spoken :;
II saw you speaking to him awhile ago.
Thank you" was the dry answer
I've known George Carew for a good
many years. | think 1 have pretty fair
annexlng other peoples property is one OF
them. By the way. you may not have
| heard that be has come into the title, and
is now Lord Evandale. thought I'd men,
tion il, you know" he added with a some
what grim smile.
In the silence that followed the speaker
lit fresh cigar, rose and went out.
remainder of that day good many of the
Cobra's passengers became suddenly i'm
bued with the conviction of Carew's-or,
rather, Lord Evandale'e-lnnocence. and
evinced as much. How their overtures
were received perhaps | need not say.
joyce Neville was little shy with her
lover when she knew. But in the course
of starlit walk on deck he made that all
right. She, it seemed, had had the idea
that he was rather obscure and hard up
than otherwise, at which confession be
was good deal touched.
| think it was the evening before the
Cobra got into Southampton that the head
steward made startling discovery. Mrs.
Bouverie's ring was found in a distant cor
ner OF the saloon, where 1t had been effec-
tually concealed by an outstanding corner
of the carpet.
Captain North publicly restored the ring
to its owner that night at dinner. There
was a very uncomfortable silence for
few moments. Every one had an awkward
kind OF feeling that some sort of apology
should be made to the naughty looking
young man who was at present helping
Miss Neville to claret. And every one
had an equally awkward conviction that
any apology or any explanation whatso-
ever would be worse than impossible.
The subject of their thoughts himself.
however, forestalled anything of the kind.
There was something rather fiue in his
appearance just then. as he leaned back in
his chair ana threw keen glance first up
and then down the table.
Miss Lennox mentally likeDed him to
Greek god Ia titled Greek god, l presumed.
AMI flashed melting look at him from
under long lashes.
But he was not looking at her.
'As Mrs. Bouverie is now, l hope, sat
isfed that did not steal her ring" he
said, in cold clear voice that penetrated
to every corner of the long saloon. II will
explain my reason for refusing to turn out
my pockets as the rest of you did. l pos
sess ring which is the exact fac-simile of
that possessed by Mrs. Bouverie. and. as
had the ring in my pocket on the evening
in question. l naturally objected to its be-
ing mistaken for any one else's property.
You are at liberty to examine ii, il Miss
Neville chooses" AS he spoke he turned
and slipped the double" of Mrs. Bnnverie's
ring on the third finger of Joyce Neville's
left hand. The look which accompanied
the action spoke volumes.
There was a pause of intense astonish-
ment; then Babel of excited and wonder
ing EXPLANATIONS, in the midst OF which
Lord Evandale rose and went out on deck
The rings were Identical, with one ex-
ception. In one the Initials were n. c.. in
the other G. n.
Mrs. Bouveria looked crushed and nm