New-York tribune., 1896-11-15


ly; but the term nowadays admits OF woe IN,
depreciation, and no casual mention OF lrlenu
or acquaintance ever gave the smallest ciew 10
their place on the social ladder. -.
OF course he puzzled himself now by night
and by day over the strange reticence ol tad snea
two apparently simple and frank hear,eu
women. Why should they shroud their move
ments in such mpenetrable mystery! why 80
sedulously conceal every trace OF thelr lueli'l's
That the strange silence was pufposeiy anu
carefully maintained there could be no uouD. ~
1t would have been easy. so natural loi
some chance word to have set his mlnd at res.
Not for a moment did Cecirs alieslance
waver or the purpose of his heart change
Only his time was short. The days haa
slipped by like a dream. The last n1ehI ~ ii naa
come, and what had he accomplished! W0uiu
he next day be driven to say "Goodpy IN
ignorance of all which could give nope OF
future meeting? , ~.
Once again Cecil strove to break through the
spell which that strange silence laid upon MN.
He could not do it; the veil of maiden dlghiy
which enshrouded the girl beside him was 700 700
impenetrable. Even this last evening heI
steady reserve stood between them, hisn anu
impossible the walls Of Jericho, ana hot 10
him it given. even then. TO souhu tne 81"
yer trumpet call which should lay theh low.
Yet there is no wall so strong that d loVel
cannot find some small chnk. and before !he!
parted for the night one single IIasien. s.i W
knowledge had awarded Mr. Harteys patience.
Some unguarded word of hers gave MIN the
opening and he boldly ventured an interroga-
tion ,,,ss
| Thornton" ,xa
Il never knew my mother. and just two years
ago my father died. He. r,d
Again she checked herself abruptly Hau
| the simple fact she mentioned been s'ale
| secret she could scarcely have looked more an
| noyed by the mOmentary lapse $50
1.-The night air grows little emily, sne
| said hastily. land 1t is time l went oeIow; we
must be up early tomorrow morning. "oou-
| night"
you will not surely. refuse to shake hands.
| Miss Thornton? Just once-this last evening;
| There was a charm in Cecls sunny. manly
| face which few men and fewer women could re,
sist. Yet, pleading though both voice ana ana
| smile were now Miss Thornton hesitated before
| accepting the proffered hand. as though she
were debating with herself whether she dared;
even In SO small matter. exceed the bounds laid
| down. Cecil felt his pulse quicken during the
| momentary pause. Then the blood rusheu
| warmly to his cheek. for suddenly, impulslveiy'
frankly. the girl laid her soft warm hand in
his and lifted her eyes to meet his gaze one
| brief moment they stood thus. then she are"
| her hand gently from his clasp and was gone
BY o'clock next morning on board the
| CAMERON all was hurry, hustle and confusion:
The quay accommodation of Genoa is Limited
| In extent compared with her trade so the
| CAMERON. having but few passengers entered
| for that port. not permitted that DAY 10
| come alongside, but remained at her anchorage
| in mid -harbor. Just at the moment when Mrs
| Armytage realized that there was no hope or a
nearer approach 10 the snore. MT. Hartley nap
pened to be at her elbow. .
"Is il really true" she asked in evident dis
may. that we shall have to land in one Of those
dirty little boats. and with all our luggage, too?
Il am afraid there is no alternative But the
boats are perfectly safe and perhaps rot quite 80
dirty they look. Still. IT would certainly be
awkward for ladies to he handed over alone to
| the tender mercies OF these Unsuitable boatmen.
If you would allow me the pleasure OF seeing you
safely ashore
Mrs Armytage hesitated. and glanced uneasily
| at her niece That young lady. who stand
| ing behind Cecil. gave an almost imperccptiole
gesture of assent. and. with an air OF great re-
lief the elder lady accepted the proffered as
sistance. ,
Thank YOU" she said warmly. you would
| really be doing US a great service.
Then will you go up on the upper deck. out
| Of the way of all this turmoil. and walt till !
| fetch you. please? How many packages am i !
| soon be away. I see
The two aides were we'll pleased to retreat
| as enjoined for all around them confusion was
ever growing more contounded. They watched
| this scene for some minutes, from the upper
deck. in silence. Presently-apropos Of nothing
the elderly lady laughed softly 10 herself.
| Her niece looked at her inquringly.
| Il only thinking. my dear Grace how
admirably have observed the law OF the
Medes and Persians laid down for our stay
abroad Not single acquaintance to be be-
gun on any pretence whatever We left South
ampton a week to-day and already we have as
devoted cavalier as two errant danes could
| desire: and whom foresee some difficulty
| IN shaking off. That is a young man OF con-
| siderable determination and energy
| Miss Thornton smiled somewhat consciously.
| circumstances alter cases you know. Aunt
| Anne Just look down at that pandemonium'
| and confess that you are thankful to have a
| cavalier at hand"
Certainly thankful. The law was Of
your making not mine; ! never professed, 90 10
yells Of those barbarous boatmen might daunt
| a braver woman than l shall ever be. Surely
they do not imagine they are speaking ltal-
| ian?
| "Oh. no; it is the dialetto genovese. Mr.. Hart
ley has been here before. and understands it
| fairly we'll He and college friend kept small
| va ht here, all through one long vacation. be-
| fore he left oxford.
Mrs. Armytage looked little curously at
her niece.
| "You seem to have found out a good deal
| about Mr. Hartley in very short time. Grace.
| Do you think you are acting quite wisely? Re
| member. know nothing Of him but what he
has told US himself
| And he knows absolutely nothing Of us. from
any source whatever, so we are more than quits.
| Aunt Anne"
"Are you sure Of that? Things get round very
| quickly and oddly sometimes. He may know you
| better than you imagine
| 81 an. sure he does not. And cannot be sorry
| we have made a little exception in his favor. He
has been very uscful-and so pleasant. too
At that moment they caught sight Of their
| self appointed escort coming toward them, not
| flushed, and with marks Of the fray on his pre-
viously faultless attire. but CHEEKY and good
| tempered ever
| you must have thought me lost" he said
| apologetically. II have been watching the pack
Ing Of three large boats with the trunks OF two
| Baltimore Schoolgirls. Iney OuSnt u nave CIti
tered a good sized steam launch, But at last
got your luggage, and now all is ready. VIII you
Gomez
There something In Cecil Hartleys man
ner toward women which exactly hit the happy
medium between coldness and offcious "fuss-
ness" Perhaps the charm lay in his evident
pleasure In rendering whatever service lay In
his power No woman ever felt under any bur
densome obligation to him for such service; on
the contrary. she felt she had conferred a favor,
and was happy accordingly.
Both Mrs. Armytage and her niece expert
enced this subtle charm they were carefully
handed down the slippery. swaying accommo-
dation- ladder, and helped to their places In the
broad, flat -bottomed harbor- boat which already