The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-28

AN AkE, ESD AL |,
ilns a Afioss casl ssiss Of alanee, DO
lspd a 10 ereet pseti ard thp Reatar
|, ppadbla And sud 1snly gaoM ont Ne
| ocean, above Che 4hrob and obeisance u
waters at IL test risas and rises--a
shadow IL ", In gigantic gloom Of death
--the shadow that will fall upon him
who menaces its might-the rock Of
ages, Britain's peaked cap that crowns
her In the face Of four continents whose
shipping she surveys from her impreg-
nable outpost-Gibraltar! N
The word burst from every ones lips
I could not speak, but thrill Of no
mean pride surged through my soul as
l felt myself man Of that nation who
had climbed mightier rock that is
eyrie for the eagle, the rock OF impreg-
nable freedom, from whose gigantic
shadow Britain has twice withdrawn
with her lion, wiser, to her own zoo to
restudy the habits Of western eagles.
The dying sunset took all Gibraltar's
citadel The stern stone was suffused
with crimson. The sails of the worlds
shipping at the entrance to the strait
caught the pink dazzle of light. The
glow burned upon the faces OF the pas
sengers. turned and saw Lady Je-
mappes standing silent and alone, upon
her face throb Of mingled sorrow and
yearning, a womanhood on her lips that
stirred all the mans pulses within me,
but O something within her eyes that
made my veins crawl. The SUMS red
took the strange girdle. A distinct but
yet unintelligible hieroglyph was be-
ginning to write itself on my brain.
We're those love letters in her belt? No.
believed it was her will and tesla
ment. She was vastly wealthy, one could
see. Did believe it was her will, etc.,
1--WE shall have a good "a hours IN
Gibraltar, my lady" I said, drawing
nearer the beautiful figure. How do
you propose spending it7 Il might
have the pleasure Of showing you about
a little"-
The woman turned very pale. 1t was
strange pallor seen under the flash Of
the sinking sun.
II want to see the rock galleries and
their guns" she said quickly, not rails
ing her eyes. "There will be grand
salute given tomorrow, they tell me.
The German emperor's yacht will be
, off Gibraltar.
"Oh, ho" thought I. "Wtat are the
rock galleries to you, You mysterious
witching womanhoodP Do you coutem-
plate suioidef"
But for the moment conversation and
soliloquies shattered in the sunset, for
the mouth of Gibraltar spoke.
Across to Africa the thunderous chal-
lenge rolled. The gun fire from the
lions throat beloved its belief In one
lady Britannia. Its white breath
curdled in clouds around the mount,
an incense to Victoria by the grace Of
God, l suppose, or something else.
/ turned to my beautiful lady. Jovel
How those eyes took my breath! Those
eyes were misted with tears.
Worse and worse. What did it meanr
"The devill I'll risk it," I said to my
self. Then aloud, Lord Jemappes is
listening to Britain q gunfire at Malta
my lady"
Again that ghastly pallor creeping
down and across her face. Was 1t psy.
chic, or was it certain? The pallor was
creeping on to the girdle, and-I'm no
fool, you know-did that girdle mover
! thought would move away. And
yet I was chained to the spot by her
strange and overwhelming beauty.
Eyes, Lord Jemappes," she said.
"How glorious that last rim fash Of
SUM There, it is gonel i am chilly.
think must 60 below"
Well, Twas LEFT alone on deck, for
what were all the other creatures worth,
and ves no nearer the mystery of the
girdle. AYES, Lord Jemappes' might
mean anything, Lord Jemappes' in his
cups or bis coffin. Confound it all, why
did take passage on this particular
steamer Of the Peninsular and Oriental
linea"
No, my lady did not comrit suicide
In the rock galleries Of Gibraltar. Yes,
we did have tho salute. And again we
were blowing our way through the
Mediterranean. Night had shut down
in sudden fog one memorable night. I
shall not soon forget that night.
couldn't sleep. The ship was rolling.
and the old china in the pantry was
promenading with cracked voice. was
restless and alert for every new sound
that might intrude itself.
What was that?
sprang from my bunk and listened.
A low, rustliug sound which can
only compare to the slow oozing out of
some creature through lush thicket
growth. The sound formed again and
faded, and again rustled forward.
To spring to the saloon was the first
thought. But could not move. I am a
man every inch of me, but could not
bulge. ! believe waited three good
minutes.
Hello. Caithness, is that your"
called.
Only tho silence answered and the
heavy swash Of water against the roll
ing Of the ship.
I threw on my clothes and was in the
saloon in moment. Far along in the
dim light the Lady Jemappes was stand
ing at the door Of her stateroom, dress
ed as we had left her at the late supper.
Her glittering eyes held me through the
dark. Her hands clasped the girdle. 1t
was not around her waist.
Is it to be q Storm" she said. "This
must not go down." She held up to
me the long, long belt Her eyes gilt
tered again.
II think not, Lady Jemappes,
stammered as reached her side. All,
how beautiful she wasi The flush was
upon her cheek; her ripe lips were part
ed; her bosom heaved. ~ think not,
my lady. 1t is only a small blow"
Thank you," she said and was gone.
heard her stnterOom key turn in the
lock.
could not sleep the rest Of the night.
What was that noise which had heard?
Her step? But no one was moving save
the watch before the compass on deck
and the Goa of china in the pantry