The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-06-28


was not man to be silenced by ra-
1erring him to the Garden of Eden
Paradise itself was not perfect to John
Want.
hope I could be cheerful any,
where, sir, said the ships cook
But you mark my words-there must
nave been deal of troublesome work
with the flower-beds in the Garden
OF Eden.''
Having entered that unanswerable
protest, John Want shouldered the
oox, and drifted drearily out of the
boat-house.
Left by himself, Crawford looked at
MS watch, and called to a sailor out
side.
Where are the ladies?" he asked.
Mrs Crawford is coming this way,
sir. She was just behind you when
you came in
is Miss Burnham with herr"
No, sir; Miss Burnham is down on
the beach with the passengers.
heard the young lady asking after you,
SIR
Asking after me?" Crawford con-
sldered with himself, as he repeated
the words. He added, in lower and
graver tones, you had better tell Miss
Burnham you have seen me here
The man made his salute and went
out. Crawford took a turn in the
boat-house. Rescued from death in the
Arctic wastes, and reunited to beau
tiful wife, the lieutenant looked, never
theless, unaccountably anxious and de-
pressed. What could he be thinking
of? He was thinking of Clara.
On the first day when the rescued
men were received on board the ANA
zon, Clara had embarrassed and dis
tressed, not Crawford only, but the
other officers of the Expedition as we'll,
by the manner in which she questioned
them on the subject of Francis AL
dersley and Richard Wardour. She
had shown no signs of dismay or des-
pair when she heard that no news had
been received of the two missing men.
On the next day, and the next, the
tempest still ragged, and the passengers
rooms. But now, when the weather
had moderated and the ship had an
chored-now, when officers and pas
sengers alike were on shore, with leis-
ure time at their disposal-Clara had
opportunities of returning to the sub
ject of the lost men, which would
make it impossible for Crawford to
plead an excuse for not answering her.
These were the reflections which
now troubled Crawford, and which
presented him, after his rescue, in the
strangely inappropriate character of
depressed and anxious man. His
brother officers, as he we'll knew,
locked to him to take the chief re-
sDonsibility. If he declined to accept
it. he would instantly confirm the hor-
rible suspicion in Claras mind. The
emergency must be met; but how to
meet it-at once honorably and merci-
fully-was more than Crawford could
tell He was still lost in his own
gloomy thoughts, when his wife en-
tered the boat-house. Turning to look
at her he saw his own perturbations
and anxieties plainly reflected in Mrs.
Crayford's face.
"Haye YOU seen anything of Clara 2"
he asked. "Is she still on the beach!D
"She is following me to this place."
Mrs Crawford replied Il have been
snaalxing to her this morning. She is
inst as resolute as ever to insist on
vour telling her of the circumstances
under which Frank is missing. AS
things are, you have no alternative put
to answer her..
oHeln me to answer her, Lucy. Tell
me before she comes in, how this nor
rihle suspicion first took possession OF
bor All she could possibly have
Known when we left England was that
the two men were appointed to sepa-
ro+o sbips. What could have led her to
cuenect that they ndd come together?'
..Sbe was firmly persuaded, WInam
that they would come together when
the Expedition left England. And she
ia read in books of Arctic travel, of
49,, left behind by their comrades on
49, march and of men adrift on ice
bargs. With her mind full OF these
IMAGES and forebodings, she saw Frank
nd Warour Tor dreamed of them in
ona of her attacks of trance. | was
~ b her side-I heard what she said at
~ time. She warned Frank that
yua,dour had discovered the truth.
Che called out to him, While you can
stand keep with the other men,