The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-09
and sprang

shall go up on deck, and firt with dear old
Captain Lane. 1t will be poaching on your
preserves, 1 know, but then l will leave his
first officer to you'll
She was at the door by this time, and
launched this parting shot over her shoulder.
Hlda rose from her knees over the box she
was locking, and amazed to find her face
burning with quick, strange throbbng at
her heart.
She is intolerable,'' she whispered, half
angrfly, half smilingly, to herself.
And, though the sounds of the waltz music
reached her, even in her cabin, it was some
time before Hilda summoned up courage to
race the assembled party on deck.
Ihere were no very interesting partners
among the gentlemen board and Hilda,
who was perfect dancer herself, was fas-
tldlous where partners were concerned, and,
after a time, she lost interest in the proceed
lngs on deck, and retired to the saloon.
She not a brilliant pianist like Nell,
and she played but rarely in public but she
mad an exquisite touch, and she put her
whole soul into her playing.
Just now the long room was deserted, save
for an elderly quartette at the far end, who
were immersed in whist and needed nothing
but their game; and Hida gave rein to her
fancy, and played on in the semi-darkness
all the favorites that were dearest to her
heart.
She had begun the opening bars of a ia
nous serenade, when the soft, thrilling notes
of violin sounded just behind her
For a moment she started and paused; then,
without turning round, she went on playing
until the end.
When the final chord had died away into
silence, Raymond Grant said, quietly:
THANK you. I have never enjoyed that
piece SO much, and it is one of my favor
ites.''
And mine, too, Mr. Grant, but will ask
Nell to play it with you tomorrow"
Please DON'T
But why? Surely you admire her splendid
playing?"
1 do very much just as I admire a Won
derful machine; but Schumann wants heart,
and soul, and you gave both! Please do not
let anyone else play that after you
Hilda bowed her head, but made answer,
save to run her fingers lightly over the keys
in a soft prelude.
If you wish to so on shall we try an
other?" she said, presently; and after half
an-hours duet and little discussion over
the several favorite composers, Raymond
Grant got up suddenly and put by his violin.
Il must go at once, I'm afraid, for 1 am
due on duty in two minutes, and I have
something to see to. The time has flown so
quickly while I've been down here And you
should be dancing, too! How is it you are
not on deck?"
Il don't care for it tonight" she said as
she turned round on the music seat. Don't
let me keep you when duty calls. Good
night!'
And Hilda went off to her cabin. when the
hot and tired dancers trooped downstairs
vowing it had been great fun, and that they
should vote for another dance tomorrow if it
restless lying awake in the narrow berth, fell
asleep to dream that she was walking among
diamond mines in South Africa, when the
ground beneath her feet gave way and with
roar and crash, flung her into the depths
of the yawning gulf
With the horror of that awful sound still
in her ears, Hilda awoke, and, bruised
shaken and bewildered stumbled IN from
the cabin floor, and made her way in the
darkness, towards her door.
CHAPTER III.
The ripping, rending crash and the fierce
shock that had flung Hilda from her BERTH
had startled every other soul aboard the
Tantalus into quick awakening
1t seemed to Hilda, cropping blindy for the
door in the dense darkness, that there was
one long moment of appalling, agonized 81
lence, though the great ship like a living
thing were holding ner breath after that one
terrific blow, in fear lest another should
strike her; and then, in another instant it
came.
The vessel reeled and quivered in all its
length, and lurched over so suddenly on one
side that Hilda thought it was capsizng at
that moment, and that death was inevita ble
hurried tramping of footsteps sounded on
deck, some half-muffled shrieks from the
cabins near her own, loud, gruff shouts of
the seamen, and the clatter of falling ropes
and woodwork on the planks of the deck
Then came a sudden lul and a loud i'm
perative voice. which she recognized as Cap
tain Lanes rang out above the noise and
commotion.
Hlda fancied the ship had ceased to list
over; but her cabin floor was at such an
acute angle that it was with difficulty she got
away from the corner where she had been
flung by the second shock, and by cropping,
found the door.
1t was open now, and, drawing a freer
breath as she found herself in the dimly-it
passage, she made her way with difficulty
to the deck, up the slippery, slanting COM
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