Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-01-14

4
into the east Lighting cigar. walked
aft, and, leaning upon the taffrail,
scanned the quiet sea. Situated as
was, it is not to be wondered at that a
variety of thoughts thronged my brain
[ tried to think what my dear old moth
er would have said could she have seen
the position my overrash acceptance of
tempting offer had placed me in
From my mother, who. with my father.
had been dead nearly five years, my
thoughts passed on to other relatives
to q girl whom I had once thought !
loved, 6ut who had Tilted me in favor
of brother student. The old heartache
was almost gone now, but it had been
most unfortunate affair. Since then,
however, Aattered myself, had been
heart whole, and l deluded myself with
the notion that I was likely to remain
so.
Since dinner the breeze had freshen.
ed, and the schooner, with all sail set,
was now slipping swiftly through the
water. l turned, and, leaning against
the rail, looked aloft at the stretch Of
canvas which seemed to reach up al
most to the stars, then back again at
the wake and the wonderful exhibition
of phosphorized water below the ooun-
ter.
Suddenly / became aware of some one
standing by my side, and turning my
head I discovered it was none other
than the Beautiful White Devil herself.
She was still dressed in black, with
sort Of mantilla of soft lace draped
about her head.
"What a supreme fascination there
is about the sea at night, isn't there?"
she said softly. looking down at the
sparkling water l noticed the beauty
of the little white hand upon the rail
as l replied in appropriate terms.
"There is somebody" she continued,
"who says that the sea belongs to eter-
nifty, and not time, and Of that it sings
its monotonous song forever and ever. 1"
"That is a very beautiful idea," l
answered. "but don't you think there
are others that fully equal it? What do
you say to the sea complains upon a
thousand shores?'"
"Or your English poet Wordsworth,
The sea that bares her bosom to the
wind?'
"Let me meet you with an American,
The sea tosses and toams to find its
way up to the cloud and wind. Could
anything be finer than that? There you
have the true picture-the utter rest
lessness and the striving of the untamed
sea.
'would'st thou, 80 that helmsman answered
Learn the secret Of the seaP
Only those who brave its dangers
Comprehend its mysteryr
"Bravol That caps all"
For some seconds my companion stood
silent, gazing across the deep Then she
said very softly:
"And who is better able to speak
about its dangers than l, whose home it
is? DR.. De Normanville, l think if l
were to tell you some Of the dangers
through which have passed you would
hardly believe me. "
IL think l could believe anything
you told me. "
II rather doubt it, You see, you have
no idea what an extraordinary existence
mine is Why. my life is one long bat
tie with despair am like hunted
animal flying before that hellhound,
man DO you know how near l was to
being caught once? Let me tell you
about it and see if it will convey any
idea to you 1t was in Singapore, and l
was dining at the house of prominent
police official. as the friend Of his wife
/ had met her some months before un-
der peculiar circumstances, and we had
become intimate During the meal my
host spoke of the Beautiful White Devil
and commented Oh her audacity. How
ever, we have at last received clew
concerning her, he said She is not far
away from Singapore at the present
moment, and have every reason to be-
lieve that in 4S hours she will be in
our hands had full glass of cham
pagne in my hand at the moment, and
it is compliment to the strength OF
my nerves to say that | raised it to my
lips before answering him without spill
ing one drop"
And did he never suspect?"
"No, indeed. To tell the truth, /
doubt if be knows to this day how close
the Beautiful White Devil really was to
him. Yet one moments hesitation might
have cost ME my life. Another time |
attended a viceregal ball in Colombo IN
the capacity of all heiress from England.
In the middle of the evening the partner
with whom was dancing, young in
spector of police, apologized for having
to leave me He said he had received
information concerning the Beautiful
White Devil, who was known to be IN
the town During supper he had been
telling me about his prospects and the
girl who was coming out from England
to marry him when he got his step. 1t
will be good thing for you if you catch
this woman, won't it? inquired. 1t
will get me promotion, and that will
mean the greatest happiness Of my life
my marriagel he answered. Won't
you wish me luck?' l did wish him luck
and then went off to dance the lancers
with his excellency the governor.
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