The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-02-01

"But-but-it's too hol lblew
1T Is horrible, but what are we tx
dot Don't you see with Kung ant
Wooching alive we can never enjoy
one moment free from alarm. It was
not witBaut some hesitation that my
uncle and accepted the inevitable. II
Ii to be battle to the death, and We
do not shut our eyes to the fact that
there are frightful odds against u.s. but
IT. Is possible that the society also has
many enemies, and help may come
from some unexpected quarter. ad
NIT that our arrangements are ex.
tremely vagne and from the practical
point of view most unsatisfactory, but
we shall not be altogether cropping in
the dark. In Hongkong, according to
my fathers statement, we must find a
carpenter by the name of Koon-Si.
From him we shall learn the latest in
telligence, and with him we shall lay
bur plans"
"You are very daring" she said, ITO
lake such an awful step in the dark. I
tear you underrate your task
mo; not in the least If anything.
we have ovcrrated it all along. We
have waited and hoped that peace
-.-%olld come, but am convinced that
Il cannot be gained without war. War,
then, 1t must be, for now,' and here
!hink my voice took somewhat softer
lone, peace is more necessary to me
lh0n 1t ever was before"
She did not answer for moment,
Ind then, mingling with the sound Of
lhe sea, came a soft "Why?" -
Because it will insure your peace,
md that to me- has grown dearer than
ny own"
"There can be no peace for me-" she
answered in low tone, a tone which
NE sea and the night rendered ineffa-
Wy sad. III It were not wicked, I
Duld almost wish that you had let me
lrown that night
"Hush! You must not talk like that.
Do you know, even in our darkest
hour, when you lay unconscious on my
lrm, when the sea hissed and tore
about us and thought every moment
would be or last, was almost hap.
py."
"Happy?"
J "Yes, because through the gloom and
the spray saw future, a future
which was blessed with your love-
with you"
ut is very late" she said, her voice
trembling with emotion. "Iy mother
will wonder what has become Of me-"
Bnt she did not 60 just then, not for
some time after, for had much to tell,
though to other ears it might have
seemed but wearisome repetition Of
the same old story. But the stars look.
ed down and smiled, and the great dia.
monds of the cross beamed with ten.
fold radiance; and the air, tempered,
SO it seemed to me, by the breeZes from
tile land which lay to our north, was
full Of the sweetness of life and hope.
1t was a new delight to me, this won
derful thing called love, and for some
time / was too timid TO avail myself
Of the prerogatves Of the lover, Even
when | held her face up to mine and
pressed my lips to hers marvelcd that
she did not resent the liberty.
There was very little sleep for me
that night. and long after she had gone
below l paced the deck burning pipe
after pipe of tobacco, thinking dream
ing, hoping. Now more than ever II
was necessary that I should settle ac
counts with the society, now more than
ever was life precious, the future a
thing to be fought for and secured. ]
had always hated the task that was
allotted me. I hated It more than ever
now. But had grown to regard mis-
fortune as part Of my heritage. and
n fatalistic indifference, born Of too
close an intimacy with despair, had
robbed 1t of much Of Its terror.
The next day l sought out Mrs. Hill
bury, told her Of my love for her
daughter, of my hopes and fears, but
promised that would not bind my
sweetheart to any hard and fast en-
gagement. l had work to do, and !
meant to accomplish it. II came back
and Cecil still thought of me kindly !
would strive to prove by my devotion
tile depth of my affection; if, on the
contrary, she had changed her mind. as
girls will, would 60 away knowing
that she could live in peace.
Once we had entered Australian wa
ters the days flew with inconceivable
rapidity, and thought with regret OF
the quick ending Of my too brief holi-
day. 1t had been happy time, the
happiest had ever spent, a gleam OF
sunshine in the dreary fog of my exist
ehce. Every revolution of the screw
drove us SO much nearer the goal, and,
leaning over the side, l watched the
water bubble by, regretful, grudging
the mighty vessel her awful speed.
Like the condemned criminal. ! watch
cd the days come and 60, and the fatal
morrow at length arrived and we safe.
ly made the port Of Melbourne. Then
there were many meetings, hearty
handshakes, embraces and tears of JOY
and the sullen stupor of the stranger
who has left all he loves behind, who
feels 10 welcoming handshake. who
enters the new land alone. . melan.
rholy figure.
Though I stood back and saw many
people come forward to greet Cecil and
her mother and though my heart was