Evening star., 1901-04-27

liked her for it. He hated people who
snatched at a new acquaintance, who chat
tered at tables d'hote and hung about ho-
tells to attract attention; they belonged to
definite class he despised. He was vexed
with himself for trying to draw her out;
he felt as If he were forcing himself upon
her. but for the life of him he couldn't
help it.
She disappeared quickly when the din
ner was over, but he saw her an hour
later. He grew tired of the smoking place
and the group that filled it and went to
try If. with the help of a stick and under
cover of the darkness, he could manage to
drag his foot along for few turns on
deck; he meant to be careful this time
and not to sprawl on the floor Then he
saw her leaning over the bulwark again
lengths of light on the waves that broke
softly against the ship, while the entranc-
Ing sound of cutting through the water, of
going onward and away that always ex-
cited him at the beginning of a voyage,
made an accompaniment to the stirring in
his heart. He passed quite near her and
was rather ashamed of 1t, but 1t was so
dark that at first he had not really made
her out. She looked up and recognized
him.
Ought you to be walking" she asked
rs your foot better?"
at Is getting all right thank you-onlv
a little stiff" He hesitated, then said shy
ly, nodding to the distance. May L come
and look out, too?
one Iildue movement OF assent, and
he stood by her, leaning on the rail as
she was doing. She looked at him for a
moment, the shadows seemed to make way
for her face, and he saw it quite clearly
1t gave him a little thrill and he won
dered what it meant; for he was hard
ened sinner, he thought, four and thirty
with the remembrance of many seasons
not only in England, but of SimIa; never
to love in his life, or, at least, only once
for a month. when he was nineteen. with
Dolly Ronaldson, who laughed at him and
married the curate. He was used to p
and O.'s, too, up to the ways Of enterpris-
ing damsels and giddy grass widows, ready
| to beguile the monotony of VOYAGE in
any way to which the other sex would re-
| spond. And yet, for no reason at all that
| he could define, here was this little woman
| in black, with pale face and a pair of
big eyes stealing over his senses and rous-
| ing not only his curiosity. but some sort
| Of feeling that made him eager to listen
to her, grateful to stand beside her, and
| that set him wondering about her past
and future. Quite suddenly she asked a
question:
81 wish you would tell me your name?"
she said.
'-Travers," he answered quickly. Ed
ward Travers. 1 know who you are" he
added. She started a little and looked at
| him; it seemed as If she held her breath
He thought she resented his curiosity
Miss Henrietta Williamson. I saw it in
| the passenger list"
"Oh"
'And you are travelling alone"
Yes; alone"
''No one even to see you off today?''
mo one"
| Then she asked him something else. 'eTell
| me who you are. know your name quite
| we'll"
! MY governors name. expect you mean:
| he's a judge, you know"
II have seen him-somewhere." she added
after moments hesitation. II have heard
| that he is a very kind man"
"Awfully kind. 1t breaks his heart If he
has to hang anybody" Some one on the
piano below played a German air: He stop
| brings back things" he said. I'VE used to
call it the long Indian day at simla.' ~
ITS Herr. men Herr"
! 'It makes me think of the Waylett case
| last year."
| She turned and looked at him again. Her
face flashed something that was like de-
| fance.
''Why" she asked
MY father was trying 1t. We were
waiting for the verdict at home-just be-
| fore dlnner-for it was late when it finished
We felt certain she would be found guilty
| and we knew what 1t would be for my
| father to sentence her, because he was 40
sorry for her. And It's an awful thing
| you know, for any one to be hanged, espe-
cially woman"
| What has Herr, mien Herr to do with
| it?'' she asked. She had put her elbows
| on the rail, and, supporting her chin on her
| hands. was looking straight out to Sea
again.
"A brass band was playing it in the
| square when the telegram came-he always
| telegraphs his big verdicts home. Ten min
| in her favor" Nf
| Yes?" her voice was faint as If she took
but little interest in the subject.
For he said that even II she had done n
| the man was such brute that he deserved
| IT, l believe some of the jury felt that,
| too"
Besides" she said. almost bitterly, we