The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-03-28
CHAPTER XXI,

ceptionally wild and violent, when once
more the sound Of wheels upon the gravel
without catches Vera's ear.
Perhaps she had been listening for II
lis even in measure prepared Tor IT,
but even II so, this does not prevent the
sudden agitated change that oyerspreads
her face as she hears 1t. Her Hblses
quicken unpleasantly and she half rises
TO her feet
An hour; two hours, pass, and she Is In
her room dressing for dinner, when
servant brings her a note.
Il have toethank you for the kind In
vitation which Griselda gave me. busi-
ness matters have compelled me to come
here again-for the last time--to-night;
to trespass, for the last time, upon your
hospitality. l beg you win not let my
presence disturb you; my stay will be 50
short that l dare to hope you viii NOT
mark the coming or going"
A quick wave Of color dyes Vera's
face; she lays the letter with studied
slowness upon the table near.
"My compliments to Mr.. Dysart, and !
hope he will dine with me tonight" she
says, calmly, but with an unconscious
touch of hauteur. How does he dare to
treat her like this, to persist in believing
-or rather, to pretend to believe-that
his presence Is 80 distasteful to herf
What is he to her, one way or the other,
that she should care whether he was In
her house or out Of it2
At dinner. however, she will have an
opportunity of widening his knowledge
somewhat. 1t will be the simplest thing
to let him see how utterly unimportant
an item he Is In the scheme of her exist
ence. There is a brilliant light In her
eyes as she turns to receive the woman
who has now come back with an answer
to her message to Dysart.
There Is a timidity In the woman's air
that warns her.
"Mr. Dysart's compliments and thanks,
madame, but he has already dined In
town"
'Fasten this bracelet" says Vera, hold
ing out her arm. She Is aware that the
woman is watching her, curiously II ner-
vously, and she so moves that the sudden
pallOr OF her face, the sole thing that
shows her indignation. shall not betray
her. THAT will do; you can 60 she
says after awhile. She sweeps down
stairs almost in the servants footsteps,
and into the green drawing room, Q
smaller apartment than the usual recep-
ton rooms, and now looking delicately
cozy beneath the touches Of lamps and
freight, and with the perfume Of many
flowers hanging around 1t.
The wind, the thunder, the lightning
still rage but the rain has ceased, and
IN the murky heavens above, pale, sick
ly moon is striving feebly to break way
through the dense clouds. Suddenly the
door is thrown open BY an agitated hand
and the woman who had attended hei
upstairs comes hurriedly, without cere
mony, into the room.
"Oh, madame, thought you would like
to know-that you should be told" she
stops, frightened by the expression or
Eera's face.
"WellT' says Vera, going q step nearel
to her.
There Is a ship in great distress, ma
dame-somewhere out there" pointing
vaguely in the direction Of the ocean
"upon the rocks, they say! There i
scarcely any hope"
"But the life-boat?" cried Vera, sharp
~,
full thought Of death-and death so nea
out there upon those cruel rocks, will
the boiling, murderous waves ieapng t
receive their prey.
"Yes, madame, but that accident yes
terday-you will remember it2-they sa,
II has disabled six of the men, and 1t !
almost certain death to go at ALL and tn
hands being short, there must be volun
teers, and who will risk their lives
the townbred girl stops short with
culver, and covers her face with he
hands.
Volunteers! Where is Mr.. Dysart7 2
cries Vera, suddenly, with prophetic In
stinct. Speak, girlr' turning iiercely o
her maid.
Gone down to the beach, madame, t
see what can be done"
"Gonew says Vera, slowly, as II dazeC
and then again, gone" A little convlt
sive shiver runs through her-it Is th
final breaking up of any lingering dt
ceits, any last illusions, that she ma
still have clung to,
Order the carriage" she says, after
minute or two, during which mistress an
maid have remained silent. This sudde
vaking-up has been so far 4 shock tbs
1t has killed all immediate nervousness
She feels chilled, ealmed, strengthened.
The moon has In a measure conQuere
the clouds, and now shines out with
pale, watery luster, that rather adds [
than takes from the weird wildness {
the night. The thunder still rattles owe
head, and vivid Clashes light the blacl
ness. Here and there, as the carriaE
masses by the outskirts of the wood, the.
intermittent bursts of light show whei
tree has been felled, or the road rippt
up. or a small bridge carried bodi
away by the force Of the swollen Gu
rent underneath.
All through the deadly crashing Of Il
storm a booming sound may be heard
long intervals. Half maddened by
and by that other greater fear. Vera Il,
back in the carriage, pressing her 81
gers now to her ears, now to her thro
bing brow, that feels as II 1t were burs
ing.
Arrived at the entrance to the village,
drive Of about a mile from Greycour
she stops the carriage, and opening Il
door springs to the ground. A sudd,
gust Of wind passing by almost dash
her TO the earth, but by a superhums
effort she defies IL, and half blinded
the flashing lightning. and bewildered
the raging storm, she turns aside, al
runs painting, struggling. down a si
pathway that she knows leads to 4
beach below