Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-03-27
CHAPTER ZEII.

Perhaps she had been listening for it
lis even in a measure prepared for 1t,
but even if so. this does not prevent the
sudden agitated change that overspreads
her face rs she hears it. Her pulses
quicken unpleasantly and she half rises
TO her feet.
An hour. two hours, pass. and she rs III
her room dressing for dinner, when
servant brings her a note.
Il have to thank you for the Kind in
vitation which Griselda gave me. busi-
ness matters have compelled me to come
here again--for the last timc-to-night;
TO trcspass for the last time. upon your
hospitality. | beg you will not let my
presence disturb you; my stay will he So
short that ! dare to hope you Will not
mark the coming or going
A quick wave of color dyes Ncra'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 hautcur. How does he dare to
treat her like this, to persist in believing
or rather. to pretend to believe that
his presence is SO distasteful to her?
What is he to her, one way or the other,
that she should care whether he was in
her house or out of ii!
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 brilliant light in her
eyes she turns to receive the woman
ho IN ha W
to her message to Dysart.
There is Il timdity in the woman's air
that warns her.
'Mr. Dysart's compliments and thanks.
madame, but he has already dincd in
town"
'Fasten this bracelet" says Vera. hold
ing out her arm. She is aware that the
woman is watching her, curiously if ncr-
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 CO. she
says after awhile. She sweeps down
stairs almost in the servants footsteps,
and into the green drawing room. Il
smaller apartment than the usual rccep-
ton rooms. and now looking dclicatcly
co2y beneath the touches of lamps and
flowers hanging around it.
The wind. the thunder. the lightning.
still rage. but the rain has ceased. and
IN the murky heavens above. n pale, sick
ly moon is striving fccby to break way
through the dense clouds. Suddenly the
door is thrown open by an agitated hand.
and the woman who had attended her
upstairs comes hurrcdly, 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 on
Ncras face.
"Wcll?" says Vera, going a step nearer
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 is
scarcely any hope"
But the life-boat?" cried Vera, sharp
ly. forgetting everything now but the aw-
full thought of denth-and death so near
out there upon those cruel rocks. with
the boiling. murdcrous waves leaping to
receive their prey
yes, madame hut that accident yes
tcrday-you will remember it ? they say
ii has disabled six of the men, and it is
almost certain death to go at all. and the
hands being short, there must be volun
tcers, and who will risk their lives"
the townbrcd girl stops short with a
CULVER and covers her face with her
hands.
"Noluntecrs. Were is Mr. Dysart?"
cries Vera. suddenly, with prophetic in
stinci. Speak. girl" turning Iercely on
her maid.
Gone down to the beach, madame, to
see what can be done
Gone. says Vera. slowly, as if dazed,
and then again, gone" A little convlu-
sive Shiver runs through hcr-it is the
final breaking up of any lingering de-
ceits, any last illusions, that she may
still have chung to.
"Ordcr the carriage" she says, after
minute or two. during which mistress and
maid have remained silent. This sudden
wakingup has been so far a shock that
it has killed all immediate nervousness
She feels chilled, calmed strengthened
The moon has in measure conquered
the clouds, and now shines ont with
pale, watery luster, that rather adds to
than takes from the weird wildness of
the night. The thunder still rattles over
head, and vivid flashes light the black.
ness. Here and there, as the carriage
passes by the outskirts Of the wood, these
intermittent bursts Of light show where
tree has been fe!led. or the road ripped
up, or small bridge carried bodily
away by the force Of the swollen cur
rent underneath.
All through the deadly crashing of the
storm Il booming sound may be heard AT
long intervals. Half maddened by it,
and by that other greater fear. Vera lies
back in the carriage, pressing her fin.
gers now to her ears, now to her throb-
bling brow, that feels as if it were burst
ing.
Arrived at the entrance to the village. n
drive of about a mile from Greycourt,
she stops the carriage, and opening the
door springs to the ground. A sudden
gust of wind passing by almost dashes
her to the earth, but by snperhuman
effort she deties It, and half blinded by
the flashing lightning. and bewldered by
the raging storm, she turns aside, and
runs painting. struggling, down a side
pathway that she knows leads to the
beach below.