Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-12-13

us get back to the ship"
But you are i'll. You are going to
faint. You
l caught her as she staggered. but
with an effort she regained her eQuIlih-
rum.
mo: l am not well, that Is ALL" she
murmured; "a sudden faintness; the
heat perhaps. Let us hurry back"
But won't you sit down and rest or
have some Refreshments The ship will
not sail for the next three hours"
"No-l know. But she is on board
"Shey'
My mother. am anxious"
"You will take my armT'
Thank you"
Near the landing stage we met sew.
erai other lady passengers going back
20 the ship. and In accordance with the
wishes of my companion / placed her
under their protection.
81 would rather go or with YOU"
said. you have not yet sufficiently re-
covered"
Il am quite well. thank you"
She saw the anxiety In my face and
smiled wan. pitiful smile. thought
but one that brought US nearer to each
other than we had ever been.
THAT letter had bad newsf"
Very. But you would not under
stand"
II would try hard to understand any.
thing that concerned your welfare"
Thank you. Mr.. Gray. This is some
thing quite different from anything
you ever heard OF or imagined"
l helped her into the boat and stood
watching until l saw her mount the
ships gangway and disappear. Then
i turned about and retraced my steps
toward the shops.
My mind was full OF apprehension on
her behalf. What did she mean by
saying that this affair of the letter re-
ferred to something quite dlfferen,
from anything | had ever heard of or
imagined? Who was she, what was
she. how came she to be mixed up In
an affair so full of mystery? What
did this mean. this presentation OF n
letter by an Arab In this desert town.
A commercial highway truly. yet In
what way could she. a stranger, a wo
man, be connected with it2 Yet how
serious II must have been to cause her
so much terror! pictured again the
blank look OF horror which, spreading
from her eyes, whitened her lovely
face. / felt again the fierce, nervous
clasp OF her fingers on my arm, and
listened once more TO her gaspinC NJ.
terances as she sought TO reassure me
My mind buzzed with strange conjec-
ture. In spite OF the knowledge OF my
own intolerable position and the fact
that, situated as was. | had no right
to look too longingly upon any woman
felt myself drawn insensibly toward
the girl and already her sorrow had
become mine.
What did that letter contain?
would have given much to know,
though from no mere inquisitiveness
Plainly II had thrown her into a stat,
OF abject terror, therefore II must have
contained information of the utmost
gravity. ] cursed the shortness of our
friendship. which rendered me to her
practically an unknown quantity.
That 1t was anything Of which she
personally had the slightest cause to
be ashamed was thought / never
for one moment entertained. You see,
L had embarked upon venture, and /
whipped my faith into obedience.
A little while later on 1 met my IN
Gle. Major Coghlan and one or two 9th
ers. who, in the manner OF passengers
ashore, had taken possession of the
street The gallant solt FRS gallant
face was redder than ever. and from
his exceedingly breezy manner guess
ed that the desert sand In his throat
had required lot OF moistening.
The top of the mornin to you" he
said. What have you done with the
ladyY
"She has gone OF to the ship. Tagged
out, think"
AYE, to be sure" said he, his eyes
twinkling with merriment, or beer,
and mighty provokin weather 1t is
and wants dale of humorin.'
But felt in no mood for humoring II
just then and refused the Invitation to
an adjacent cafe. / knew that at bot.
tom the major was no friend of mine,
and / feared his half drunken tests.
On one point / was rather punctilious,
and / knew that IL he touched 1t we
should undoubtedly quarrel. The fight
Ing spirit Of the Irishman Is occasion.
ally a thing to be admired, but more
often it is one to be deplored. The
whirling of shillalahs and the cracking
of craniums do not appear to the more
sober Saxon such mighty fine sport.
The major protested, but my uncle
and were obdurate, and as we walked
along he fired parting shot at us, up,
braiding us for our unsociability. To
this we did not reply. AS / have said.
the major was privileged person.
Fancy that brute having the imper-
Thence to bother Miss Hurst with his
attentions"
Yes" answered my uncle dryly. at
is quite remarkable what importance
some people seem to attach to them
selves"
''The beast! He's half drunk"
Make it three-quarters." Then, look.
Ing round, he said ia a lower tone.
"Seeu anythingY'