Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-12-20

Gus individual from prying and curious
eyes. As matter OF fact neither moth
er nor daughter knew that she had In
CURED the wrath OF the society until
the presentation OF that letter In the
streets OF Port Said. The choosing OF
the name Hurst had no meaning be-
yond that. Beginning with the same
letter as their real name. II suited the
marks on their baggage and on their
linen.
Over pipe Jim and thrashed the
matter out. and as to him 1 no longer
made secret OF the affection l bore
Miss Hilbury he recognized that their
destiny had become lndissolubly bound
up with ours. and though he candidly
confessed that he had no liking for the
increased responsibilities I felt sure
that be had no intention Of Sinking
them. His was not that kind of nature.
This knew. and so let him grumble
as heiitted n man who had reached a
privileged age. But | knew that his
real fear was that my loveslckness
would undermine my resolution.
could not tell him so then. but l had
every reason to believe that II would
have just contrary effect.
For the rest OF the voyage we four
that is. Mrs. Hilbury and Cecil Tor so l
called her In the privacy of my own
hearth. Jim and I-were on terms OF the
most excellent friendship. We called
ourselves the outcasts, the black sheep
OF the fold. the knowledge that we
were marked men and women creating
an Intimacy between US which no out
slider could share.
As we sailed farther and farther
south the new heavens opened and
showed their new wonders. and nigh,
after night, the Southern Cross point
ing the way, we sailed on a sea of sap
phire beneath a jeweled dome. Starsl
The sky was full of them. They hung
in clusters as though they had burst
through the blue gates of heaven.
Sometimes Cecil would point to the
cross and say: when I am at home. Il
can see It quite plainly from my bed
room window" or MANY a night I've
sat and watched 1t and thought no end
Of foolish things. remember once
driving home with father. II was a
beautiful night. just like this. and he
told me such a pretty story about It.
Poor fatherl He will never see It
again.
1t was on such a night In the warm
Australian waters that / told her for
the first time of our expedition to Chi.
ma We were sitting away aft. well out
Of earshot of the other passengers, and
the gentle throbbing OF the screw and
the tapping OF the waters sounded a
soft accompaniment to our talk.
"You mean to say" she said. ''that
you and your uncle intend TO penetrate
the very stronghold OF these terrible
menY
That Is our intention. 1t is for that
purpose we shall go to China As for
penetrating their stronghold. that's as
heaven may direct We are going to
try"
"But they will kill you"
"Undoubtedly-if they can"
"But-but-it's too horribler'
ut is horrible. but what are we To-
do? Don't you see with Kung and
Wooching alive we can never enjoy
one moment free from alarm. Ii was
not without some hesitation that my
uncle and accepted the inevitable. 1t
Is to be battle to the death, and we
do not shut our eyes TO the fact that
there are frightful odds against us, but
It Is possible that the society also has
many enemies, and help may come
from some unexpected quarter. adj
init that our arrangements are ex-
tremely vague 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.
k From him we shall learn the latest In
telligence, and with him we shall lay
our plans"
"Ycu are very daring" she said. ito
take such an awful step In the dark. !
fear you underrate your task"
mo; not In the least If anything.
we have overrated 1t all along. We
have waited and hoped that peace
would come. but | am convinced that
! IL cannot be gained without war. War.
then. 1t rlust be. for now" and here /
think my voice took a somewhat softer
tone. peace is more necessary to me
than II ever was before"
She did not answer for a moment,
and then. mingling with the sound OF
the sea. came a soft "WhyT"
Because 1t will insure your peace,
and that to me has grown dearer than
my own"
There can be no peace for me-" she
answered In low tone. a tone which
the sea and the night rendered Ineffa.
bly, sad. IF II were not wicked, L
could almost wish that you had let me
drown that night"
~HuChi You must not talk like that
Do you know. even In our darkest
hour. when you lay unconscious ON nv
arm, when the sea Kissed and tore
about us and I thought every naornent
would be oar last. was almost hap
py."
"HappyT'
Yes, because through the gloom and
the sOrRV / saw q fY,f,rra N P,,&,,,.o