Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-20
CHAPTER XVIII.

Book Of The Lyddy.
When she went back again she was
gowned for the shore. Those who have
crossed often know what this means. The
girl who has been pretty and attractive In
the ship clothes in which a man has been
| accustomed to see her becomes absolutely
wondrous in the finer garments which she
selects for landing day.
| Parton was little less than dazzled, and
yet there was nothing in the girls costume
! which was not simple and unassuming She
saw that he was impressed by it, and col
ored richly. She was scarcely the kind OF
girl who flung the banners of her flushing
cheeks to the breeze of every mans atten-
ton, but the look of admiration which
shone in the young Englishman's eyes
brought its quick response in vivid fiushes.
He was fully dressed and sitting in
carpet-seated camp chair. His arm was in
sling, and his face showed white under
the fading tan. but the only traces of the
fever were the somewhat ragged lips and
the signs of great but ended strain about
the eyes.
Il have just seen the captain" she said,
forgetting the smiles and bushes.
How is he?" asked Parton, also sober
ing.
Sure, he's pitiful,'' said Norah. Every
minute he says, over and over again. "Lyd-
dy, Lyddy Lyddy,' but whether he means
his ship or his wife cannot tell. Once in
bit he rouses, and / think he knows
something about what's happened, for he
asked the doctor after the pounding of the
engines stopped if we were in port, and
when he heard we were he nodded his head,
pleased like. But that he don't know he's
on a steamer instead of his own vessel you
would think from his telling the doctor to
have her anchored off Liberty for while
until he could go ashore and see his con-
y,tr a bout 1n,i-f inn rtnla
I'm going to take full charge of both
of you The captain'1l have to go straight
to a hospital; he'll be much better there;
and you shall go to some hotel or other
which l will find and take you to. The
doctor tells me of a good one that is very
quiet and not expensive"
Parton looked at her with worry on his
face.
You know said he, that 1 have very
little money
TT had occurred to me-" said Norah,
that perhaps you were not what might
be called affiuent for the moment. I've
read it somewhere that castaways are
more than likely to be caught out with
out their pocket books. Did you save any
money from the ship? 1 have little and
I've telegraphed for more. I'd never ask
MacFarren for farthing piece. The cap
tain of the steamer said that 1 might send
a cable by the doctors boat, and SO did
l don't believe we'll starve quite. And it
won't be long before you're making lash
ms. Faith, we'll get along some way
Parton glowed over the use of the plu-
raj pronoun The love which had bloomed
so quickly in his heart for this clear
voiced, big-eyed girl had increased with
every moment of his knowledge of her,
and in that moment an avowal of his
passion was on his lips. But he checked
it-for who or what was he, that he
should even dream of her. penniless and
without prospects of even the most
mote kind?
Snatching for something commonplace
and safe to saw. he manfred.
Why upon earth did you make this
trip?"
An instant later, while she hesitated,
he added: Was it just to save an alb
stract man from an injustice threatened
by MacFarren?"
Her head swayed forward and the
wholly. They turned their glories to a
handkerchief that rested in her lap
sure, said she, slowly, you forgot
that had the family reputation for COM
had no thought of you I'd had to do what
was to be done to keep him from spelling
the fine name of MacFarren utterly
AS Parton sat and looked at her he
knew that in some way before they left
that ship he should tell her that he loved
her.
What reason did you give to him for
coming over here?" he asked
Il gave him none" she said Sure he
Knew well why came. After the talk we
had when found out his plans he needed
none. He told me that he'd done it quite
as much for me as for. himself, and then l
laughed at him. Finally, when he found
that was quite earnest, why he cast me to
the winds of heaven. All four of them, he
threw me to-"
And finally-when you insisted and he
found that You We're surely coming-what
did he do then?' asked Parton.
'He came, too said Norah
For moment Parton was too surprised to
speak. The presence of the Irish girl had
Deen SO great 1maZGmanf that If had
quite filled his mind.
AT first Norah went on slowly when
he found that | was really in earnest about
leaving him If he should do what he had
said he would about that transfer and your
diamonds, faith, thought he'd try to keep
me home by violence. But then he gave
that up and kept mouse quiet. He's cley-
er man. He let me go ahead and make my
plans--and | had no idea at all of hiding
then-Im proud of what I've done-and
went down to Waterloo station to see me go
away But when we were there he climbed
into the railway carriage with me-
Parton sat silent for a moment There
was certain grim humor in the situation
1t might be very grim, he realized that
Does he know that the diamonds are
lost?' asked Parton.
I've told him 50. but it may be that he
does not quite believe me. At first he swore
that ne would come in to see you, but 1
| made the doctor say to him that it would be
dangerous to trouble you, and faith / be-
lieve 1t would have been for a time Then
ne told me that he had planned to make
trouble for you when you landed. but |
| told him that ne must not. He laughed at
me when l said that, but I changed the
| manner of his merriment."
Howl" said Parton
! Again Norah colored wildly
Sure, I'll never tell you that" said she.
and laughed.
'Why%' asked Parton. puzzled
Its quite my own affair."" said she eaily
but stiii blushing. Perhaps l have not
stepped him quite, for I'll never be able to
carry out the threat made, I'm thinking
but maybe he will hesitate little
Please tell me what the threat was"
| said Parton
Sure never WILL said Norah 'sure
never Observation-Disclosures
Unless what?" asked Parton.
Unless l have to try to fulfill it, said
| Norah blushing even more brilliantly than
before and dropping her eyes before his IN
/ curing glance.
Was it such a very dreadful threat?,
/ said Parton.
That's as you look at it, said Norah
1T might not be so awful-in some circum-
/ stances, but 1t would be hard on him.
/ How said Parton persistently
4 Hush up! said Norah. and never an
ether word could he get of her about it,
Finally he stopped asking for a while
and sat looking at her.
We're almost there. I'm thinking" said