The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-06-15

IL,
Her powers of merciless inquisition
suggested torments long drawn out.
The commander of the Sirdar, home
ward bound from Shanghai. knew that
he was about to be stretched on the
rack when he took his seat at the
saloon table.
lis it true, captain, that we are run
ming into typhoon?" demanded her
ladyship.
"From whom did you learn that, La
dy Tozer?' Captain Ross was wary,
though somewhat surprised.
From Miss Deane. I understood
her moment ago to say that you had
told her."
"IY'
didn't gou? Some one told me this
morning. I couldn't have guessed it,
could I?' Miss Iris Deane's large blue
eyes surveyed him with innocent in
difference to strict accuracy. Incl
dentally she had obtained the Informal
ton from her maid, a nose tilted CO.
quette, who extracted ships secrets
from youthful quartermaster.
"Well-er-I had forgotten" explain
ed the tactful sailor.
"Is it true?'
Lady Tozer was unusually abrupt
today. But she was annoyed by the
assumption that the captain took a
mere girl into his confidence and passed
over the wife of the ex-chief Justice of
Hongkong.
Eyes, it u.s." said Captain Ross, equal
~ curt, and silently thanking the fates
that her ladyship was going home for
the last time.
''Do tell u.s. chimed in Iris. did
you find out when you squinted at the
sun?'
The captain smiled. "You are nearer
the mark than possibly you imagine,
Miss Deane," he said. ''When we took
our observations yesterday there was
very weird looking halo around the
sun. This morning you may have no.
ticed several light squalls and a smooth
sea, marked occasionally by strong
ripples. The barometer is falling rap
idly, and l expect that as the day
wears we will encounter a heavy swell.
If the sky looks wild tonight, and es-
pecially if we observe a heavy bank of
cloud approaching from the northwest,
you will see the crockery dancing
about the table at dinner. I am afraid
you are not good sailor, Lady Tozer.
Are you, Miss Deane?"
capital! I should just love to see a
real storm. Now promise me solemnly
that you will take me up into the chart
house when this typhoon is simply
tearing things to pieces"
"Oh, dear! I hope it will not be very
bad. Is there no way in which you
can avoid it, captain? Will it last
long?"
The polite skipper for once preferred
to answer Lady Tozer. "'There is no
cause for uneasiness," he said. "Of
course typhoons in the China sea are
nasty things while they last, but a
ship like the Sirdar is not troubled by
them. She will drive through the
worst gale she is likely to meet here
in less than twelve hours. Besides,
alter the course somewhat as soon as I
discover our position with regard to
it's CENTER
Then the commander hurriedly ex-
cused himself, and the passengers saw
no more of him that day.
Her ladyship dismissed the topic as
of no present interest and focused Miss
Deane through her eyeglasses.
Sir Arthur proposes. to come home
in June, understands" she inquired.
Iris was remarkably healthy young
woman. A large banana momentarily
engaged her attention. She nodded
affably.
''You will stay with relatives until
he arrives?' pursued Lady Tozer.
Relatives! We have Monochrome
whom we specially cultivate-that is.
l, will stop in town day or two ia
interview my dressmaker and then 20
straight to Helmdale, our place in
YORKSHIRE"
Surely you have chaperon?"
"A chaperon! My dear Lady Tozer
did my father impress you as one who
would permit fussy and stout old
person to make my life miserable?'
The acidity of the retort lay in the
word Stout" But Iris was not &C.
customed to cross examination. Dur
ing three months residence on the
island she had learned how to avoid
Lady Tozer. Here it was impossible
and the older woman fastened upon he1
asp-like. Miss Iris Deane was tooth
some morsel for gossip. Not yet TWEEN
ty-one, the only daughter Of wealthy
baronet who owned a fleet Of stately
ships-the Sirdar among them-a cir
who had been mistress Of her fathers
house since her return from Dresden
three years ago-young, beautiful, ricl
here was combination for which
men thanked judicious heaven, Will,
women shifted enviously.
Business detained Sir Arthur. A wal
cloud overshadowed the two great di
visions Of the yellow race. He mus
wait to see how matters developed, bu
he would not expose Iris to the in
sidious treachery Of a Chinese spring
She was conf1ded to the persona