The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1906-08-01
CHAPTER XIII.

Had IN acute but uninitiated observer
been introduced into the little cabin of
the Argo during the consumption of the
delicate repast provided by her officers,
he or she could scarcely have failed to no.
tice a certain recklessness among the par
ty assembled. Admiral Grace was the
only one who really did justice to the
stewards maiden and supreme effort, n
he, in consequence, was singular In fail
ing to appreciate the witticisms of Mat
thew Mark Easton and Oswin Grace. This
was, perhaps, owing to the fact that when
we have passed the halfway milestone in
life, we fail to appreciate the most brill
liant conversation. 1t is just possible
that Admiral Grace did not think very
much of the wit-taken as wit pure and
simple. His position was not unique.
Once or twice Easton's words REQUIRED
to Miss Winter II intend to be intense
ly funny, and l guess you will have to
laugh" This was her cue, and she acted
upon it.
The meal came to an end and a move
was made. There was nothing else to do
but to go on deck. The moments dwin-
died on with the slow, dragging monotony
which makes us almost impatient to see
the last of faces which we shall perhaps
never look upon again. Presently, the
town Of Gravesend hove in sight, and all
on the quarterback of the Argo gazed at
it as they might have gazed on some I'M
known Eastern city after traversing the
desert. And then, after all-all the wait
ing, the preparation, the counting of mo-
ments, and the calculating of distances
the bell in the engine room came as a
surprise. There was something startling
in the clang Of gong as the engineer re-
piled.
Helen was the last to rise. She stood
holding the shawl which Oswin had
spread over her knees, and looked round
with a strange, intense gaze. The steam
er wa now drifting slowly on the tide
with resting engines. There were two
boats rowing toward her from Gravesend
Pier, one a low, green-painted wherry for
the pilot, the other a larger boat, with
stained and faded red cushions. The
scene-the torpid, yellow river, the sor-
did town and low riverside warehouses;
could scarce have been exceeded for pure,
unvarnished dismalness.
Already the steps were being lowered.
In a few moments the larger boat swung
alongside, held by a rope made fast in
the forecastle of the Argo. A general
move was made toward the rail. Tyars
passed out on the gangway, where he
stood waiting to hand the ladies into the
boat. Helen was near to her brother 4;
she turned to him and kissed him in ST.
lence. Then she went to the gangway.
There was a little pause, and for a mo-
ment Helen and Tyars were left alone at
the foot of the brass-bound steps.
"Good-by," said Tyars.
There was a slight ~prolongation of the
last syllable, as if he had something else
to say but he never said it, although
she gave him time.
"Good-by," she answered, at length :
and she, too, seemed to have something
to add which was never added.
Then she stepped lightly into the boat
and took her place on the faded red
cushions.
The Argo went to sea that night. There
was much to do, although everything
seemed to be in its place, and every man
appeared to know his duty. 1t thus hap
pened that Tyars and Grace had not a
moment TO themselves until we'll on into
the night. The watch was set at 8
o'clock. For a moment Tyars paused be-
fore leaving his chief officer alone on the
little bridge.
What a clever fellow Easton is !" he
said. Il never recognized it until this
afternoon"
(Tn ha nn~ts-