Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-02-22


zines, they spent much time pacing the
deck, and now had come the last night
Of it all. She was leaving the ship at
Plymouth; he was going on to Cher
bourg. The man was the first to speak.
"And am l never to see you again?"
he asked.
She shook her head.
''It is very unlikely"
"You mean he demanded.
81 mean that it is best not" was the
quiet answer, but he bent rebelliously
closer.
Listen" he said determinedly. Il
know that it is far too soon to speak,
that YOU have known me barely a
week, yet when you talk in this way
say that we shall not meet again.
"You know nothing of me either"
broke in the woman hurriedly-"who
l am or whence 1 come"
81 know you are the loveliest and
sweetest woman in the world" he said,
with q stubborn frown, land that r.
"No, no." cried she sharply. Then
she lifted her head. Il have not told
you the whole TRUTH" she said, a quiet
dignity in her bearing. II am indeed
Mrs. Raymond, and my husband is
dead, butt am also Russell Ban
croft's sister"
"Bancroft's = sister," He repeated
the words incredulously. "Bancroft's
sister," His voice betrayed only an
amazed bewilderment, but the wom-
an, sensitively alive to every intona-
ton, heard or fancied certain hidden
repugnance beneath the surprise. Her
breath huttered; then she pulled her
self together.
so / am sure you will agree with
me that any further friendship be-
tween us is impossible" she said clear
ly. Good night and goodby."
Before he could divine her intention
she had stepped toward the compan-
ionway. The next moment she was
gone. The man turned back 20 the rail.
"Bancroft's sister," he said again,
his eyes resting vaguely, unseemingly
upon the tumbling waters. "Bancroft's
sister,"
Below in the narrow i.tie cabin Mrs.
Raymond threw herself upon the bunk
The heavy tears hung upon her lashes.
He hated her then. She wondered at
it in dull sort of way. Yet who
really could wonder that the very name
of Bancroft should be distasteful In his
ears? She knew the whole wretched
story. The two men had been chums
at school, roommates at college. She
recollected the tall lad whom Russell
had brought home for an occasional
visit. Then had come Cortwright's en-
gagement. The cards We're out, the
wedding dress finished. Bancroft was
TO be best man. And then two days
before the day set Bancroft the trust
cd, the beloved friend, had fed with his
ehum's bride, leaving a wild, incoher-
ent note in which they pleaded their
unconquerable affection.
Child as she had been, Mrs. aay-
mond well Remembered the tremendous
exciteman. it mad stirred, her passion
ate sympathy for the half stunned
Cartwright. But the affair slid into
history, like everything else. After that
herself had grown up, married and be-
come widow. Her marriage had not
proved exactly q success, yet she had
mourned her husband deeply and sim
cerely, never considering the posslbil-
ity of her marrying again. Then had
come this steamer acquaintance with a
man singularly congenial in tastes and
ideas. Her learning of his identity had
been shock. She felt that in honesty
she must reveal herself. Vet eyery day
she let pass made the task more diff
cElG And now what she had most
feared had come to pass-he shrank
from the sister of his faithless friend,
The woman on the bunk started up
ia sudden ferceness. IT was not fair.
What part had she in that old deed?
She must see him again-explain. She
did not know exactly what to say, but
the impulse carried her out into the cor
ridor. 1t was not late. Perhaps he
would join her again on deck
But as she turned into the passage
way which led 20 his door and lifted
her band TO knock q swift realization
9f what she was about to do swept
over her with an intolerable rush of
shame. What. Appeal to the pity of
any man? For had he truly loved her
he would not have let her 60
Dominated by this reasoning, she
turned and fairly ran BACK 60 her
cabin. There, with bowed head, mo-
ticnless save for soft, catching breaths,
She waited until the steward came to
call her
1t looked very cheerless in the big
room. 4 few persons were clustered
about one end Of & long table. She
cast : Iuick glance about, hardly know
lug for what she hoped, but he was not
there. The steward brought eggs and |
coffee, and she managed u cup. Then
she went OH deck.
The rain was dripping dismally. Here |
and there light glimmered family |
through the thick mist. So that was
Plymouth. The gang planl. leading to |
the tende- Ras steep and slippery. |
People moved through the dusk like |
disembodied spirits 1t was all very |
gloomy and very forlorn, and despite |
herself she shivered
The gans plank was pulled in. The |
Dand, huddled into a damp group on |
the steamers deck, broke forth with .
lively air. A man standing near by |
laughed.
IF one has to be awake at such an
hour it is a comfort to know that no
one else can sleep either" he observed |
grimly.
1T would be hard to sleep through |
that racket" assented his companion |
At the voice she started violSatly. Was
it-coul9 It bs--Cortwrignt? For a mo-
ment She scarcely breathed, thrilled be-
tween ecstasy and fear. Then dark
figure detached itself from the fog and
came to her
''It is you," said the voice, and this
time Enthusiastically it was Cortwright's.
y wasn't sure st 4rst"