Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-07-24

into the obscurity Of the deck.
All that night she sat upon the edge
Of her berth. Her eyes were strained,
and she stared blankly at the foam
breaking against the portfolio. Thought
hung suspended. and she felt herself
rocking mentally like ship In open
sea. She saw her future brought to
bay before the threatening present. and
she glanced furtively around In search
of some byway Of escape. The walls
Of the little stateroom seemed closing
upon her. and she felt the upper berth
bearing down. She sobbsd convulsive.
~. 1T was SO short" she said.
When she came upon deck next day
It was high tide, and the steamer was
drawing into Liverpool. She wore
closely fitting jacket and carried a
small bag In her hand. Through her
lowered veil her eyes showed with
scarlet lids, as II she had been weep
Ing. The crowd Of passengers. leaning
eagerly over the railing. parted slight
", and she caught glimpse Of the
English landing, peopled by strange
English faces. A sob stuck In her
throat, and she fell hastily into cor
ner. She dreaded setting foot upon a
strange shore. She heard the excited
voices vaguely, as she heard them sew
en- days ago upon sailing. They grated
upon her ears with the harsh insistence
Of unshared gayety and made her own
unhappiness the more poignant.
"Why, there Is Jack! rang out the
voice of woman In front Of her.
LEND me the glasses. Yes, 1t Is Jack.
He came up from London to meet me-!
Then the steamer drifted slowly to
the landing. and the voyage was over.
She saw the gangways swung across.
and she saw a dozen men stroll lei
surely aboard. Yes. the end had come.
"Thers 10 no harm In goodby." said q
voice at her side.
She turned hastily. He was looking
down upon her, his eyes filed with the
old haunting gloom. "GOodby." she
answered.
He held out his hand. "And you will
70 home like a sensible woman and
forgetY
81 will 20 home"
His face whitened. "And forgetr
perhaps"
"It is wise"
She looked up At him, her eyes wet
with tears. "Oh, how could your she
cried brokenly. How could your
He shook his head. Don't think OF
me-" he responded. 1T is not worth
the trouble"
The hand that held her bag shook
nervously. # wish I bad never seen
you" she said.
Then a voice startled them.
$50 you have got your wife safely
across Mr. Smith" Il said. "and no
worse for the voyage. May ] have The
pleasurer'
II was the ships surgeon. . large
man with a jovial face. Il am afraid
IL was not the brightest OF honey
moons" he added. with attempted Ia
seriousness. She looked up. her face
palIng. q sudden terror In her eyes.
A man with q telegram In his hand
passed them, glancing from right Ia
left. He stopped suddenly. wheeled
round and came toward them.
All at once her voice rang clear. She
laid her hand upon the arm OF the man
beside her. 1T Is q honeymoon. she
said, and she smiled into the surgeons
face. so bright that even seasicknes'
couldn't dim Il. You know. II has last
ed eight years
The surgeon smiled, and the strange
man passed on.
Some one took her hand. and they
descended the gangway together. AZ
she stepped upon the landing he looked
down at her. his eyes afiame.
For Gods sake" he said. tell me
what II means!'
Her glance did not waver. "Itmeans."
she answered. that am on your Side
forever"
His hand closed over the one he held.
81 ought to send you back" he said.
"but cannot"
"You cannot" she repeated resolute-
ly.
Then her voice softened. "GOd bless
that detectivew she added fervently.
Across the passion in his eyes shot
CLEAN Of his old reckless humor. ut
was Cooks man after tourist" he
said. "but God bless him"