Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-01-02
BY Claude pamares

meet people. But something III the
quiet, restrained glance attracted him,
and later, when he saw her on deck
struggling with steamer rugs, 1t seemed
only civil to offer his assistance.
Henceforth they fell into the way of
being together. They read and criti-
cised each others books and mega
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 I never to see You again."
he asked.
She shook her head.
at is very unlikely"
"You mean he demanded.
81 mean that it is best not" was the
quiet answer, but he bent rebeIliously
closer.
Listen" he said determinedly. 81
know that it is far too soon to speak.
that you have known me barely
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
am or whence | come"
81 know you are the loveliest and
sweetest woman in the world" he said,
with Il stubborn fr0wn, land that r
NO. no. cried she sharply. Tneu
she lifted her head. Il have not told
you the whole TRUTH" she said, n quiet
dignity i'll her bearing. Il am indeed
Mrs. Raymond, and my husband is
I,1I+ 7 al ,rplI l11l.
croft's sister,
"Bancr0ft's - sister" He repeated
the words incredulously. "Bancroft's
sister" His voice betrayed only an
amazed beWilderment, but the WON
an, sensitiyely alive to every int0na-
ton, heard or fancied Il certain hidden
repugnance beneath the surprise. Her
breath futtered; then she pulled her
self together.
$50, l. am sure you will agree with
me tkst any further friendship be-
tween us is impossible" she said clear
ly. Good night and goodby."
Before be could divine her intention
she had stepped toward the compan-
ionway. The next moment she was
gone. The man turned back to the rail.
"Bancroft's sister," he said again,
his eyes resting vaguely, unseemingly
upon the tumbling waters. "Bancroft's
sister,
Below in the narrow little cabin Mrs.
Raymond threw herself upon the bunk
The heavy tears hung upon her lashes.
He hated her then. She wondered at
it i'll 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
recoilected the tall lad whom Russell
had brought home for an occasional
visit. Then had come COrtwright's en-.
gagement. The cards were out, the
wedding dress finished. Bancroft was
to be best man. And then two days
before the day set Bancroft the trust
ed, the beloved friend, had fed with his
chum's bride, leaving a Wild incoher-
ent note in which they pleaded their
unconquerabIe affection.
Child as she had been, Mrs. Ray
mond well remembered the tremendous
excitement it had stirred, her passion.
ate sympathy for the half stunned
Cartwright But the affair slid into
history, Ike everything else. After tha:
Russell and his Wife lived abroad She
herself had grown up. married aud be-
come widow. Her marriage had not
proved exactly Il success. yet she had
mourned her husband deeply and sin
cerely, never considering the POSSIBLE
ity of her marrying again. Then had
come this steamer acquaintance with
man singularly congenial in tastes and
ideas. Her learning of his identity had
been shock. She felt. that i'll honesty
she must reveal herself. Yet every day
she let pass made the task more DIM
cult. 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
in sudden fierceness. 1t 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
r1'or. 1t was not late. Perhaps he
would join her again on deck.
But as she turned into the passage
way which led to his door and lifted
her hand to knock u swift realization
of 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
ne would not have let her go.
Dominated by this reasoning, she
turned and fairly ran back to her
cabin. There. with bowed head, mo-
tionless save for soft, catching breaths,
she waited until the steward came to
call her.
1t looked very cherries in the big
room. A few persons were clustered