The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1906-01-25
BY Claude Pa@areo

quiet, restrained glance attracted MN
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 crlti.
clsed each others books and maya
Zines, they spent much time pacing the
deck. and now had come the last night
Of II all. She was leaving the ship nt
Plymouth; he was going on to Cher
bourg. The man was the first TO speak.
And am l never to see you agalnT
he asked.
She shook her head.
"It Is very unlikely"
"You mean he demanded
al mean that II Is best not" was the
quiet answer, but he bent rebelliously
closer.
Listen" he said determInedly. II
know that 1t Is far too soon to speak
that you have known me barely n
week, yet when you talk In this way
say that we shall not meet again
"You know nothing of me either
broke iH the woman hufhedly-"whO
am or whence come"
81 know you are the lOyellest and
sweetest woman I'm the world, he said,
with n stubborn frown, land that T.
"No, no." cried she sharply. Then
she lifted her head 81 have not told
you the whole truth" she said, a quiet
dignity In her bearing. 81 am indeed
Mrs. Raymond, and my husband Is
dead, butt am also Russell Ban
crOft's sister"
"Bancrofts - sister" He repeated
the words incredulously. "Bancroft's
sister" His voice betrayed only an
amazed bewilderment, but the wom-
an, sensitively alive to every lntoha-
ton, heard or fancled a certain hidden
repugnance beneath the surprise. Her
breath futtered; then she pulled her
self together,
$50 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 compon-
iOnway. The next moment she was
gone. The man turned back to the rail
"Bancrofts sister," he said again,
his eyes resting vaguely, unseemlngly
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
1t IN Il dull sort Of way. Yet who
really could wonder that the very name
Of Bancroft should be distastoful In his
earsl She knew the whole wretched
story. The two men had been chums
at school, roommates Mt college. She
recollected the tall lad whom Russell
had brought home for an occasional
visit. Then had come COrtwrght'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
cd, the beloved friend, had lied with his
chum's bride. leaving a wild, lneoher-
ent note In which they pleaded their
unconquernble affection.
Child as she had been, Mrs. Ray
mond well remembered the tremendous
excitement ii had stirred, her passion
ate sympathy Cor the half stunned
Cartwright. But the affair slid Into
history, like everything else. After that
Russell and his wife lived abroad. She
herself had grown up, married and be-
come widow. Her marriage had not
proved exactly a success, yet she had
mourned her husband deeply and SIN
cerely, never considering the possibil-
lily OF her marrying again. Then had
come this steamer acquaintance with q
man slngularly congenial in tastes and
Ideas. Her learning Of his identity had
been shock. She felt that In honesty
she must reveal herself. Yet every day
she let pass made the task more ditri-
cult And now what she had most
feared had come to plss-he chran1
from the sister OF his faitbless friend.
The woman on the bunk started up
~ sudden fierceness. II was not fair.
What part had she IN that old deed
She must see him agaln-explain. She
did not know exactly what TO say. but
the impulse cnrried her ont into the cor.
rldor. It 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