The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-17
CHAPTER V.

MAR i En- "
Rolling, tumbling, splashing, foam
ing water as far as the eye could reach
IN seyery direction. A desolate waste.
full OF life, movement and color. ex-
tending to the bleak horizon and like
q vast plowed field cut up into long
and high liquid ridges. all scurrytng I'm
ono direction in serried ranks and with
incredible speed, as II pursued by a
fearful and unseen enemy. Serenely
yet boisterously, gracefully yet resist
lessly, the endless waves passed on
some small others monstrous, with
1eecy white combs rushing down their
green sides like toy Niagaras and
with a seethinE, boiling sound as
when flame touches water. They
went on by In a stately. reverend
ing procession, going nowhere, com
ing from nowhere but full OF dignity
with suppressed rage because there
was nothing IN their path that they
might destroy. The dancing. leaping
water reflected every shade and tint
and again a dirty gray as the sun
hid for moment behind a cloud. and
az q gust OF wind caught the top Of
the combers decapitating them at one
mad rush, the spray was dashed high
IN the air, flashing out all the pris
matte colors. Here and yOnder. the
white caps rose, towering. became
majestic. terrible; the milk-like comb
rose proudly, scared a brief moment,
then feI ANONYMOUSLY, and the wave
diminished, passed on Inundated.
Overhead, few scattered cirrus
clouds fitted laZily across the blue
dome OF heaven. while dozen Mother
Carey chickens screamed hoarsely as
they circled IN the air. The strong and
steady western breeze bore on It's pow
erful pinions the sweet and eternal
music of the wind and sea
Shirley stood at the rail under the
bridge OF the ocean greyhound that
was carrying her back to America with
all the speed of which her mighty
engines were capable. All day and all
night half-naked stOkers. so grimed
with oil and coal dust as 20 lose the
slightest sembldnCe of human beings,
feverishly shovelcd coal, throwing ii
rapidly and evenly over roaring fur
naces kept at a fierce white heat. The
vast boilers. shaken ny the tt
tanic forces generating, In their
cavern-like depths, sent streams Of
scalding, Kissing steam through
thousand valves, cylinders and pis-
tons, turning wheels and cranks as IL
distributed the tremendous power
which was driving the steel monster
through the seas at the Drodigious
speed Of 400 miles I'm the tweny-four
hours. Like a pulsatinE heart In some
living thing. the mammoth engines
throbbe6 and painted, and the great
vessel ErOancd and crealCed as she rose
and fell 10 the heavy swell. and again
lurChed In obedience 10 each fresh pro
pulsion from her fast spinning screws
Out on deck. volumes Of dense black
smoke were pouring from four gigantic
smoke stacks and spread out I'm the
sky like some endless cinder path lead
ing back over the course the ship had
taken.
They were four days out from port.
Two DAYS more and they would sight
Sandy Hook. and Shirley would know
the worst She had caught the Ninth
German Llovd boat at CherbourE two
days after receiving the cablegram
from New York. Mrs Blake had I'm
sisted on coming along IN spite or her
niece's protests Shirley argued that
she had crossed alone when coming.
she could so back the same way Be
sides was not Mr.. RYDER returning
home on the same ship He would be
company and protection both. But
Mrs Blake was bent on making the
voyage. She had not seen her sister
for many years. and. moreover. this
sudden return to America nad unset
her own plans. She was n poor sailor.
vet she loved the ocean and this was
4 good excuse FOR q long trlD. Shirley
was too exhausted with worry 90 ouer
further resistance. and by great gOOu
luck the two women had been able 70
secure at the last moment a cabin 10
them selves anidShips. Jefferson, less
fortunate. wa 8 compelled, 90 his dis
gust, 10 share a st9torOOm with an
other passenger, rat German brew
er. who was returning to Cincinnati
and who SnOred so loud at night that
even the humping of the engines was
completely drowned by his eccentric
nasal sounds.
The alarming summons home and the
terrible shock she had experienced the
following morning when Jeuerson
showed her the newspaper article with
its astounding and heart rendinE news
about her father had almost Frustrated
Shirley. The blow was al the greater
for being SO entirely unlocked Tor.
THAT the story was true she could not
doubt Her mother would not nave
,4bIed except under the EraVest cir
crmstances What alarmed Shirley
still more was that she had no direct
news or hen father. For moment her
heart stood still-supposc the shock OF
This shameful accusation had klNcd
hIrn7 Her blood froZe I'm her veins, she
cIenched her fists and dug her nails
into her flesh rs she thought Of the
dread possibility that she had looked
uDOn him IN life for the last time. she
remembered his last kind words when he
came TO tho steamer 20 see her on,
and his kiss when ne said goodbye
and she had noticed "a tear OF which
he appeared 10 be ashamed. The hot
hot tears welled up i'm her own eyes
and COursed unhi0dered down her
cheeks
What could these nrcposteroUs and
ahOmluahle charges mCan2 What was
this lie they had invented TO rCin her
father That ha had enemies she
we'll knew. What strong man had not.
Indeed. his urovcrbial honesty had
made him feared by all eviI-dOoTs and
on one occasion they had gone so far
as 20 threaten his life. This new at
tack was more deadly than alto
sap and destroy his character. to &c
libarateIv fabricate lies and calum-
MES which had no foundation what
ever or course, the accusation was
absurd the Senate would refuse To
convict him, the entire press would
cspCusc the cause of so worthy a
public servant Certainly. everything
would be done 20 clear his character.
But what was being dOne2 She could
do nothing but walt and wait Tho
suspense and anxiety were awful
Suddenly she heard a familiar step
behind her, and Jefferson Joined her
at the rail The wind was due West
and blowing half n gale. So where
they were staudiug-Ous OF the most
exposed parts % the ship-it was diff
cult 20 Keep ones feet. to say nothing
OF hearing anyone speak There was
preaching wave looked big enough 10
cngulf the vessel but as the mass a.
moving water reached the bow. the
ship rose on IT,, light and graceful as
bird. shook Off the flying spray as
cat shakes her fur after an unvclcom.
hath. and again drove forward rs