The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-20
fContinued.)

 eyss our DetT days afterward the caravan ds. parted. bearing sir ya % os its iong jour neT .he so isttsr A was short, and did not concern eel itself with details. It ran as io..0m nDsar Betty.-You will be surprised to learn that I am still alive. snsa r not return to England till nexL am at present Tn the a ossI5s Please G for Sniy Si wanted to marry you yys,, rsSriiySsa soT yoSa[ money. I have been crueiiy p,s cjssrs and at last am able to see things steas iv. look up to you now as one wno .i is Tar above me. wish to repay you TOT ali you have done. I can do It pest oy keeping out et to yosHh ySsght and am content sf0in ad Is Y aid not work I should starve; It is dull, and have no pleasure saItS pIs rest. Still 1 am content n, snd and ny me T lie a thousSnd miles of sand. and all sae journey from the nearest porL so Lns land PsrAaD; yoST, S,ks VIII th,s. .ahn But r I am st least honest. And always remempsr ms in all reverence s and affection. Dick saunT This letter, sealed, and made as imnosinT s 6 possible with wax and tas- seis of silk. was committed ,sae charge of ths ancient & snA A,eSaed aSaoseS aaSnt s ero oraancsa Hn s four golden English sover: eiEns. and At once purchased tne goo99 vii of the bearer t tgs gss hiRSsst lnessstH1a fn porsance, nor nee and that 1t was to. be- taken by 4 trianEular route to Porte said. ana then be stamped and posted to - AZ Gsunt watched the line ef camels sad1 to a thin thread, and then to small speck on the hortzon ok sana, he signed and wondered if he nad aone right. He had, at any rate, acted rom unseIfish motives. Then he returned 70 hIs work and had no more time to tnink of England.
 He was surprised to notice tnsa one nf fha canels was left behind. In the life of the desert these animals played as important a part as railways in Eng land. It was easier to imagine the Great western leaving an engine as present to some obscure village ID Glon- ohestershire than to comprehend 6l1t of such startling magnitude.
 On Inquiry he learned that the new bride had wept so long and copiously for the animal which had carried her into captivity that Ben Asan naa put- chased 1t at Q fabulous price. r was of no possible use, and was even an sr,cs,mtranoe for 1t consumed food and water. But to Hamil 1t was link with Civilization, and she took exercise on 1t daily, as a lady might drive in the park. Gaunt laughed when he heard about it. This Hamil. of the dark eyes. was evidently destined to be the new woman of the desert. the pioneer of strange, unfeminine actions
 In a few weeks time. however. he be- gan ID take a most undesirable interest in this woman who had come so strangely into the desert from the world beyond. He had only heard that she was beautiful, for he had never seen more than her eyes and forehead But there was no doubt about the vo- luminous grace of her form. It was al- so evident that she took some interest in aim. She never passed him without looking him boldly in the face. and more than once she had spoken to him.
 On these occasions his reply had been of the curtest. and to do him justice. he tried to avoid her as much as possible. But the mere sight of her was sufficient to quicken the blood in his veins. and the sound of her voice vibrated through every nerve. In some manner which he could hardly explain. he wPs afraid of her.
 It says much for the change in the mans character that he found no pleas ure in the spell which the woman had
  that she had marked him down as her prey. and that she was only waiting for an opportunity. He had seen that much in her eyes. But he did not re- spond to her glances, and fear was tse predominant feeling in his heart. He took good care to avoid any opportuni- ty which might poove the weakness of his armour.
 But fate had decreed that hls strength should be tried to the utmost. One day he slipped on the dishingyboat and injured his knee-cap so severely that he could not walk. The injury necessitated rest, and, in consequence. he was left behind in the camp, while all the other able-bodied men went out to sea.
 Then one evening he lay close to the fresh water spring at the edge of the oasis, and thought of this new prob lem that had entered into his life
 It was near sunset. but the boat had not yet returned. The sky was fam ing splendor of violet and crimson and gold. The desert beyond was a rich ochre. and its very desolation was beautiful. There was no sound to break the silence but the bubbling of the
 Then there were soft footsteps, and, looking round, he saw Hamtl with jar upon her shoulder. She had come out alone to draw water rom the spTinks
 She did not speak as she came close to him, but he could see her smile. though only her eyes and forehead were visible It was the smile of one who Is going to triumph.
 He looked away from her across the desert, but as he heard the gurgle of the water in the jar. he looked round again. and his sight was fascinated by the supple curves of her stooping body He could not take his eyes off her. and he was afraid.
 Then she suddenly lifted her mead and Gaunt trembled in every limb. The veil had slipped down from her face and he looked into the full blaze of her lovellness. Quick as thought she dropped the Jar and replaced the veil
 She did not speak, but he saw the burning passion In her eyes. and knew that no accident had disclosed her charms. She filled her jar again and left without a word. His eyes followed her till she disappeared.
 Then once more he gazed across the deser- with the look Of hunted anl- nal seeking for some means of escape His face was flushed. his eyes glittered, his heart beat furiously. The glorious beauty of the woman had gripped him. and he knew that he must release him . self from her grasp.
 He looked seaward toward the set five attF arrOaS the golden Dlafn of wa