Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-07

cold. Courtenay unlocked the door o
 his cabin. Elsie. her face pale and tea
 stained, but outwardly composed, wa
 yet standing near the table, and tn,
 dog sprang from her arms the momen
 his master appeared.
 Thank Godr' she said, all of a flut
 ter now that the solitary waiting for s
 death which came not was ended. q
 feared I should never see you again
 Is the ship lost?"
 The wild soughing of the wind ren
 dered her words indistinct, and the
 captain had no time for explanations.
 Tn here!" he shouted to Gray, who
 had helped Isobel to enter the chart
 room, the first refuge available on this exposed deck.
 Sharp with it." he thundered when
 lsobel was unwilling to face the storm again The men took their cue from his imperative tone. Gray clasped Iso- bel in his arms and lifted her bodily through the doorway. The others fol- lowed his example. Soon the three women were with Elsie in the cabin. Isobel, by sheer reaction from her pre-. vious hysteria, was sullen now and needless of all considerations save her own misery. When she set eyes on Elsie she snapped out:
 You here?"
 Yes. Captain Courtenay brought me to his cabin after our return from the fore salon."
 "Oh, did he? And he left me with those devils beneath"
 They both heard Courtenay's hur- ried order:
 Leave the ladies here until we can come for them. Follow me at once"
 The door slammed behind the men. Elsie helped Mrs. Somerville to a chair. Then she turned to Isobel and said gently:
 Tt is a slight thing to discuss when any moment may be our last, but the captain placed me here while he went to bring you. He had gone only few seconds when the ship struck"
 The crest of a wave combed over the upper works and pounded the solid beams and blanks of the cabin until they creaked. The ship lifted some what as the sea enveloped her.
 "Oh, this Is awful" shrieked Isobel. If I must die, let me dle quickly! 1 shall go mad"
 Calm yourself, dear. There must be an end of our sufferings soon. Per haps we may escape even yet"
 Yes, know. If any one is saved 1t will be you. You left me down there to take my chance among those fiends. You have been here hours with your precious captain, no doubt. Were he looking after his ship this might not have happened Why did ever come on this wretched vessel. and with you, who ran away from Ventana? T. should have been warned by it. When he could work me no other evil he sent you. Oh, you have taken fine vengeance. Pedro Ventana! May you be denied mercy as I am denied II now! Go away. If you touch me shall strike you. I hate you. I tell you l am losing my senses. Do you wish me to tear your face with my nailsf"
 Elsie. who would have soothed her distraught friend with a loving hand, drew back in real fear that she was confronted by a maniac. The utter outrageousness of this new infllction brought teaTs 10 her eyes. Yet she choEed back her grief for the sake of the others.
 Another heavy sea pitched on board. The Kansas trembled and listed sud denly. lsObel screamed shrilly and burst into a storm of dry eyed sobs Her mood changed instantly into one of abject submission She sprang to- ward Elsie with hands outstretched.
 oh. save me. save me- she walled God knows. am not it 10 die!''
 There are some noble natures which find strength in the need to comfort the weakness Of others. Elsie drew the dis acted girl close 10 her and placed an arm around her neck.
 T. was thus that Courtenay found them when he appeared at the door after a lapse of time which none of them could measure
 Now, Miss Maxwell you first" he said, with an air of authority which betokened some new move of utmost importance.
 "Flrst-for what?" she managed to ask.
 You are going of in a boat. It is your hest chance Please be quick"
 No, Miss Barring goes before me. then inc others. l shall come last"
 Have it as you will. I addressed you because you were nearest the door. Come along. Miss Barring He waited for no further words. He grssped Isobe.-s arm and led her out into the darkness r seemed to be a very long tine before he returned
 Now. Mrs- Somervi'Ie.~ be said. but that unhappy iaiv was so uunerved that he had to carry her.
 Can you msnage to bring the maid:- be asked over hts shoulder to Elsie. She stopped over the maid. but -hs glri vrestled and fought with her in frantic dread of the passage along fha deck and Of facing that bowling lea tn a small boat Elsie herself was almost worn out when CCurtenzv came back He took Ia the situation al gisnce- He pickeI zD tbe shrfekinz maid in his strong lFIs