New-York tribune., 1908-11-01


and in a vague way comforting, for Smith to move
up a chair for her, and then after he had gone out
into the other and stopped the motor to drink
the glass of water he brought back with him All ne
had said during this time was merely the conven-
tional nothngs appropriate to the small services he
was doing for her; nothing at all by way either OF
justification apology. When they were done, he
went over to the open window and stood gazing
rather abstractedly out to sea.
ChriStabel was an unusually normal young woman,
if that is pardonable paradox She had healthy,
We'll balanced mind and admirably attuned syS-
tenn Of nerves So the shock of her recent encounter
unprecedented though it was, passed away very
rapidly Smiths manner OF quietly Ignoring her uIl-
do1bted1v contributed something to this result. AT
all events before he had stood there by the window
three minutes the girl was herself again, regarding
the episode Just past with almost as rnuch detach-
1nent as if she had not been an actor In 1t.
The thing that had hurt her most at the time had
been Smiths insinuation that IN keeping hlm there
under the silk cotton trees the night before she had
been acting merely in turtheranCe OF her father plan
f eecare Now that she cool again, this what
pleaded most strongly in his defense Believing
that there no violation OF ta1r play IN treating
her now as an active enemy
HIS having taken the revolver away from her began
to affect her strangely too, now that she reflected on
the incident She had thought when in that tempest
Of anger she had snatChed It from the drawer and
toirred II at him. that she would certainly trc the
moment he made the slightest move to carry out his
threat There had been no element OF BLUM IN her
,ointino at him. But on the other hand, she was
ware that there had been no bravado in his crossing
the room and taking it away from her. He knew
her better than she knew herself that was all 1t
had not been courage on his part-oh, that went
with II of course-but the predomlnatlng element
in his act had been an almost uncanny insight INTO
her mind.
vTATCHING his back where it was silhouetted
w against the Fight from the window, She was
aware Of lively curiosity his face Suddenly
She saw that his figure had stiffened with keen at
tention He had ceased merely gazing out, and was
looking at something.
view of the cath nor fact of any part of the island
Il looked straight out TO sea.
A moment later he had caught up field glass
from, the table beside him. and with impatient fingers
focused it. For the better part of a minute he held
il trained steadily the horizon. Then, with
sudden relaxation of his whole body he put 1t back
on The table again and turned away from the WIN
dow. ~
When his ewes fell on her. he started slightly as
he had forgotten she was there. He little pale,
she thought; but except for that and the rather wry
smile on his lips, his face told her nothing.
What did you see out there through the glass
Well" said he, apparently ignoring her question,
Il might have let you send your message MISS
is it a sbip?" she asked
She knew it must be- before he answered and she
was aware, curiousy enough, that his confirmatory
nod did not give her unmixed sensation OF pleas
Yes" he said; Il am beaten My fight didn't
last very long did it? I've done what / could, and,
having had it to do am not sorry that did 1t. Be
yond the necessity for the fight and the way 1t has
turned out, there is only one thing that regret
That is"
Won't YOU let me say something first?' she
asked It's about last night didn't know when
you came under the trees to talk to me that we
going away before morning. | dldn know
what fathers plans were; and l didn't know that you
and father quarreled, until you told me. When he
came out and spoke to me, 1t just to ask me II
| was enough, and to tell me not to stay out