Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-06

SlSlduce, eAplalneu COuftenay.
 Christobal drew himself upright, with the slowness of an elderly man whose joints are stiffening.
 Miss Maxwell here?" he repeated, obviously surprised, if Aot displeased. He waved a hand toward the men laid on mattresses on the deck Most were quite motionless. Others writhed in agony. ''She cannot come-it is i'm possible"
 Courtenay saw that the girl could do no good now in that chamber of death. The mere memory of it would be an abiding horror He wanted Christobal himself to send her away, but the doctor had taken off his coat and barred his arms. His appearance was grimly businesslike.
 Will you tell her how much I am obliged to her for her kind thought? But, you see, it cannot be permitted. Please say that I hope to join her in the salon in a quarter of an hour. My work is nearly ended. I am sure
 
 is not a place for woman"
 Again he swept the TOW of silent bodies with q comprehensive hand. Yet the trivial thought intruded itself on the sailor that this elegant old Spaniard delegated the task of ex- planation to him solely because he did not wish to appear before Miss Max well in a somewhat diSheveled state. He dismissed the notion at once.
 How many" he asked, glancing at the quiet forms which bore no band ages.
 Eleven now. By the way, just one word. What chance have we?" Chris tobal put the concluding sentence fin French.
 Courtenay answered in the same Ian guage: "A very poor one. But shall come to the salon and warn you. That will be only fair. don't you think:"
 Most certainly. Well, may as well finish here" And the doctor signed to his helpers to lift the next sufferer on to the table.
 Courtenay returned to the stairway. At the top stood Elsie, looking eagerly for his reappearance. A sense of unut- terable anguish shook him for a second as he saw the sweet face, instinct with life and beauty, gazing down at him. How monstrous it was to think of such a fair woman being battered out of recognition against the rocks! He bit his lip savagely, and it is to be feared the words be swallowed were not those of supplication. But his eyes were calm and his voice well under control when he said:
 "Dr. Christobal is captain below there, Miss Maxwell. and he absolute ly vetces your presence. He was ex- ceedingly distressed at being compelled to send you such a message However. he will soon explain matters to you in person, as he Is coming aft almost at once"
 Elsie was disappointed. She dreaded the return to the salon, with It's queer ly assorted company. When she quit ted them they were in a state of inde- scribable distress. Gray and the Eng lishman were helping the chief stew ard to adjust life belts. but Isobel was fin frenzy of despair. her maid had tainted. De Polncilit and the Spaniards were muttering alternate appeals to the saints and oaths of utter abandon nent. and Mrs. Somerville was almost unconscious. while her husband knelt by her side and wrung his hands in abiect misery. Anything was better than to go back to that woeful assem- bly. yet she choked down a protest and said quietly:
 q am ready. I am afraid I have been a bother to you. Captain Courte- nay"
 Say. rather, you have given me hope. I think heaven has work for you to do in the world. Let me go out first. Never mind Joey. He can strug- gle along behind. Steady now. Head down and lean well against the wind"
 Elsie found. to her amazement, that there was less sense Of danger in fac ing the wind than in being driven along before it Moreover. she had greater confidence during this second transit over the exposed portion of the deck. She felt Courtenay dragging her on irresistibly until they gained the lee of the smoking room. He let her rest there beneath the ladder leading to the bridge. Then a strange revulsion of feeling came to him. He experienced an overwhelming desire not to be part ed from her. He had a sickening fear that he might never see her again. So be shoHted very close 10 her cheek:
 Would you like to sit in my cabin a little while If bring Miss BaringT
 She thought that would be splendid COurtsasy. if any one. would succeed in calming Isobel In order tO make herself heard she in turn had to put her lips quite near to CourrsnayTs face
 Yes she cried: Y shall he only too pleased. But be patient with her. She is very frightened There is no accounting for the work- fnrs of a mans mind COurtsnay, at no time a Iady-s man. most certainly had otbsT matters to attend 70 just then let here he was thinking only of a uomsn-s comfort His dismal were banishsd bT a rush of absurd delight at the thought that hs ueHsd have an opportunity of speak lnC to her OorssiOnzIly. What brave rfrl she was. What a wife for san a~s Tn truth. these were mad ro1fu-s