The Elbert County tribune., 1908-11-19

no staterotm." i said. Il am alone
and shall be glad to share mine with
you
The heavy lids lifted slowly, and ]
found myself looking into pair OF
wistful dark eyes with an unanswered
question in thin.
Thank you" she said. in sweet,
low voice. You are most kind. ]
know 1t is not pleasant to share ones
room with a stranger. but Will come
gladly. for l am very tired My hus-
band"
She paused abruptly and faint col
or tinged her cheeks as man ap-
preached and bent over her with an
unmistakable air of possession.
TITS no use. Juliet" he said; 81
can't get you stateroom at any price.
and you are regularly done up, too.
We must manage with one OF these
sofas"
1T is all right. dear she replied
gently. This young lady is good
enough to offer to share her room with
with me. My husband. Mr.. Graham,
Miss"
! supplied the name and bowed to
Mr.. Graham. looking curiously at him
as | listened to his effusive thanks.
The man evidently possessed the
vitality his wife lacked. His every
movement indicated that he was flied
to the finger tips with vibrant, pulsing
life. and one admired him with the ad-
miration one involuntarily accords a
perfect specimen OF the animal king
dom. whether man or beast Perhaps
his lips were trife too full and red,
and his teeth rather unplessantly daz-
zling when they cleaned under his
dark nsustache, perhaps, also, there
was something in his large black eyes
now and then which might cause a
woman to blush and turn aside IL he
looked too long at her; but his man.
ner was very gentle as he bent over
and helped her to rise with genuine
solicitude.
The stewardess was waiting to show
Mrs. Graham the room, and l decided
to remain in the saloon until she had
retired, SO / sat down in a green plush
chair and amused myself watching my
fellow passengers and speculating as
to their destinations. had just deter
mined that fat old lady opposite
was the mother OF large family and
going to visit a married daughter,
when the cabin door opened and Mr..
Graham returned alone.
He raised his hat as he passed,
hesitated moment, then seated him
self on the arm of an adjoining chair.
I'VE really owe you a debt of graf
itude," he said ''Of course / can get
along perfectly well anywhere, but
Mrs. Graham is not strong. She has
seemed to be the last straw. l sup
pose you noticed how awfully done
up she was"
''She certainly seemed very tired"
She will be all right tomorrow, aft
er nights rest-thanks to you. We
are going to spend the summer in
Canada. l think the climate there
win benefit her. 1t is so invigorating.
And you? Are you also bound for
Canada, and are you travelling alone?"
l replied somewhat curtly that
was with friends, for l had no desire
to prolong the conversation. Mr..
Graham. however, fingered with the
manner of one who has something on
his mind. but finds expression difficult.
At last he rose and said goodnight,
after offering to look out for our bag
gage when he landed in the morning.
And by the way" he remarked,
carlessly, don't be alarmed If my
wife should talk bit in her sleep.
She does 1t now and then, especially
IL she Is overtired. She is apt to
dream, l think, and sometimes talks
lot of gibberish. l trust you may
to warn you. Goodnight again. and
many thanks"
So Mrs. Graham talked in her sleep!
I thought rather ruefully of my pros
poets for a peaceful night as l slowly
walked the length Of the cabin-for
mine was an outside stateroom, and
1t was necessary to go on deck to
reach it.
The moon shone brilliantly. a path
of silver light falling across the water,
which rippled and sparkled alluringly
l was SO fascinated by the beauty of
the scene that when ! reached my
door did not enter at once, but leaned
over the railing, watching the white
foam that marked our course, and
quite forgetfuI of the flight of time.
After while two men approached
and one of them fitted key in the
door next mine. AS he stopped to ex-
anime the lock. the moonlight shone
full upon his face. and l recognized
our friend in blue serge with the
strange aversion to chairs. l wondered
If the person with him was an attend
ant. and hoped the partition wall was
substantial. l was also conscious of
a strong desire to waken Gabrielle and
Elizabeth and seek shelter with