The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-27

", as soon rs the furniture
could be got out OF storage, and the
cat, canary. and Boston fern could De
requisitiOned from the friends in whose
charge they had been left. Aunt Mar
EaTet and she resumed their placid, do
nestle meuCEe as though il had never
been interrupted.
But, ah. what a difference, It takes
more than familiar furnishings and un-
changed surrounding 10 remove the
scars Of experience.
The Hght-hearted girl who had stud
led and worked here. who had tended
the fern, and twiuered 20 the bird. and
romred with the cat, was gone, and IN
her place was pensive, sad-eyed w0-
man chastened by sorrow.
Before in these rooms she had looked
forward, dreaming of Eratided ambition.
travel, excitement. love; now her glance
was turned only toward the past, and
She lived among her memories.
Everything about the place seemed 10
call back Jim to her-the Norris chair,
where he had writned I'm the agony or
his tight boots, the little stand he had
knocked over in his tumuItuous exit,
recoIlections ludicrous in Themselves,
yet not Untinged with a certain senti-
ment In her eyes.
"Oh, I want him! want him, I
want him. she would cry, throwing
herself discousolatcIy upon the couch
and burying her head in the sofa pill
lows. He cannot be drowned, my
brave, strong Jim, it cannot be trueI
That would be too cruelr'
She chung Sedulously 10 the hope
that although his boat had been lost
he might. as before. himself have gained
the shore, and now be held upon some
uncivEized island like Vartra, unable
10 get away or 10 communicate with
her But every passing day saw the
likelihood or such an escape grow
fainter.
Theer are not so many unciviIized
islands left any more, even among the
thous ends scattered off the southeast
coast Of Asia, and such as there are she
knew were one by one being investi-
gated by the relentless searchers Of
the Secret Service without result.
As for any other che nee, five months
and more had now passed away since
she bade him good-by upon the deck
OF the Terre Haute, and IN the mean
time no wandering ship had spoken
the sloop Helene; the little vessels
name had been inscribed upon that
fatefuI list at LIoyd's as lost at sea.
No: Helene realized that the hope
10 which she chung so passionateIy was
Eroundless, ana yet she could not give
IT up.
Despite what reason and intelligence
told her she still-as women wiII-wait-
ed and watched and prayed.
She was greatly changed these DAYS,
although. strange to say, her trials
and suffering had not affected her
beauty. Indeed, II anything. they had
increased it, spiritua1izing and emo
bling Eer always lovely expression. and
giving touch Of compassion to her
deep, dark eyes, as Of one who. having
known sorrows herself, could feel for
others.
Even Starr SDencer's sordid nature
recognized this when he met her at the
station on her arrival in New York.
'HUmDh. you got back quick" com
mented Captain Northcote. who was
At the hnancle~'s Office eagerly waiting
for q report Didn't she Gomez"
ION. yes. she came But 7 merely
saw herself and her aunt 70 their hotel.
and naturally didn't Iinger."
"Of course. YOU brought up the power
OF attorney matter, though? VIII she
StraiEhten Il out all riSht2'
We'll. to tell you the truth. Bailey"
and Starr Spencer laughed e trife
shamefacedly, I didn't mention 1t 70
her I'd as soon have thought Of
trOachiEs such a subject to a saint with
n halo"
His. revcrential QUalms d not. how
ever, prevent him from bringing up the
topic for discussion with her at an early
date; and since he rightly pointed out
that t was mere correction he wanted
the satisfac ton Of a legal de-
tail in a matter for which she had
already received remuneration-he had
no difficulty IN gazing her consent.
With certain vague and hazy recolItc-