The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-15

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 was5d then at last to the north there ef, ~ nothing but the open sea. On the fh. board side of the vessel there were r~Itj pleasant shores of Kent. studded Rich successful watering places. But fh1hard Gaunt, still kept his eyes to feb north, and over the waste of wa cl1s he seemed to see the tall black wins of cardlganshire. and the ugly edhite front of Gaunt Royal, and the rIupendous slopes of the bare mountain Iange beyond.
 f And, as he thought of them. he smil- 1sd. No bird escaped from It's cage. no Fprisoner set free from gaol, could have felt more deeply grateful for freedom. The dreary monotony of life at Gaunt Royal was over. Before him lay voy- age which might be full of incident Behind him. nothing he was sorry to leave
 It was pleasant. moreover. to think that the whole thing had been man aged without any difficulty, and with out even the telling of single lie. He had spoken the truth, when he said that his health had broken down and that he needed a change. The doctor had been emphatic in the matter. He had insisted on a change of life and on more temperate habits. He had been sent for when the butler found Sir Richard in the library with smok- Ing revolver In his hand. He had a shrewd suspicion that the unfortunate man had attempted his own life and had only been saved by a sudden attack of vertigo. It was clear that some change of life was required, and he ad- vised a sea voyage.
 Lady Betty had placed no dlflculties in the way of the man she loved. Ills white face and trembling hands had pleaded for him. It was clearly case of nervous breakdown. and he had att tributed 1t to his lonely life at Gaunt Royal It had been arranged between them that he should take a sea voyage to Sydney and back on the Santigan. and that. when he returned, their en- gagement should be announced to the world.
 His departure from Gaunt Royal had. for the present, at any rate, removed the shadow of George crawshay from his mind. Before he left, he destroyed the box and its contents. In a vague sort of way he had determined to keep his oath. He would ruin his own life, but in the pleasantest fashion possible, and then. at some very distant date. he would Kill himself, but he would not do this until life had become unbear- able. In this simple manner, he would flilfii his bargain, and get all the pleasure he could out of existence.
 But he did not think of Crawshay, as he looked out across the grey expanse of sea and felt the cool salt breeze against his face. Already he felt new life in his veins, and be looked forward to the voyage. There would be fresh world to conquer on this ship, with its new life and unfamiliar scenes. His name and title. which were none too sweet in London. might acquire a veri- table fragrance in 6 mixed colony of passengers.
 He slept we'll that first night. He was tired out, and glad to get to bed early. Remembering the doctors ad- vice. he cut down the number of hls drinks. and he found 1t by no means hard to do this in his new surround ings. There was no longer any neces- sity for him to look for solace or ob- livion. And he could find excitement in a pleasnter form.
 The next morning he woke up feel ing all the better for his few hours