Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-26
Eiarris---Burland

Gaunt had held the girl In his arms ana
kissed her. In his opinion the act re-
CURED no explanations. He did not tell
her that he loved her. and certainly did
not express any desire to marry her. He
was content to let the action sink into
her mind and leave her to draw her own
conclusions. And she. poor weak fool,
found sufficient glory in the kiss and did
not ask what lay beyond. II matters ad-
vanced no further she could always COM
fort herself with the thought that she
had been kissed by Sir Richard Gaunt OF
Gaunt Royal.
But 1t was not the mans custom to al
low matters to come to a standstill. and
by the time the vessel reached the Suez
canal he had told her of q secret and de-
grading marriage with one of the parloR-
maids at Gaunt Royal and that his wife
was in a madhouse, and as many other
lies as he could plausibiy. piece .toVether.
He made 1t clear to the girl that he at
last knew the true meaning OF love. and
that. although he was bound and fettered
in prison from which he could not es-
cape, yet his whole body and soul longed
for the only woman he had ever loved.
But young ladies' brought up IN the do
mestic and virtuous homes OF BALKAN are
not so simple minded as Gaunt imagined.
Isabel Dickinson knew that the man was
lying to her. and after short pause. In
which she tried to remember the conduct
proper TO such occasions. she rose to her
feet and left him without another word
And then for another twenty-four hours
the girl did not stir from her cabin. and
most of the time she lay in her bunk
crying softly to herself. For she knew
at last that she loved this man, and that
1t did not much matter to her II he were
a baronet or q bootblack. She realized
that 1t would be impossible to keep away
from him until the end Of the voyage. II
he had been on land she would have ned
from the danger that confronted her. But
here there
she would have to see him and hear the
sound Of his voice. She was afraid and
trembled at the, thought of his presence.
Yet she longed for the touch OF his hand,
for his kisses, for the prison Of his strong
arms. She was no longer the daughter
Of tradesman schemine! for q title and
a historic home in Wales. but q woman
who was capable OF sacrificing herself on
the burning altar Of love.
The next day she appeared at breakfast.
and became the center Of a sympathizing
group Of women. who inquired maliciously.
after her health, knowing well enough
that her indisposition was due to no bod
lily ailment. She was courteously rude to
sitting in a deck chair by the side OF Sir
Richard Gaunt. who was whispering pas
s.onate apologies In her ear.
The end Of this sordid and pitiful ro-
nance was not far to seek. Sir Richard
Gaunt was q man who had hardly ever
his talent for strataeem and quiet persist
ence had been diverted into worthier
channels he would have won high place
In the diplomatic world. He pursued his
prey with the relentless tenacity OF
hunter. who knows that success depends
on careful attention to the minutest de-
tails
And the end came one dark still night.
as the Santigan slipped smoothly through
the Red sea and left wake OF white
foam behind her.
The two were sitting together In .
sheltered corner near the stern Of the
vessel. 1t was after 10 O'Clock and dark
night. Not q star was visible overhead,
for thick fog had risen up from the
water and it was impossible to see
hundred yards in any direction. A dance
was In progress ana most OF the pas
sengers were below. for 1t was not . night
to linger on deck.
And then no pleaded to her. and she
listened to the burning words as they
came from his lips. and she id not shrink
from him as he held her in his arms ana
covered her face with passionate kisses.
All power Of resistance had gone from
her. Gaunt already saw victory wnnin
his grasp.
But God had decreed otherwise. The
mans voice had died away into SILENCE
and he waited. for the answer 70 mis-
ssss S . the could %Ssrs s,.s
order from the bridge Of the great ship
and then, far below In tho engine room.
the faint clang Of bell AZ the same
time q flery-red eye giowed out OK tne
mist on the starboard. bow. =
Then Gaunt heard the shouts OF men
and, leaning over the side or the vesse!
he saw something small and dark ahead
of them. Then he discerned the mastneao
LIGHTS Of a little steamer and her green
starboard light as she altered her course. I
She looked like q mere toy boat beside
the great bulk Of the liner.
1--WE shall smash them to Eplinters!
he cried. The girl clung to his arm ana
ring down in the engine room and the
liner again altered her course.
But she turned slowly and. as she did
So the captain OF the other vessel ioss
his head. and made an error OF 3uagmens
In one of the most appalling catastropnies
that have ever been known In the history
Of the sea. He saw that the long and un-
wieldy liner was turning but slowly ana:
trusting in the speed ana amo' enss b az
on her starboard side. But he had either
the distance or else the
speed Of the Santigan.
"We'ye done IT," said Gaunt. Wen
ride over her and not feel H. foor
devils!'
Then there was faint shock as the
vessels touched, and q second later sea
and sky were welded in blaze or Dina
[nG light. Gaunt and his companion were
fiung twenty feet across the deck, ana
there was q roar that seemed TO beat OUT
all life and feeling.
1t was only q small steamer that the
had crushed. But part or her
cargo was illuminate OF mercury. and
sixty feet OF the Santigan's bows nao
been ripped of her as though the steel
plates were paper and the iron frame
piece of basket work.
For a moment there was continuous
splash and rattle, while the heavens
rained wood and iron and human flesh
upon the deck and the surface OF the
waters. Then there was silence Tor
few seconds Half the people In the ship
had been killed or stunned by the explo-
sion. The rest had been dashed from
wall to wall, and were dazed and help-
less The few passengers on the aIer-
part, of the deck had escaped with little
injury beyond the shock and few
bruises. Gaunt and Miss Dickinson mer-
cifully flung under the shelter OF q huge
ventiiating shaft. had been protected from
the rain Of shattered wood ana twisted
Iron.
Gaunt staggered to his feet and felt the
slope Of the deck. and heard the shrieks
of women and the shouts OF men. He
did not know what had happened. but ne
knew that death was near TO MIN. Tne
whole scene was In total darkness, for
the explosion had extinguisfred every
light on the ship. He was no coward.
but the situation was terrible enough TO
appal the bravest. Only one thing was
certain. The ship was going down. The
deck was almost at an angle or forty-nve
degrees. and he could scarcely keep his
foothold.
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