Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-01-17
CHAPTER XXXI.


nate ut st. Philips church in
Sydney ON the ST turday morn
Ing. The license was bought. The
bridegroom carried the ring In his
pocket. Everything was ready but
lest man. And here another peculiar
ity stood out. There was no best man
to be had. AS In London so In New
South Wales. This barOnet's son and
heir. this man Of blood and means and
literary featS. was unbeloved In spite
of all. Claire and her aunt lSd been
absolutely the only guests at the bum
gnlow in all Toms time there. Nor
was 1t because Daintree had never
made n friend In the settlement. 1t
was because he had never kept one In
any quarter Of the globe.
Meanwhile the ladies came to Rose
bay no more. The happy man went to
them instead and would stop till mid
night, to gallop home by starlight and
pour out his happiness to Tom until
the harbor turned from Jet to polished
steel: and twice the steel was silver.
and once the silver was flaming gold
before the poet would hold his peace.
1t was long week, but the nights
went quicker than the days. Daintree
had never been a better companion
than In those long. confidential, star
lit talks. They were not exclusively
on the one subject. Tom learned at
last how the murder had affected the
party Mt Avenue Lodge. and one whole
night and day he never closed IN eye
for thinking Of two men In two new
and startling lights. They were the
Blaydes. The first haunted Tom the
longer. Why had he insisted on drag
ging Daintree to the trial?
The days were heightened by Peggy
in the kitchen. with her kind. uninjured
looks and the unfailing friendly. amia
BILE word that made him feel the mean
est Of men. The girl could he Nh angel
when she had him. with all his cold
ness. to herself He never suspected
what she had been from the Sunday
night to the Monday afternoon. And
now they were both under notice to
leave.
III only you two would make up
your minds to marry" said Daintree
to Tom. Il have you both on my mind.
but could provide for the two Of
you Mt one stroke rs married couple.
1t has long been my wish to start
model farm UP country. and you and
Peggy would certainly make model
managers" But Tom shook his head
more decidedly than he had shaken It
while the little Rosamund was prick
Ing her way across the chart.
On the Friday. the same breeze hold
ing good oil the week. Dalntree decided
to sall round to Sydney instead Of driv-
ing. lie had solid check to cash for
the wedding trip. and the Point Piper
road was no route for pocketful Of
money and q life ut Its very highest
value. Tom asked II Nat Sullivan
was still In Sydney and was told that
he had drunk himself PROSTATE at the
Pulteney, whereupon Tom volunteered
for the voyage. and 80 escaped Peggy
for one afternoon. To make safety
dOubly safe. however. they ran into
Farm cove. and Tom and the dog were
to wait in the Domain while Daintree
went to the bank and called at the
hotel
1t was then 3 o'clock, and Daintree
was to be Mt least two hours gone. but
he returned In less than one. bringing
Claire with him for q sail. TOMS sur
prise ut seeing her was less than that
Of the girl ut sight Of him. The indig-
nation was altogether on her side and
sufficiently perceptble In spite of
Claire's efforts to conceal an inappro-
pirate displeasure. Daintree did not
see IT. but what they oil three missed
was the furtIve figure which emerged
from the trees as the boat put Of.
Claire was given the tiller and told
simply to obey orders. Daintree took
the sheet. and Tom was put into the
bews to be cut OF the veg. The sail
made q convenient screen. 1t also pre-
vented Tom from knowing in the least
what happened. As a matter Of fact,
they were just taking the wind-which
was by this time fresher than ever
when Daintrees attention was divert
cd by IN apparition ut the waters
edge. 1t was the man who had follow.
ed him through the Domain, and 30
rapt was the gaze with which Daintree
beheld him that he forgot to let the
sheet so Mt the critical instant Smack
came the wind against sail like the
side Of Il house. Let 60. Let gor
screamed Tom. 1t was too late. She
was gunwale under. The sail lay
moment on the water. drinking 1t like
blotting paper. Then the saturated
canvas sank, and the boat tossed keel
upward within fifty yards Of the shore.
! Claire sank clear Of the wreck and
had the presence of mind to strike out