The Washington herald., 1908-06-09
THE SOUL OF CROESUS
BY GERALD YILLIERS-STUART
Copyright nha

Irish coast. hardly listing over TO the
gentle off-shore breeze. but moving
swiftly with the set OF the tide through
a golden mist which had not yet repaid
its borrowed glories to the dying sun.
Lady Kitty and Vandraken were sitting
in a secluded spot up In the bows. The
girls eyes. which had been hazed with
passion. grew wistful, almost troubled. as
they came under the influence OF the
black cliffs which lowered above them.
Looking 10 leeward. there was nothing
10 be seen but the kindly. impalpable
element through which they had come,
with the ease Of disemboded spirits; but
on the landward side they were faced by
dark wall Of reality. Miles OF naked
rocks. the rough. crude stun which worlds
are made OF, kicked back the element
fawning at its feet, the element which
had been so kind 10 the lovers. The
soundless sea explored the caves. inquir-
ing ti.l.r purpose. and sent back a menac-
ing roar The cliffs had hurled down
pinnacled rocks IN the war OF the material
with the immaterial. as though 10 warn
away the yacht from the coast. now they
were showed over with seabirds. perched
silent and immovable, IN the dusk, tn
a cry came out OF the fog; and then.
obeyirS a common impulse. flying low.
they winged their way mysteriously over
the water. ike earthbound souls who
have received their message Of release.
Lady Kitty's sensitive nature felt the
influence OF her environment Tt is al
most over, Standish.'' she whispered.
"our wonderful voyage The night is
coming. and round that next headland,
where the light Is just beginning TO wink
in the lighthouse. is the end Of She
shivered instead OF finishing
Vandraken put another wrap round her
shoulders, protectingly, allowing his
hands to llnger by her throat. IL you
are feeling the effects Of the night air,
darling we will have to go In he whis-
pered
NO. no, I won't go I'm Let this hap
piness last while il Will. We have ere
ated a world OF our own here. and peo-
pied II with perfection-let US get the
very last minute OF it, dear. There may
be dreadful phantoms waiting for us
ashore It don't like the threatening
sound OF the water in the caves"
"Oh, say. Kitty! Don't talk creepy.
What can come between US? II ever
there were two people who didn't have
70 funk the future, IL is you and l. I
don't want to brag about my money. but
you have no idea, darling. Of all the
things it can do for you. and all the
things il can prevent being done 10 you.
II you have money enough you can defy
Fate. and make your own plans. 1 have
proved H."
knock on wood when you talk like
that. Standish." said the girl. rapping
the arm Of the deck chair with her lit
tie knuckles; and then, taking his big
hand, she raped II for him against the
deck
He pressed II In the half-reverent fash
ion which marked his most impassioned
caresses OF his fancee.
II didn't know you were such a super
stitious sweetheart"
II am Irish" she laughed. Doesn't
that entitle me 10 be as superstitious rs
like?' Then. reverting to her more
serious mood, she added: There Is only
one way to win when you are dicing
with destiny dear-so mother says, and
mother is very wise"
Wei. what does your mother say?"
THAT destiny is ike a professional
gambler. who lets you win In order
to encourage you TO go on with the game:
and the only way 10 get the best of him
Is TO get up from the table when you
have Won"
The last ray OF color had died out IN
the Western sky and returned its bor-
rowed plumes TO the vanished sun. but
the mist had contracted a fresh loan
from the rising moon. and the yacht
drifted, with the set OF the tide. through
a silver enchantment.
Lady Kitty got out OF her deck chair
and took her lovers hand. Let US look
over the side dear. and watch the phos-
phOrus sparkling. 1t has come all the
way with Us. We ought 10 say good
by 10 IT,"
They watched the capricious glitter in
silence for a long time. Then Lady Kitty
said. dreamily:
Let us cheat destiny, dearest?"
Vandraken laughed. 1T isn't worth
cheating. sweetheart. 1 have Il licked 70
a standstlL''
YES" answered the girl. tensely. I'VE
are winners now. Let US get up from
the table and take our winnings with Us.
down into tha, wonderful world below
US. where fate cannot reach us. and
where we Will be alive with that wonder
full radiance as we go down. down, down
into the element which has been so good
20 US"
The young man put his arm round her
and turned her away. half carrying her
resisting form. I'VE will so down. down.
down into the cabin. darling. and have
something TO eat. and a bottle OF fzz, 90
get those moonbeams out OF your dear
little head. You can't make me afraid OF
fate any more. / was afraid. for just
one day, at Tangier; but 4 expect tha:'s S
because was seedy."
So Lady Kitty left the moonlight and
went down into the cabin; but the last
thing she saw was the menace Of the
cliffs. more threatening than ever in that
uncertain light
Two days later Stanish Vandraken and
Fabian Dare met again, Lady Donoyle
having asked the chaplain 10 make a
sixth at dinner. as Miss Sidcombe and
Dashmore were also staying in the
castle.
70 BE CONTINUED TO-NOHRow-