The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-03-26
3Oc.TrisAsL G. Nalutx 4. ~, ia
CHAPTER xvin.
.,.insWhIeh wa NV the ahost.

ndons less promising a thick veil Of
iIclouds obscuring all CLEAN Of stars
The wind yeering more to the west
ward and growing bitterly cold. The
barometer was falling slowly. pres
aaging the approach OF storm; yet
openly threatened with the
exception Of these thlckening cloud
masses sounding up from out the
southwest, their wlldness reflected In
1.-THE darkening sea, and the continuous
tthnnderSof waves along the Ice.front
blocking our passage, ! visited the
engine and boiler rooms, ordered hall
speed and prompt attention to signals
took one last searching glance about
the dimming horizon, and finally
threw myself, without undressing. on
myibunk Tor a brieirest below.
u / AS Islay there, thinking OF that wild
scene without j discovered sleep I'm,
I possible. Was ! doing right thus TO
hold on for further southing? My
conscience was not altogether clear,
forsI realized that It would be luck
rather than seamanship that would
take us Though and bring us safely
out again: Only some mystery Of
Providence had thus far given us
/ passage, had held the wind TO anoth.
Ter point OF the compass, beating back
The invading foes and yielding to us
an open sea, But would such fortune
dast-ag day, two days, more? We
could race northward with the ice, but
what about that vast field stretching
Y To the snarthuast7. u, nv enn,A shih nj
wind II were to close In, the helpless
Sea Queen would be crushed like an
sggshell. And Lady Darlington had
said she trusted me implicitly. Was !
Allowing myself worthy by thus push
ding the yacht deeper Into danger?
( BY heaven, for her sake, II for no
other reason, I would play the man!
Jay, and ] fcomprehended exuctly what
such resolve would cost-realized full
s1y3what that mongrel crew would say
and do the moment their ghostly ter
srors fed. and they knew had given
up search for the treasure. should
have to command by brute force. by
threat and blow. There would be
snautinys aboard FOR every league until
we made port. knew the nature Of
that II sea.scum forward-how they
would whine and curse. how they
would hate me for failing to hold
them to their course In face Of death!
We'll, let them hate; my love was
worth by far the more. and the life
and honor of Lady Darlington out
weighed all else on board-ay, and the
treasure Of the Donna Isabel I'm.
splletl ~ i saw her eyes again as she
said It, and sprang to the deck, fun
bling I'm the darkness for the latch OF
my door. y II
The main cabin was dimly lighted
and chill, 1.-The fire in the stove low. |
paused to rattle II, and add few
Jumps ot coal from the scuttle stand
Ing near by. In spite Of surrounding
comforts what a grim, lnhospltable
place this was for any woman like
shert The very snugness Of the cabin
seryed only to emphasize the gloom
and peril without, the irightful polar
mystery which surrounded us, which
drives men mad amid Its awful dis
Stances, Its shrouded silence.
Suddenly, directly opposite where
stood. Il \ saw it again-that same
sshapeless, white, gliding figure. An
instant onlySI stood rooted to the spot.
my blood like Ice my eyes full of hor-
ror. Then the swift reaction came.
Sthereserres courage Of man ashamed
OF such weakness. and | leaped
straight toward the misty object, crap.
Spling at 1t with my hands. ! touched
nothing but air. falling headlong with
4 violence Earring the entire cabin.
2 and oyerthrowing a chair crashing to
stiis deck. Dazed, confused, ! stag
gesed 10 my knees. staring about into
The dim shadows. A white.draped
figure was at my very elbow, and !
Ssprang Ito my feet, only to take a
quick step backward, grssping at the
table, IS Il recognized Lady Darling.
ton.
sGood God! was that your" gasped,
the horror still possessing me. 4
J Y {ssThis certainly is," she answered.
swiftly But what do You mean?
What has oecurred?"
~ hardly know" and | looked about
me, and then into her face, breathing
heavily, II seem unable 10 separate
fhe3 real from the unreal. am half
AFRAID n am losing my mind. Lady
Darlington II is; not only the crew for
ward who are seeing ghosts on board.
SIlaughed at my experience before, be.
jlleyihg 1t q mere illusion that could
never occur again In that spirit !
told you about seeing a white, misty
figure In this cabin the night after
futile died. 1t vanished like a wreath
|, BIZ smoke, and, daylight made me be,
slieye the Vision was born Of tired
brain. But I have seen Il again now
s.-yonder, as plainly as can see you,
FIt;was no dream, no imagination; yet
when sought to grasp the thing, my
fingers encountered nothing but air."
Z Issaws her hands tremble, her white
face turned whittier ] pointed; but she
llhld mot tbeheld what ! had, and her
mind remained clear,
eWhat was It you. SAW,
tssA shapeess white flguro. misty,
vanishing like q bubble"
.,syonder, you say! Just where you
saw It before?''
\ Il !. 4 =. ~ ~, a,0hk ~ that vat N Ua