New-York tribune., 1909-07-25
/ 4

her laugh at him So he replied ignoring the ques
ton Il want YOU to grant me one favor before we
leave the grotto. May | not come to your ship to
bid you farewell when YOU leave Naples, Fraulen
LeChner told at Saint Peters that you Sailed on
the Cleopatra. | my way to Egypt also, and
going 11p to Luxor" He did not then dare to tell
Mary that he was going to Luxor because she was.
The Kendalls-Frduein Lechner also very kindly
told me YOU would be with them at LuXor-are
friends of mine. Now, Won YOU let me see YOU
there? | am told that 1t Is such Jolly. interesting
place. Won't YOU let me III on some OF your Slght-
seeing trips your desert pCnICs, etc: ou South
erner ought to know how to Sympathze with the de-
feated to be gracious to the conquered.
Mary dropped her eyes again. Vas this English
man going to make a declaration to her on such
short acquaintance, She knew OF Southern men who
did such things but she had not thought an English
man would be so rash To ward OFF further sentl-
ment. she haStened to answer, IN matter OF tact
"Certainlv. CAPTAIN Hamilton l shall be pleased
to see YOU again and am sure the hendallS VIII oe
delighted to see YOU at Luxor.
And NAV not come to the pier when YOU sail in
the morning, to say goodby: Hamilton sad dog
gedly.
Mary. yielding to a stronger will again consented
to this also inwardy exc1sng herself by the refec
tion that she would have more time up the Nile to
dispose of this persistent soldier.
Now YOU are kind, murmured Hamilton.
Then show your gratitude by not thinking me ur-
civil if | don't speak another word until are out
Of the grotto. We shall have to leave to avoid
boatload of tourists from Naples. Isn't this the
most beautiful bit Ot Nature work tndt exists
When Mary smiled at a man ike that, he granted
her anything.
MARY absorbed herself in the beauty Of the
I1 grotto and Hamilton fell into her mood Could
man ask more than this. to be beside the girl he
loved in this sea palace of enchantmentc For Love
the Ideaizer had surely created this spot where heav
enlv blue hued every feature and dyed even the at
rosphere into a divine ceruean mist, such as might
have enveloped Aphrodite when she appeared 70
men. The COnCaVe walls were not OF stone, but OF
cleaning. glowing precious levels. Sdpphlres. and
pearls and amethysts. The floor OF the grOtto
was not water but fluent molten turquoise, OF blue
so soft, tender. that 1t unearthly. These
fisher boats Of the outside prosaC protana-
tions upon this Nlusite Only fairy bars with
purple wings outsDread should enter here. Illusion.
enChantment. beauty,
Hamilton was drawn back to the remembrance OF
another world outside only by the actions Of the
three boatmen. They were chattering eXcitedly,
gestculating toward the entrance and the be-
meath them. Hamilton glanced down and to his dis
nav saw the hitherto calm and smooth sea floor be
ginning 10 undula-e and ripple.
Petro we must leave here at once! Tell the
other boatmen 60 first with the ladies and not to
lose a moment he quickly ordered in Italian, low
erlng his voice.
Sgnor it Is too late for the and the child
f. 90 | myself take YOU through the en-
trance if YOU can lie very still and low in the boat
But the ladies' they must remain here until the
low again Who could have toreSeen this wind,
Perhaps It lasts only hour. perhaps three. four
FIVE. hours; cannot tell
Hamilton IL d.-may heard Mary say u Fraulein