Evening star., 1909-02-28
The Silent Barrier
Continued from pages
Continued from page 8

"Oh, yes You'll probably see me again
within six days; III look in and report prog
messenger caught him as he was leaving
the hotel. Mackenzie had not lost any time,
and Miss Jaques happened to be at the theater.
Sorry she wrote. in the artistic script that
looks so well in face cream and soap ADVERTISE
ments i can't for the life OF me remember
the number; but Miss Wynton lives somewhere
in Warburton Gardens" The signature, Mil
icent Jaques," was elegant thing in itself,
carefully thought out and never hurried in exc
cution, no matter how pressed she might be tor
time. Spenser on the point of scattering
the note in little pieces along the Strand; but
he checked himself.
"Guess III keep this as souvenir" he said
and it found place in his pocketbook.
HELEN WYNTON. having crossed the
IL Channel many times during her childhood,
was no novice amid the hustle and crush on the
narrow pier at Dover She had dispensed with
all accessories for the journey, except the few
articles that could be crammed into handb bag
Thus, being Independent OF porters, she was one
of the first to reach the steamer S gangway. AS
usual, all the most sheltered hooks on board
were occupied. There seems to be mysterious
type of traveller who inhabits the cross Channel
vessels permanently. No matter how speedy
NAV be the movements of passenger by the
boat-train, either at Dover or Calais, the best
seats on the upper deck invariably reveal the
presence of earlier arrivals by deposits OF wraps
and packages. This phenomenon was not
strange to Helen A more battling circumstance
was the altered shape of the ship. The familiar
lines of the paddle steamer were gone, and
Helen was wondering where she might best be-
stow herself and her tiny valise, when she heard
Bowers voice.
Il took the precaution to telegraph from
London to one of the ships officers" he said,
and nodded toward couple of waterproof rugs
that guarded recess behind the Captains
cabin. That is our corner, l expect My
friend will be here in moment"
Sure enough man Mn in uniform L WRIp aWRprpSaehed paea
rather crowded ship Mr.. Bower" he said; but
you will be quite comfortable there. l suppose
you deemed the weather too fine to need your
usual cabn!"
"Yes. l have companion to-day, you see"
Helen was a little bewildered by this: but it
was very pleasant to claim undisputed posses
sion of a quiet retreat from which to watch
others irving to find chairs. And, though
Bower had place reserved by her side, he did
not sit down. He chatted for few minutes on
such eminent1y safe topics the smooth sea,
the superiority of turbine engines in the matter
of steadiness the advisabihty of lunching in the
train after leaving Calais, rather than on board
the ship, and soon betook himself aft, there to
smoke and chat with some acquaintance whom
he fell in with. Dover Castle was becoming
gray blur on the horizon when he spoke to Helen
again.
YOU look quite comfortable" he said pleas
antly, and it is wise not to risk walking
about if you are afraid of being i'll"
Il used to cross in bad weather without con-
sequences" she answered; "but l am older
now and am doubtful of experiments"
"You were educated abroad, then!"
"Yes was three years in Brussels,-three
hAh! why qualify them? All your years
are happy, l should imagine, if l may judge by
appearances.
"Well, if happiness can be defined as con-
tentment, you are right; but have had my
sad periods too Mr. Bower. l lost my mother
when was eighteen, and that was blow under
which have never ceased to vince. Fortu-
nately l had to seek consolation in work.
Added to good health it makes for content"
You are quite a philosopher: Will you
pardon my curiosity? I too lead the strenuous
life. Now, should like to have your defni-
ton of work l am not questioning your ca
pacity. My wonder is that you should men
ton it at all"
But why? Any man who knows what toll
is should not regard women as dolls"
Il prefer to look on them as goddesses.
Helen smiled. Il fear, then, you will deem
my pedestal a sorry one" she said. Perhaps
you think, because you met me once in Miss
Iaques company, and again here, travelling de
luxe, that am in her set. am not. By cour-
tesy am called secretary; but the title
might be shortened into 'typist.' / help Pro-
fessor Won Gutenberg with his-scientifc re-
searches"
Thouqh II was on the tin of her tongue to saw