Willmar tribune., 1909-01-20
CHAPTER l.-Continued.


enter it, and Mrs. Graham lay asleep
in the lower berth, her lips slightly
snarted and her face resting upon her
hand. Nature had meant to be kind
to this woman, and had been liberal
indeed with her gifts. The lashes
which swept the pale cheek were dark
and curling, like the luxuriant hair
carelessly pushed aside on the pillow,
while the face itself, though thin and
haggard, had evidently once been a
perfect oval, with a singular purity of
outline and innocence of expression.
AS noiselessly as possible, I made
my preparations for the night and
climbed into my berth, turning off the
electric light with a sense of relief
that the switch was within easy reach
of my hand.
lay staring into the darkness, wide
awake and alert to every sound. A
murmur of voices came from the next
room, interspersed with occasional sub
dlled laughter, and at last I heard
window opened, and some one appar-
emily leaned out with an ejaculation of
relief
''Jove, what a night! And to think
Of wasting it in cell like this! Blake,
you old sinner, have you no soul for
The beautiful? Look at the light on
the water"
The reply was inaudible. Evidently
Blake had gone sensibly to bed, but
the voice continued undaunted:
cav Wouldn't ~ no io11xy IN <1iv<> ~
the railing and swim mile or so? l
declare, I've half mind to do it,"
I caught my breath apprehensively.
Suppose he should jump? A match
was now scratched, and the odor of a
cigarette floated through my Slated
blind.
Maybe you think you're on an or.
dinary steamer, Blake, but it's nothing
of the kind. 1t is royal barge be-
longing to the gods, and it's carrying
the Three Graces to attend Apollo
I'm Apollo, you understand, and Venus
isn't in it this trip. I think-of course
I'm not yet sure-but I think Thalia
is the chosen one.'
The berth creaked plaintively, and
a second match was struck. Apparent
ly Blake considered it wiser to join
his patient at the window.
Don't be an ass" he said, with a
slow drawl, but his companion mere.
ly whistled few bars of an old song
"'How happy could be with either
were t'other dear charmer away eh
Blake?" he laughed. That's the way
with this world-always too much OF
too little"
QUITE enough for you, think"
mot bit of it. The thing 1 want
most lack, but some time, some how
I'm going to get it,"
Silence for a few moments, then he
resumed more gravely:
'Of course it's no end jolly to have
you with me, Blake, but it is queer
business for you to take up, and
don't altogether like it. You were
=, built for better things"
1T is interesting work, and said tt
require special fitness
NO doubt Well, it's an i'll wind,
you know, and, since it blew you my
way, I've no kick coming. But, ole
- chap, there is no use in publishing
what you are doing, and for both ou1
sakes it is better you should pas:
simply as my guest"
LAS you please, Bennett. Now, fol
heavens sake, come to bed"
I don't know whether had actually
been asleep, or whether I was merely
in that delightful state of half-con
seriousness which precedes profount
slumber, but suddenly 1 started II,
broad awake, with the echo of a CRY
ringing in my ears. Was dreaming
l wondered, for I heard nothing bu
the sound of the waves against thu
boat.
Then it came again, from just be
meath me, sobbing, frightened cry
infinitely distressing to hear, and in
stinctively I turned on the light AMI
jumped to the floor.
Mrs. Graham sat upright in he1
berth, her dark eyes looking int
space, and her hands tightly clasped
mot again, Harry" she moaned
mot again-so soon."
y took her hands in mine and spok,
to her, calling her by name severa
times, and gradually the blank lool
in her eyes was replaced by utter be
wilderment as she began to realize he
surroundings.
- What is it," she said. "Wha
have been doing?"
"You were dreaming" I suggested
"A bad dream, perhaps"
"A bad dream" she repeated; Eyes
that's it-a bad dream. And only
dream, thank God!"
But I've wakened you," she con
tinued contritely, "and of course yo1
are tired, too I'm so sorry. Pleas
go to sleep again, and will try not t.
disturb you. l am all right, indeed"
put out the light and got back int
my berth and lay there thinking abou
my companion and more than hal
expecting her to cry out again. Evi
IDENTIFY she did not at once go to sleep
for l heard her sigh softly now ant
then, and once she whispered broken
ly: "Only a dream, thank God. only
dream!"
CHAPTER u,
When / wakened the next mornin,
was alone, and should have been in
clined to believe the preceding nigh
a dream were it not for the pencile,
words on scrap of paper pinned t,