Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-13
cspyrieAt A. G. Ncclurz Z Co. !
CHAPTER XIV.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Cspyright \. G. NcClurE Z Co, I'M j
CHAPTER XIV.
In Which the Ghost Appears.
Difficult work it was keeping sealed
lips while we conversed upon mattera
far away, each endeavoring to avoid
any reference to present surroundings.
knew could fully trust this woman,
could safely confide in her. yet surely
there was no nndiate necessity for
telling her this latest development in
Tuttle's case. Already she had bur
den enough to bear. and the manner in
which she bore it awoke my sincere
admiration. Whatever Of despair, OF
womanly shrinking her private cabin
may have seen during those weeks OF
loneliness, she brought nothing out.
side its doors but courage and inspi.
ration. Once remember she fingered
beside the rail with me, clinginE to
my arm for support against the
yachts tumbling. her loosened hair
Tapping in the wind, her cheeks tin
cling from the flying spray which oc.
,asienelly dashed our faces. It was
my ieok Of inquiry that unlocked her
lips to confession.
II cannot help II, Mr.. Stephens. but
the spectacle of the sea awakens all
that is divine within me-" she said,
her lips smiling, her eyes grave. Il
must have been born with the love
Of it in my heart. know that sounds
fanciful. like the speech Of a school,
girl, yet that is the fascination the sea
exerts upon me. never tire OF 1t,
and 1t must be that possess the soul
Of the sailor
WAS it because of your innate love
for such things that Lord Darlington
took to yachting?" questioned. Gu
riously. always eager to observe her
swift changes in expression. She
laughed, with queer little indrawing
Of breath and uplifting OF lashes.
ooh, no: far from it. He was an
enthusiastic yachtsman long before we
first met, but had contentedly confined
his cruising to the English coast and
the Mediterranean waters. No doubt
it was my enthusiasm which induced
him to attempt longer voyages and
stranger seas. lack interest In or.
binary social life, and was far happier
on board the yacht than In London
drawing rooms. His lordship was
was always most considerable"
The slight change of voice per.
ceptible in this final sentence might
have excused the utterance OF the
question trembling on my lips, yet
set my teeth, and remained silent.
ut is odd how our lives are influ'
enced," she continued, thoughtfully
II feel, that the charm Of the sea has
been the one great impelling force
which has nodded mine. l wonder Is
1t destined always to be so? Are these
waters even now bearing me on as
Fate wills? Ever since I can remem
Der have permitted the ocean te
take that place in my heart which
perhaps, should be otherwise occu
pied. It has been my master, my
strongest love. But must not think
this, much less say IT," hastily awak
ening, and pointing forward. See, Mr.
Stephens, how those clouds and the
| waters blend yonder in such fantastic
forms; they appear an army Of sheetet
ghosts bearing down to block oul
passage into the Polar sea-"
looked in the direction indicated
scarcely noting the phenomena, bu
wondering what was the real meaning
concealed behind her yelled utterance
In truth Lady Darlington was not /,
woman easily interpreted. She wa.
by no means q creature OF moods, ye
behind her effort at outward cheer
fulness was constantly aware O
something hidden, some haunting
memory Of the past, more to b,
dreaded even than her present envir
onment.
Sometimes I even thought she DELHI
erately played with me; yet this wa.
not so. There was nothing Of the CO
quette in her nature. nothing of pur
poseful deceit in either words or &C
ton, and cast the unworthy though
from me with the indignation It de
served. Still, her method was mos
strange, most peculiar. Indeed, sh,
was like two women, ever keeping m,
on the qui vive. alive with expectancy
yet never quite bringing to me tina
observation-disclosures SO much desired
One second, as though by purest acct
dent. looked down into her soul; tn,
next saw nothing but the outer GOV
ering. Without in the least meaning
to be so she became teasing puzzle
an enigma Of womanhood, befor,
whom was beginning to worship. un
able to analyse even my own feelings
half-hopeful, half-afraid.
Il Hence It was that on this day re
NAMED leaning against the piano
listening to her really brilliant exc
cution Of difficult music, gazing dow
upon her unconscious face. the swim
of the deck under my feet. but with
heavy heart behind the smile upon m.
lips. The music finally ceased, yet W,
fingered there conversing over tn,
memory aroused by its rendition, whel
Tuttle emerged from his room, pre-
pared for his turn of service on deck
He stopped and stared across at VI
his hand on the knob Of the close,
door.
Such songs are most unseemly IN
J der our present circumstances" h
said, solemnly. apparently addressin
the lady only, for his glance never me
mine ssTn preaonco of death and III