The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-06-24

Sea Queen would be crushed like an
eggshell And Lady Darlington had
said she trusted NE implicitly. Was I
showing myself worthy by thus push
ing the yacht deeper into danger?
By heaven, for her sake. if for no
other reason, l would play the man,
Ay, and I comprehendei exactly what
such resolve would cOst-realized fuI-
ly what that mOngrel crew would say
and do the moment their ghostIy ter
rOrs fed. and they knew I had given
up search for the treasure. I should
have to command by brute force, by
threat and blow. There would be
mutiny aboard for every league until
we made port I knew the nature OF
that 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,
Well. 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
plicitly"- l saw her eyes again as she
said it, and sprang to the deck. FUN
bling in the darkness for the latch of
my door
The main cabin was dimly lighted
and chill, the fire in the stove low
paused to rattle it, and add a few
Jumps of coal from the scuttle stand
ing near by. In spite of surrounding
comforts what a grim. iuhospitable
place this was for any woman like
her, The very snugness of the cabin
served only to emphasize the gloom
and peril without, the frightful polar
mystery which surrounded US. which
drives men mad amid its awful dis
tanCes, its shrouded silence.
Suddenly, directly opposite where
stood, saw it again-that same
shapeless, white, gliding figure An
instant only stood rooted to the spot
my blood like ice. my eyes full Of hor-
ror. Then the swift reaction came,
he reserve courage of a man ashamed
Of such weakness. and leaped
straight toward the misty object, Crap
a'tsi41 1T II " ArA lily nan Is lou l4f'L
nothing but air, falling headIong with
j violence Earring the entire cabin
and Overthrowing a chair crashing to
he deck Dazed, confused, l stag
se-ed to my knees, staring about into
he dim shadows white-draped
figure was at my very elbow and
sprang to my feet, only to take
quick step backward. gyGsping at the
table, as l recognized Lady Darling
ton.
Good Cod was that your" gasped,
the horror still possessing me.
This certainly is she answered
swiftly But what do you mean?
What has occurred?"
q hardly know" and I looked about
me, and then into her face, breathing
heavily. Il seem unable 10 separate
The real from the unreal am half
afraid | am losing my mind. Lady
Darlington, it is not only the crew for
ward who are seeing ghosts on board
laughed at my experience before. be
ueving it mere illusion that could
never occur again In that spirit
tOld you about seeing white misty
figure in this cabin the night after
futile died. It vanished Ike wreath
of smoke, and daylight made me be
lieve the vision was born of a tired
brain But l have seen it again now
-yonder as plainly as ! can see you.
1t was no dream, no Imagination, yet
when | sought to grasp the thing, my
fingers encountered nothing but air"
| saw her hands tremble, her white
face turned whittier 1 pointed; but she
had not beheld what | had. and her
mind remained clear
What was it you saw"
A shapeless white figure, misty,
vanishing like bubble"
"Yonder, you say? just where you
saw it before?"
had not thought OF that, yet it was
true-there. beside Tuttles door An
instant she stood motionless, her eyes
searching the dim corners OF the cab
IN as though tracing some suspicion
awakened within her mind. Suddenly
she clasped my arm.
We do not believe in ghosts. Mr.
Stephens, you and l." her voice grow
ing firmer with conviction. Our edu-
cation and training make such a con
ception impossible. There Is a natural
cause for this, a reason, an actual
presence back of the shadow. There
must be. and we must find it. Where
did you stand when you saw this ap,
parition?"
stepped back to the spot beside
the stove, realizing that she still chung
tightly to me.
Here, and lifted my eyes like
this"
She leaned eagerly forward. her
breath on my cheek. her fingers clutch
ing my arm.
"Why-why that is a mirror you are
looking into See, What is it re.
Elected there? Turn up the light until
| locate the spot Oh. | see now-the
open pantry door Mr. stephens, there
is where your ghost stood-it was the
shadow Of a man reelected In that
mirror"
Our eyes met, all my former terror
fed, shame and anger dominating me.
"Dade?"
TT might bs-certainly some one
L