The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-08-12
CHAPTER Iv.-(Continued.)


unpack her boxes under the shelter
that dilapidated, but friendly roof. II
she could bring herself to entertain Mr..
Stewards mad scheme, widely different
prospect lay before her. She must think
she must think, and not sit there, rag
ing in her heart that she. Mathilde
Thorne, should have become an object of
such contemptuous pity TO the merest
stranger. that he could consider her des-
tiny Il fit subject for the most reckless
freak to lay hold Of. With all her WON
anly pride up in arms, 1t was trife that
seemed to sting the most, and that trife
was the fact of her name being Mathilde,
after her French mother. How she now
hated the name. How should she ever
let Mr.. Stewart know that it was hers
She knew that she should eventually
have to tell him, for, somehow or other,
even with every womanly instinct at bay
against the proposition, she knew that
she meant to at least consider the carry
ing out of this mad scheme. That ii
might. probably would, explode in a week,
she believed. But in ner present humor
the very recklessness of the project
tempted her.
If she must always carry about with
her the same nun5ed and bitter spirit,
surely it were better to carry it in
comfortable carriage than a-foot-frst-
class instead of third; surely it were bet
ter TO be alone. with footman and maid
In attendance, than alone, having to run
her own errands, pack her own trunk
and wrangle with the landladies. If
Stewart family row ensued, 1t could hard
~ hurt her, either in feelings or in peck
ct As for pride-her pride should be
used by now to wounds, she said to her
self bitterly. and even the daily pang of
the daily act she might get used to. 1t
was stranc that with all her sulen in
dignation against Stewart, she still felt
a full confidence that he would keep TO
his share of the bargain, and make no
more claims upon her than he had pledged
himself to- There was no grain of kind
illness towards him-no satisfied vanity
at his choice. There was only the reck-
less courage of the gambler who throws
his last stake. knowing that it is INSULT
cient to procure him one comfortable
meal. What good could her life bring
her? Let her throw it all upon this wild
chance
And so, at the sound of the first bell
she reused herself from that long in
tense absorption in the freaks of her own
destiny, and then set herself TO get ready
for the Christmas feast.
Thre was a certain courageous and de
termined air OIL gaiety over the st.
Lawrence's" Christmas dinner table, wor-
thy of better cause. The electric lights
gave it as white a radiance as they might
have done to the daintiest feast. Wreathes
of holly and mistletoe lay along by the
hddles, and the cook had surpassed him
self in a brilliantly decorated boar's
head, that held the place of honor on
the captains table. Captain and off
GERS wore their best uniforms, and the
sickness of hair and br.-Iancy of neck
ties visible among the bag-men was
matter of evident admiration to the stew
ards.
Even the Northwest men looked bit
more brushed up than usual, though few
OF them, amongst whom was not Mr..
Stewart, had attained the dignity of
black coat.
Mrs. Hunter, the sea captains wife,
ha4 donned the black silk, lace collar, and
cameo brooch which had graced tea meet
ings and church socials in every quarter
of the globe. The bag-man's bride had
emerged from her seclusicn, pale, but
gorgeoups in a bodice of Stuart tartan
velvet which had been the envy of oil the
girl friends privileged to inspect 1t in
her trousseau.
Miss Thorne still kept her big red cloak
around her, but tonight she had ex-
changed the black lace scarf which she
usually wore over ner head in the saloon,
for one of creamy old Spanish lace,
which she had fastened at the throat by
q spray of bright-berried holly.
Captain Kerr and Mr.. Hudson greeted
her appearance with ELUSIVE inquiries
after the headache.
Il should never have recovered the
shock if you had not been able to come
to my tree this evening" Charlie Hud-
son protested. But she doesn't look as
though she had a headache, does she.
Kerr
I'm rather afraid she does. Here. Miss
Thorne. come and rest in your own cor
ner while we are waiting for the Cap
tain the older man said kindly.
His greater feminine experience enabled
him 10 see the traces of past storm in
feverishly flushed cheeks and dark-rim-
med eyes.
As befitted the more formal occasion.
instead of singly slipping into their seats
on arrival, they awaited in little groups
the advent of the Captain.
Mr.. Stewart had not yet appeared.
and the girl ragged inwardly at the fact
that she was trembling with nervous
dread Of the meeting.
But the Captains honest red face and
burly figure, smart in gold-laced coat.
appeared, bearing down upon her corner.
Come, Miss Thorne," he said In hear
ty tones, you must take my arm to-
night" And so led her to her place.
while the first officer and doctor did re-
spectively the same for Mrs. Hunter and
the bride at their own tables.
With an air of great pomp and cere-
mony Charlie Hudson placed Mrs. Hunt
er's little girl beside him, while Captain
Kerr took charge of the other, both chill
dren apparently stiffened into rigidity by
the unaccustomed honor
The Captain spoke in an aside to Miss
Thorne. 1--WE just been to your cabin
to look for you, and brig you in to din
ner. I'd have missed my own girls twice
as much II you hadn't been beside me to-
night"
The girl turned on him eyes that had
In them the suffering Of a dumb ami
mails, before which his own grew dim.
'You are very good to me-" she said,
simply
mot bit, not a Bit he answered,
patting her benevolently on the arm. 81
know plucky girl when I see one, and
there is nothing that fetches me like
pluck" During this dialogue, Stewart
had quickly slipped into his seat opposite,
and as the Captain attacked his soup
he spoke to Miss Thorne.
II hope that the headache Is better,
he said. II hunted up the stewardess
just now, and she said that you had gone
In
''ThanksEyes-you are very kind" the
girl stammered.
1t maddened her that she could not
speak connectedly for the heavy heart
heats under the scrutiny of those keen