The Irish standard., 1909-06-05

the other. 1t did not occur to the
colonel that there was anything out OF
the way in introducing man of
whom he knew 60 little, for it was
characteristic Of him to take each new
acquaintance at his own valuation He
had been known to make mistakes.
AS madame. the aunt, had taken to
her berth, and by the third day out the
colonel was more or less intimate with
every one on board. it goes without
saying that Lawrence and Miss Gale.
ria saw somewhat more of each other
than either had anticipated.
; AS circumstances had placed Law.
rence's chair next to Miss Galleries.,
it was q natural outcome that the
long days and lovely evenings gave
them opportunity, beyond the limita.
lions Of conventionality. of coming
into each others lives.
Love in its full meaning had never
quite come to Townley Lawrence. In.
deed, II he had been asked so per-
sonal a question and had been in a
mood to answer. he would have said
that he had passed the point when it
could come to him If 1t had ever been
possible, which he doubted. 1t was
therefore with something of . shock
that he realized one day that this
girl had entered into and taken pos
session Of a hitherto unexplored
chamber of his heart.
Lawrence was a revelation to the
| girl, who had never come in contact
with man Of the world in it's best
sense.
Her life had been spent on a large
plantation in Cuba and now, after a
year OF travel, she was on her way
| homo.
The girl, full of emotion. responded
to every mood like well-tuned instru-
! ment, and 1t was scarcely to be won
dered at that, with the moon shining
on the waters and the steamer cut
ting Its way SO rapidly to the end Of
! the episode, the colonel telling stories
I In the smoking room, the aunt still
below, that unconsciously their hands
should seek each other. No word was
spoken. but as she rose to say good
night she suddenly swayed towards
him and their lips met.
She passed the next day in a sort
Of dream. There was a look on her
face like a radiation from within, and
the ripple Of her laughter made even
crusty old German with her gluck
auf.
Lawrence seemed silent and dis
trait, and she rallied him for being so
gloomy Never mind" she said,
your brother won't be waiting on the
hot pier scolding you for being day
late" It was the last night out. and
as she said this Lawrence looked at
her once as II he would impress her
face upon his heart forever. NO" he
said, "but I am fearful that my wife,
who is not strong, may be worried"
A gray shadow came over the face
of the girl as she watched, with
the absent spirit, that looks yet does
not see," the distant lights of a
steamer.
The sound Of guitar and the words
Of a Cuban lullaby came from the
bow. Unconsoiously she hummed the
air, and with the sound realized for
the first time in her life that sudden.
immediate, personal readjustment
must be made. Never before had she
found 1t necessary to call on the
strength and pride Of her northern an
cestry to protect her southern legacy
of warm and passionate blood
In the instant Of revelation she
knew she must act, and quickly.
Speaking, so quietly that It would
have taken a keener man than Town
ley Lawrence to have realized the
depth of the wound, she said: Yes, 1t
was pity she could not have come
with you; and yet IL she had been
here might not have so much to re-
member Goodnight, my friend" as
she rose, Il will see you in the morn
ing"
Thank Cod" said Lawrence under
his breath, as he lighted his cigar,
that am the only one hard hit"
He did not see her again until just
as the steamer touched the pier, and
she waved a good.by to him quickly
turning away to wish the colonel bon
voyage.
The blue.black of the summer sky
with it's myriad stars hung over the
hill of San Juan and covered with a
merciful darkness the grim and silent
forms at the edge of the TRAIL
A belated bird would occasionally
dart out from the trees. and with a
whir of wings disappear In the dis
lance.
A curious heavy odor Of powder
mingling with the breath of night flow
ers, hung heavy in the air. No sound
save the rustic of leaves in the night
wind came to the two figures ap
preaching from the direction OF Ducro
The taller OF the two occasionally
swung a lantern from side to side, and
his companion would shrink against
him as the light uncovered uniform
A light cloak with hood concealed
the woman, and as she neared clumr
Of trees she stopped