The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-04
CHAPTER X.
Once! Twice! Thrice!


that he had the chance, he hesitated-
he would not have stood upon ceremony
moment haq the conditions been other
than they were. He would have made
direct for the captains stateroOm, and
afterward have examined the others.
But the presence on the ship Of the
captains daughter complicated mat
tiers. She might be in her dead fathers
cabin, or she might be in some other,
and after the experience Of a few mo
mentS ago, he heSitated about lntrudlng
upon her grief wherever she might be.
Yet IL was clearly necessary for him
to examine the ships papers. and If II
had not been. the desire that possessed
him Tor further acquaintance with
the young woman who had so charm
ingly masqueraded in mems clothes
would have urged him TO action.
By way Of preliminary, he cOughed
once, and again more loudly. SO far as
re could observe, there was no response.
Possibly he had not been heard above
the natural noises OF the straining
ship in the high seas.
Grown desperate, he stepped toward
the door Of the captain cabin, or at
least what in ships OF that class was
Usually the captains cabin, and tapped
lightly upon 1t. After waiting moment
for a response and receiving none, he
opened Il, only 10 be confronted by
very surprised and angry woman in
some disarray Of clothing He had
time 10 MAJ AAO"ENt4s AlldL II was rem
mime clothing, II Of a very plain and
simple fashion, when a high and indig-
nant voice cut athwart his amazement.
Are prisoners allowed no privacy,
sir, on your shipy'
Il beg your pardon" began the lieu
tenant. staring in beWildered apprecia-
ton Of the loneliness before him,
but
will you close the door2' cried tn,
girl, with a stamp OF her foot, the
rnHDr HlrnfTrr into her
was the second time he had made her
blush; once when she wore the dress
Of the other sex. and this time in her
own
He turned precipitateIy, dragging the
door after him. and then found himself
Just where he mad been befOre-aIone in
the cabin He was making no progress,
unless IL was 20 get into the bad graces
charming in any guise. and OF whom he
could say that the more frequently he
say her the more frequently he desired
20 be in her company
he stood baffed vet amused By the
situation, and then he knocked again
on the cabin door. this tine more
firmly
Am I not to be allowed 70 dress in
peace2'' came from the other side Of the
door with asperity.
Certainly, madam: by all means.
But you vii allow me-may 1 be per
mitted to-
We'll, what is it2'
4 wish 10 see you out here as soon as
you are ready TO receive me-" returned
the abashed lieutenant
II you Will let me alone I shall be
ready IN a few moments came back
the answer viciously through the
door.
Those moments were long ones 10 the
young man idling on the transOm and
staring al the afteT-cabin bulkhead
Now. Susan HubbeH was as little
given to the adornment Of her per
son as any woman. for she had aSSO-
ciated with men, none OF whom could
she by any possibility regard as
equals, or companions, or individuals
whose admiration she cared TO ex-
cite, OF WhOgs attention she wished
10 provoke. r or all the vapOTinEs OF
the mate. she regarded him from
very much the point Of view that the
average shipmaster regarded his
principal subordinate in those days,
and any closer alliance. which. the
wish being father 10 the thought, he
had alluded TO. had never entered her
head.
She had worn the clothes Of the
sailor lad with a careless Indifference
which was in keeping with her as
sumption OF the youthful and maScu-
line station. OF course, she was nat
UraIiy fond Of pretty things, but she
was that rara avis in any age, a wO-
man who knew little and cared less
about fashions. Her feminine and
proper garments were cut for com
fort and convenience.
Beautiful she would ever be. per
haps more beautiful in the IN
adorned simplicity Of the garments
Of her fancy than in the more elabo-
rate toilets Of day IN which dress
feminine econOmy-and in masculine
t-avagance-than II does even at
present There was a wild pictur-
esqueness about her attire, a com
- %
ing her freedom. which was as novel
and as refreshing as the variant
moods and colOrs Of the ocean which
mad been her home. In a word. she
might not be fashionable, but she
was never dowdy.
Association with her plain but honest
and high-souled father had taught her
instinctively to recognize n gentleman.
and for practically the first time in her
life she had been thrown in contact with
one who fully deserved that title Like
wise for the first time she found her
self thinking seriously Of the things
that she was putting on.
The mirror was an object Of little
use in her sea bOudOir. but today she
stared longer and harder into il than
she had ever done in her life. In her
infrequent visits 70 great cities while
the Hiram and Susan was receiving its
Iading IN some adjacent port she had
seen women OF fashion, OF at least per-
sons she thought might come in that
category. and the curious nature OF the
dresses they wore had moved her amuse-
ment and contempt until today.
Yet in the matter Of expense, no
money had been spared 70 fit out Ny
Lady Susan in the sweetest way. IN
cut, in shape. in style, her clothes might
have a simplicity whicf. marked her
own individuality, but in material there
was nothing better. Captain Hiram had
not traded with France for many years.
bringing silks and fUrbelOws TO America
without knowing the value OF the things
he carried
The more she surveyed herself the
more she wished that she was not diff
ferentsated by whatsoever cause from
the rest Of her sisters. There IS some
virtue in mOnOtOny after all To be
like the others is sometimes salvation
to a disQuieted soul.
Susan. however, had to make the
best of a bad beginning Even her
stubbornly curly hair, which she wore
manlike. tied in a club behind. could
not be made to change its character on
| for II. She had TO go out in what she
Z had. Shamefacedly at last. therefore.
she opened the door and stepped into
And then, with a rush Of reconec-
I ton, she realized that for whole half
! hour she had forgotten her father.
The familiar room. the officer sitting
on the transom where her father used
to sit, brought ii all back to her. and
| the memory came with an added pOig-
! nancy because she recognized the fact
/ that a chance meeting with the veriest
! stranger had driven her grief from her
/ heart She went pale again before his
| glance and then her eyes filed with
/ ssT1o,,,+ cr1-, 1a Safd sx-r,v,a ft s+i,a11,-