Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-06-17
CHAPTER xv.-contInued.

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.
1T is odd how our lives are infiu-
enced," she continued. thoughtfully.
Il feel that the charm Of the sea has
been the one great impelling force
which has nodded mine. wonder Is
It destined always to be so? Are these
waters even now bearing me on as
Fate wills? Ever since can remem-
ber / have permitted the ocean to
take that place in my heart which.
perhaps. should be otherwise occu-
pied. 1t 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 sheeted
ghosts bearing down to block our
passage into the Polar sea"
looked in the direction indicated.
scarcely noting the phenomena, but
wondering what, was the real meaning
concealed behind her veiled utterance.
In truth Lady Darlington was not
woman easily interpreted. She was
by no means a creature Of moods. yet
behind her effort at outward cheer
fulness l was constantly aware of
something hidden, some haunting
memory Of the past. more to be
dreaded even than her present envir-
onment.
Sometimes I even thought she delib-
erately played with me: yet this was
not SO. There was nothing Of the CO.
quette in her nature. nothing OF pur-
posefui deceit in either words or ac-
tion, and I cast the unworthy thought
from me with the indignation It de-
served. Still. her method was most
strange. most peculiar. Indeed. she
was like two women, ever keeping me
/ on the Qui vive. alive with expectancy.
, yet never quite bringing to me that
=. A.pen-heartedness I SO much desired.
One second. as though by purest acci-
dent, looked down into her soul: the
next l saw nothing but the outer COW
ering. Without in the least meaning
to be SO she became a teasing puzzle,
an enigma OF womanhood, before
whom I was beginning to worship. un-
able to analyze even my own feelings.
halfhopeful, half-afraid.
Hence 1t was that on this day I re-
manned leaning against the piano,
listening to her really brilliant exc
cution Of difficult music, gazing down
upon her unconscious face. the swing
of the deck under my feet, but with a
heavy heart behind the smile upon my
lips. The music finally ceased, yet we
fingered there conversing over the
memory aroused by its rendition. when
Tuttle emerged from his room, pre-
pared for his turn Of service on deck.
He stopped and stared across at US,
his hand on the knob of the closed
door.
Such songs are most unseemly un-
der our present circumstances" he
said. solemnly. apparently addressing
the lady only, for his glance never met
mine. ''In presence Of death and the
hereafter. madam. prayer is the nat
ural outlet of the soul"
Her sympathetic face whiteped. the
expression Of her eyes changing in
stantly.
"what-what do you mean. Mr.. Tut
tie? Are We in any special dangcr?"
I'm the midst of life we are In
death. What is man that thou art
mindful Of him. or the Son Of Man
that thou visiteat him? Death rides
non the wind. races upon the waters.
Hiaee not your trust in princes. nor