The Washington herald., 1910-08-15
CHAPTER XI.
The LugEer.


sane impulse What would that do but
make everything worse. even harder for
him TO bear? Haven't 1 made things
hard enough for him already" 1 who
had said I loved him. that l believed
in his innocence, had yet virtuously
urged him to go back and give himself
up-to what? Why, my poor little cow
ard mind was even afraid to name what
that thing was.
The Spanish woman had not been
afraid, no, not Of anything. She had
Tisked everything that she had to save
him in the best way that she knew.
Was l, as she had so bitterly told me
only a creature OF words with no deeds
20 make them good? It was all very
well TO say things would turn out right;
but now saw that they would not I'M
less 1 made Them and how was that
TO be managed II he wouldn't speak, and
was In his confidence and couldn't?
l puzzled Il over as my carriage ratified
slowly back up Montgomery street
Suddenly from what had been absolutely
sterile cogitation, there sprang UP the
full flower OF an idea All that he had
said that evening had carried the same
perplexing undercurrent of a thing that
he could not speak Of. and always It
seemed to point TO the Spanish woman.
''She knows I thought triumphantly.
''and if she knows. why, she must not
go away until she has told me-" The
whole thing opened before me complete.
unexpected, a deliverance.
looked out OF the window Faintest
earliest dawn was already beginning.
There was but one thing TO do
Johnny had told me that the
Spanish woman was going aboard the
lugger at dawn. I directed the driver 10
drive to the Black Point wharf.
He peered at lie as II he thought me
crazy That Teller gave me gold piece.
We know" he said. "or wouldn't have
taken we as far as this"
Go on I said, and queerly enough 1
didn't feel at all afraid or the man. GO
on. a7d my father. Mr.. Fenwick. will
give you more when you take me home;
and besides you are doing a service for
the city"
Muttering that IL was the weirdest go
that he had ever. struck, he ,clucked to
the weary horses, and after little more
OF cobblestones. began the struggle
through the sand
Those terrible sandhils. We labored in
them Ike a snail They seemed to hang
on the wheels, and to heap themselves in
front of as; but the increasing light
came on wings and what exact moment
in all this long. gray and golden ap-
proach Of the sun was to be considered
dawn? At last we were over the hilltop.
and fioundering down the other side the
trees and gardens Of houses overlooking
the water front upon my left hand. upon
the other. sand and sea. Straight below.
running out from the shore, was the lit
tie disused wharf. One or two Italian
fishing boats rocked in its shadow, but
no vessel was in sight.
Could IL be that I was too late? I
thought In an agony Of uncertainty. as
the carriage drew up at the pier. Thrust
ing my head and as much Of my body as
possible out OF the carriage window I
looked out the gray, winding channel to-
ward the Heads Not a sail in sight!
This was encouraging. for I knew. that
even starting with the grayest light.
there would not have been time for the
vessel TO have vanished out at sea
Through the other window Chestnut
Street Hill. a great rounding mass. rose
blufiy out Of the water. shouldering
the city out of sight Near It's base tall
eucalyptus trees swayed against the blue
pay; and through their shifting leaves
sand branches 1 was able 10 make out the
mast and sails Of the lugger lying close
under the hill II was so well hidden
that had I not been expecting 70 see 1t.
Wust certainly have passed it over
alteeGher. taking the masts for three
poles. and the furled canvas for the
+ ght acacia bark.
/ drew my cloak close around my
houlders. pulled up the carriage blinds
each side. allowing only crack wide
lough for me to look through, and set
ed myself 10 the hard task Of waiting.
being az once patient and vigilant
here was not an instant when dared
lax my watch. first at this window.
W at that. for who could tell by which
ay the Spanish woman would approach
through the sand hills, driven up in
carriage. or. what was more prob
e, on foot over the tree-guarded slopes
the hill The blink Of an eyelash
ght lose her,
he dull gray light that had chilled
pre- and sea began 10 take on a warmer
NJ. knew the east was growing rosy.
still she did not come The fishing
IS began to go out. and at my back l
Ard the first murmur Of the city stir
& out OF sleep. Two Of the fishermen.
ians> stood on the wharf and stared
my carriage curiously but I hardly
ICED them. l felt as II I were outside
all the world, and everything usual
could happen.
he wind was freshening. picking I'D
tecaps on the bay and presently 1
iced that the lugger had shifted her
ition. had moved out a little from
ct @ ee I'd ne hill. and saw they
rlrrg sail on board. One
faF7'r. h e wing, and then an
rose 7l bread beyond the trees.
oc'f 1r the piping sound OF
then. with a veering
nr inally with a graceful
m stood away from the |
anc re-r 20 out 10 sea-
t nt rat II was looked at
'fn could not believe it, |
t7c e anish woman got on
'1'hal. mr seeing her? Could she 4
G.7pel alcl through the bewilder- /
seoT end 30 evaded me; or had she 4
On board ven before I had come?
t r. ,Hs- ouldn't be. for then the 1
cic te sailed Immediately. I |
Cd on the step OF the |
ftEe f he'd the ship carrying |
hara ng round and dip her