Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-11-11

wife; she had gone TO that house of
affliction because she was needed
there and for no other reason.
Celia sat in his Office all the rest of
the day. At half past 3, when Bartlett
went aboard the sound steamer with
all his worries on his back and the
pale. silent girl for sole companion he
was conscious OF depression of spir-
its such as he had never felt before.
They had some dinner by and by,
and perhaps the food was good for
Bartlett. At any rate, in the course
of the meal he was vouChsafed a reve-
lation. He perceived that CeIia's pres
ence was not depressing; he had been
laboring under a preconceivcd idea of
what her effect upon him ought TO be-
In view of her condition, and this
false notion had completely fooled
him. In reality she had not uttered a
complaint all day She had express
ed no despondent view. but had gen
tly striven to dispel the gloom between
them, all of which had emanated from
himself
upon my word" said he. looking
across at her, you are a very cheerful
young woman"
"In comparison with whom?'
Myself"
She nodded her head and smiled at
him.
Il am a good deal worried" said he.
I'm Of In, .ft ftg,
on me like an incubus-whatever that
is"
IL am sorry" said she.
Perhaps he had looked for a little
curiosity, and perhaps the china blue
eyes read this in his face, for she tact
fully asked leading question, and he
told his story. There were few peo-
pie in the world with whom he would
have spoken as frankly.
"The trouble is" said he in conclu-
sion, that dare not 90 directly to
the president of the bank. He's tar
tar, and this particular kind of re-
newal is his pet aversion. But if
can have the matter put up to him in
just the right light by friend of
mine (and pet of hiss inside the
bank the thing will go through. don't
want Boland even to know that came
over to Boston to see anybody in the
bank | wouldn't have him know it
| for thousand dollars"
"Mr. Boland is the president|
"Yes."
oh hn
street." she suggested.
81 should dodge into the nearest open
! door" said he. IF he saw me in Bos-
ton at this time he'd know what | was
there for and he doesn't like wirepull-
| ing inside his bank"
Il don't like wirepulling anywhere"
said Celia. 81 think you should meet
Mr.. Boland deliberately"
Not for gold and precious stones"
81 have a feeling that you WILL" she
insisted, "and | don't like the idea
that you're afraid of him"
Il don't like it myself" said he, ''but
lam"
"Then you'll surely meet him. new
er dare to be afraid Of anything for
| fear that it will happen"
II admit there's something in it," said
| he.
Celia retired to her stateroom early,
| and Bartlett went down to the main
deck, where in the girls absence he
| relapsed into gloom and consoled him
self with strong cigars.
| A streaky fog lay on the sound. In
| the thicker places the steamer would
slow down as If bewildered, and her
whistle would exchange impatient
| blasts Of nautical conversation with
other whistles. A human irritation
seemed to animate these tones.
| Bartlett thought of Celia lying
awake and listening to the mournful
and alarming chorus. Tenderness
came to his heart. He regretted that
he had not been kinder to her; that he
had not spoken cheerier words at their
parting.
"All the human sense and goodness
have gone out of me-" he growled. 81
am the wreck of what l was"
1t was past II when he went to his
stateroom, and he sat for long time
on the edge of his berth. thinking
despondently Of the morrow The whis-
tie was now doing its worst, and the
answers were more petulent. He dis
tinguished one voice among them that
seemed angrier than the others, and it
drew constantly nearer. Then for an
interval he missed that voice Silence
reigned for perhaps no more than a
minute, but 1t seemed much longer.
Bartlett rose to his feet-he knew not
why.
In the depths of the vessel he heard
bell strike once. The vibration of
the fabric ceased. The engine was at
rest. Suddenly, close at hand, the
whistle that he had listened for called
out with its strong voice Two quick
blasts answered it from his own YES
sci, and instantly the bell in the depths
rang sharply twice.
Bartlett was in part prepared for
what came next, but not for the mag
nitude of it. The crash as the two
ships met seemed natural to his ears,
but the Internal din that followed
shook the soul of him with terrors
wholly unexpected.
Bartlett ran out into the saloon and
looked across He saw some tangled
wreckage and cloud of steam
through which was visible a blur of
light. This came from the other YES
sci.
Men were pouring up from below,
drenched with water and many of