The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-06-17
CHAPTER XVI.

ago the prophet Jeremiah ex
- pressed incredulity as to the
power Of an Ethiopian tc
change his skin or leopard his spots
Inc march OF the centuries has fully
justified the seer's historic doubt, so il
makes but slight demand on the crit
lcal faculties to assume that two years
residence in Europe had not cooled the
hot southern blood flowing in Car.
mela's veins.
She had hated Iris before she SET
eyes on her. She hated her now that
she had seen her rare beauty. She
gloated on the suffering inflicted by
the presence Of the faded old man
who claimed her as his bride. Though
1t was OF the utmost Importance that
she should hasten to her father, she
returned to Las Flores in her rivals
company. their arms linked In seem
Ing friendship and the Brazilian girls
ears alert to treasure every word that
told Of Bulmers wooing.
So Dickey contented himself by lis
tening to Coke's Homeric account of
the Andromeda's wrecking, and il he
interposed an occasional question and
thus drew the girls sweet voice into
the talk 1t was invariably germane to
the strange history Of the ship and her
human freight.
COke's narrative was picturesque and
lurid. Every incident centered in the
striking personality Of Philip Hozier.
From the instant the second shell
struck the winch and laid him appar.
emily dead on the forecastle to the
very hour Of this coming together at
Las Flores, HoZier held the stage. 1t
was he who took Iris on his shoulders
and brought her to safety through the
| spume Of the wrathful sea. he who
| carried her to the hut. he who crossed
Fernando NOrOnha alone to protect
her.
Coke was impartial. He would have
minimized his own singular bravery
In running up the ships signals had
while she enthralled the others with
her description. Otherwise Coke skip
ped no line Of his epic.
you'll reflect" he wheezed In a
voice that rasped like q file. you'll
rec'lect, Mr.. Verify. as ! said to you
that Hozier was good enough to take
charge of the bridge Of battleship.
By-well. any'ow If I'd said the chan
mel fleet l shouldn't ave bin talkin'
through me at Look at i'm now.
'E's the on'y reel live man Dom Wot's-
'is-name as got. Sink me. If it wasn't
for the folks at 'ome an the fac that
the Andromeeda's skipper ought to
keep clear Of politics In this crimson
country I'd ave a cut in at the game
meself'
1t might be hoped that Carmela's
mood would soften when she discov-
cred her rivals hapless love. but that
would be expecting something which
her bursting southern heart could not
give. A volcano pours forth lava. not
water. 1t scorches. not heals. Iris,
willing or not. had Slapped her Saliva
doris allegiance. Carmela wanted to
see those curved lips writhing in pain,
those brown eyes dimmed. that smooth
brow wrung with the grief that knows
no remedy.
A fierce Joy leaped up in her when
Verify spoke of an early departure.
"You see, Iris" he explained. these
Brazilian bucks may be months in set
tn their differences. Dickey an me,
'elped a lot by our consul, squeezed a
pass out of the president-beg pardon,
miss, but e is president, in Pernam-
buco at all events" he said in an
apologize aside to Carmela-"an' the
sooner we make tracks for ole Eng
land the better it'll be for all Of
us. Wot do you say to an early start
tomorrow? We'd be of tonight on'y
I'm feared my rheumaticky bones
wouldn't stand the racket"
The color ebbed from Iris face, but
she said at once:
81 shall be ready. uncle, dear. l
promised Dom Corria to look after the
hospital appliances that are so much
needed by the poor soldiers, but the
Senhora de Sylvia will attend to that
much more effectually than l."
Good Then that's settled"
Carmela. of course, did not believe
in woman's complacency In such
vital matter She was ever prepared to
spring. TO strike. to wrench their plans
to suit her own ends: but, contrive as
she might. she could not succeed In
leaving Iris alone with Bulmer. Full
OF device, she was foiled at each turn.
The day wore. the sun went down, the
starit sky made beautiful parched
earth. but never word in privacy did
Iris exchange with her husband to be.
Carmela's malice was not hidden from
her. but she despised It. There was
some ease for her tortured brain in de-
feating it. II the Senhora de Sylvia
had only understood how thoroughly
the Englishwoman loathed her petty
jealousy 1t was possible that the few
remaining hours of their enforced inti-
macy might have been rendered less
irksome.
The future Is the most cunning Of
playwrights. No man may tell what
the next scene shall be. And no man
49,, x.vo,oan oo,II ottaoc tho p1aH