The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-04-22
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 L
set my teeth. and remained silent.
1T is odd how our lives are influ-
enced." she continued, thoughtfully-
Il feel that the charm of the sea has
been the one great impelling force
which has nodded mine. l wonder is
it destined always to be SO? Are these
waters even now bearing me on as
Fate Wills! Ever since can remem-
Der l 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 l must not think
this, much less ia it," hastily awak-
ening, and pointing forward. See. Mr..
Stephens, how those clouds and the
forms: they appear an army of sheeted
ghosts bearing down to block our
passage into the Polar sea-"
l looked in the direction indicated.
scarcely noting the phenomena, but
wondering what was the real meaning
concealed behind her yelled utterance.
In truth Lady Darlington was not a
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 l even thought she delib'
erately played with me: yet this was
o so. There was nothing of the co,
quette in her nature, nothing of pur
poseful deceit in either words or ac
ton, and J cast the unworthy thought
from me with the Indignation it de
served. Still, her method was mos,
strange, most peculiar. Indeed. she
was like two women. ever keeping me
on the qui vive, alive with expectancy
yet quite bringing to me tina
open-heartedness l SO much desired
One second. as though by purest acct
dent, l locked down into her soul; thu
next l saw nothing but the outer Gov
ering. Without in the least meanin,
to be so she became a teasing puzzle
an enigma of wOmanhoOd. befor'
whom l was beginning to worship, TN
able to analyze even my own feelings
half-hopeful, ~half-afraid.
Hence it was that on this day I re
manned leaning against the piano
listening t her really brilliant exc
cution of difficult music, gazing dow,
upon her unconscious face, the swim
Of the deck under my feet, but with
heavy heart behind the smile upon m
lips. The music finally ceased. yet W
fingered there conversing over tn
memory aroused by it's rendition. whe
. futile emerged from his room. pre-
pared for his turn of service on decl
He stopped and stared across at u.
. his hand On the knob of the close
door.
Such songs are most unseemly III
der our present circumstances" h
said. solemnly. apparently addrcssin
the lady only, for his glance never me
mine. In presence Of death and tn
hereafter, madam, prayer is the ma
ural outlet of the soul"
Her sympathetic face ~whitened, tt
expression of her eyes changing II
stantly.
"What-what do you mean, MIR. Tu
tie? Are We in any special danger?'
In the midst Of life we are
death. What is mar that thou al
mindful of him, or the Son OF Ma
that thou visitest him? Death ride
upon the wind. upon the waters
Place not your trust In princes. no