The Montgomery tribune., 1910-04-01
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.
81 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 1 can remem-
Der | 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 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 yelled utterapce.
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 I was constantly aware of
something hidden, some haunting
memory of the past, more to be
dreaded even than her present envir-
onment
Sometimes 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-
poseful deceit In either words or ac'
tion, and 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
open-heartedness ! so much desired
One second, as though by purest acci
dent, / looked down into her soul; the
next l saw nothing but the outer GOV
ering. Without in the least meaning
10 Ue SO SIG DcCdiAt a tcdbin6 Pu1liC
an enigma of womanhood, before
whom Twas beginning to worship, un
able to analyze even my own feelings
half-hopeful, half-afraid.
Hence 1t was that on this day re
manned leaning against the piano
( listening to her really brilliant exc
cution of difficult music, gazing dowI
upon her unconscious face, the swini
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 thu
memory aroused by its rendition, wheI
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 close,
door.
et'Such songs are most unseemly III
der our present circumstances h
said, solemnly, apparently addressin
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, tn
expression of her eyes changing IL
stantly.
"What--what do you mean, Mr.. Tu
tic? Are We in any special danger?"
< I'm the midst of life we are 1
\ death. What is man that thou al
J mindful of him, or the Son OF Ma
that thou visitest him? Death ride
upon the wind. races upon the waterl
Place not your trust in princes. nc