Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1910-04-30
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 influ-
-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 l can remem-
Der / have permitted the ocean to
take that place in my heart which,
perhaps, should be otherwise occu-
pied. It 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 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 1 was constantly aware of
something hidden, some haunting
memory of the past, more to be
dreaded even than her present envir-
-onment.
Sometimes 1 even thought she DELHI
erately played with me; yet this was
not so. There was nothing of the CO.
quette In her nature, nothing of pur-
posefu deceit in either words or &C
ton, and / cast the unworthy thought
from me with the indignation it de-
served. Still, her method was most
strange, tmost peculiar. Indeed, she
was like two women, ever keeping me
on the qGi vive, alive with expectancy.
yet never quite bringing to me that
open heartedness l so much desired.
One second, as though by purest acct.
dent. l looked down into her soul; the
next saw nothing but the outer Gov
x.
to be so she became a teasing puzzle,
an enigma of womanhood, before
whom l Jkas beginning to worship, I'M
able toSnalyZe even my own feelings
half-hopeful, half-afraid
Hence il was that on this day l re-
manned leaning against the piano.
listening to her really brilliant exc
cutIon of difficult music, gazing down
upon her unconscious face. the swing
of the deck under my feet, but with a
heavy heart behind the smile upon my
lips. The music finally ceased, yet we
fingered there conversing over the
memory aroused by its rendition, when
futile 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 closed
door.
- such Sbngs are most unseemly un
Ter ouf present circumstances" he
said. solemnly, apparently addressing
the lady only, for his glance never met
mine. I'm presence of death and the
hereafter, madam, prayer is the nat
ural outlet of the soul"
Her sympathetic face whitened, the
expression of her eyes changing in
stantly.
"What-what do you mean, Mr.. Tut
tie? Are we in any special danger?"
"In the midst of life we are n
death. What is man that thou ar
mindful of him, or the Son of Mar
that thou visitest him? Death rides
upon the wind. races upon the waters
Place not your trust In princes. mol