The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-10-20
CHAPTER xv.-conanued.

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.
II feel that the charm of the sea has
been the one great impelling force
which has nodded mine. l wonder is
1t destined always to be so? Are these
waters even now bearing me on as
Fate Wills? Ever since l can remem-
ber ! 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-"
l looked in the direction indicated,
scarcely noting the phenomena, but
wondering what was the real meaning
concealed behind her veiled utterance.
In truth Lady Darlington was not
woman easily interpreted. She was
by no means a creature Of moods, yet
behind her effort at outward cheer
fulness | 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 l 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 | saw nothing but the outer COW
ering Without in the least meaning
to be so she became teasing puzzle
an enigma of womanhood, before
whom | was beginning to worship, un-
able to analyze even my own feelings, |
half-afraid.
Hence it was that on this day / re-
mained leaning against the piano,
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
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,
MS hand on the knob of the closed
loor.
Such songs are most unseemly un-
Ter our present circumstances" he
said, solemnly, apparently addressing
he lady only, for his glance never met
nine TN presence of death and the
madam, prayer is the nat
lral outlet of the soul"
Her sympathetic face whitened, the
expression of her eyes changing in
tantly.
"What-what do you mean, Mr., Tut
9e? Are we in any special danger?"
,k"In the midst of life we are in
9TH. What is man that thou art
dful OF him, or the Son of Man
thou visitest him? Death rides
81 the wind, races upon the waters.
On not your trust in princes, nor
AW " Of the powers of earth, but t
r be mercy of the Most High. Be !
madam; be prepared for his
~ ming, for already has it been !
to me to behold the End" /
pde past us, stony-faced, his y
q outlined against the gray $
=" Alt as he pushed back the
aoaA door. Lady Darlington
lsdddisappearance with parted a
tonA filed with fear. t
DeA has gone crazy over his S
Ienbries," endeavored to I
S, 0not permit such folly i
busA Q
la Stephens, he means b
p What is it he has