The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1911-09-09
4 MEETING ON
ShIPB0ARD
It Brought Pain at First and
Then Happiness.
sy CLAUDE pAMAaEs.


bringing her nearer to the destined
haven. Far up in the bow stood a
man and a woman watching through
the darkness. Plymouth would be
reached early next morning. In silence
the two stood gazing ut the distant
lights now beginning to flash out. This
meant the close of the voyage, the end
Of week Of rare companionship.
At first the man had paid but scant
heed to the slender, dark eyed woman
who faced him at the long table. He
was OF for a rest and did not care to
meet people. But something in the
quiet, restrained glance attracted him,
and later, when he saw her on deck
struggling with steamer rugs, 1t SEEM
ed only civil to offer her assistance.
Henceforth they fell into the way Of
being together. They read and criti-
cised each others books and maya
zines. they spent much time pacing the
deck, and now had come the last night
Of 1t all. She was leaving the ship at
Plymouth: he was going on to Cher
bourg. The man was the first to
speak.
"And am 1 never to see you again?"
he asked. -
She shook her head.
ut is very unlikely"
''You meaA'- he demanded.
IT mean that it is best not" was the
quiet answer, but he bent rebelliously
closer.
"Listen," he said determinedly. 81
= L., 90 k, b
that you have known me barely a
week, yet when you talk this way
say that we shall not meet again
"You know nothing Of me either"
broke in the woman hurriedly-"whO
I am or whence i come"
II know you are the loveliest and
sweetest woman in the world" he said.
with a stubborn frown. "and that T.
mo. no." cried she sharply. Then
she lifted her head. II have not told
you the whole TRUTH" she said. a
indeed Mrs. Raymond, and my nus
hand is dead. butt am also Russell
Bancroft's sister,"
"Bancrofts-sister." He repeated
the words incredulously. "Bancroft's
sister" His voice betrayed only an
amased bewilderment, but the wom-
an. sensitively alive to every intona-
tton, heard or fancied certain hidden
repuGnance beneath the surprise. Her
breath futtered; then she pulled her
self together.
$50 I am sure you will agree with
me that any further friendship be-
e. 10 CD, pln
~. "Good night and goodby."
Before he could divine her intention
she had stepped toward the compan-
ionway. The next moment she was
gone. The man turned to the rail-.
"Bancroft's sister," he said again,
his eyes resting vaguely. unseeingly.
upon the tumbling waters-"Bancroft's
sister,"
Below in the narrow little cabin Mrs.
Raymond threw herself upon the bunk.
The heavy tears hung upon her lashes.
He hated her, then. She wondered at
1t in a dull sort of way. Yet who
really could wonder that the very
name of Bancroft should be distasteful
in his ears? She knew the whole
wretched story. The two men had
been chums at school, roommates at
college. She recollected the tall lad
whom Russell had brought home for
nm occasional visit. Then had come
'Cortwright's engagement. The cards
were out, the wedding dress finished.
Bancroft was to be best man. And
then two days before the day set
Bancroft. the trusted, the beloved
friend. had fed with his chum's bride,
leaving wild, incoherent note in
which they pleaded their unconquer-
able affection.
Child as she had been, Mrs. Ray
mond well remembered the tremen-
dous excitement 1t had stirred, her
passionate sympathy for the half
stunned Cartwright But the affair
slid into history. like everything else.
After that Russell and his wife lived
abroad. She herself had grown up.
married and become a widow. Her
marriage had not proved exactly a
success, yet she had mOurned her hus-
band deeply and sincerely. never con-
sidering the possibility of her marry
ing again. Then had come this steamer
acquaintance with man singularly
c0ngen1al IN tastes ana lueas. deF
learning of his identity had been a
shock. She felt that In honesty she
must reveal herself. Yet every day
she let pass made the task more dim
cult. And now what she had most
feared had come to pass-he shrank
from the sister Of his faithless friend.
The woman on the bunk started up
IN sudden flerceness. 1t was not fair
What part had she in that old deed ?
She must see him again-explain. She
did not know exactly what to say but
the impulse carried her out into the
corridor. It was not late. Perhaps he
would Join her again on deck.
But as she turned into the passage
Ia a. tt. IH1r and 1tftof