Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-13
By Louis joseph Vance
Auihor O." he Brass Rowl, "
"No Mans Land, = Etc.

strange and exotic TO her eyes with its
glowing tint or pink coralliferous sand !;
a screen of deep green tropical vege-
tatiou by way of background, starred
with splashes of flower color unbeliev-
ably brilliant; the smiling arc of cloud
less sky.
He was there: Crittenden, the man
she loved. the man who loved her.
She knew. OF course. of his escape,
Alarmed by the sounds Of contention and
combat on the foredeelS, she had reused
out Of a daEe of wretchedness long
enough to listen to Rhodes, account de-
livered to madame at the port of the
latters stateroom of Crittenden's as
sault on Claret IN the dining saloon and
his subsequent attempt to confound the
plans OF the .conspirators by means of
wireless; of his failure-according to
Thurlow. who nonchalantly explained
how. Instead of tuning his instruments
to the pitch requisite for communication
with Key West. he had actually sent out
the message Cat the pistols point o,er
an area of very limited radius; of Chit
tenden's immediate discovery and, fight
for freedom resulting in the disablement
OF Claret and in his own escape appar-
emily unscathed. HE got away clean"
Rhode had asserted. II was watchin
with the glasses 1 could see him plain.
in the moonlight. swimmin ashore and
wadin' up to the beach. He's all right
damn him.
And again. for minutes at a time
Cynthia would sit lost in dull misery of
meditation; motionless, some dainty gar
ment dangling from her idle fingers; her
knees crossed. a trihing satin bedroom
slipper hanging from the slim foot in its
silken casing; elbow on knee, chin in
hand. eyes-theh brown loneliness en-
HANGED by faint shades of blue round the
lower. -lids--pr0bing insistently the in
finite -dreariness of parting and renuncia-
ton, of life made up of days unlighted
by the light of his smile and the sweet
ness of his spresence-the presence of the
man she. might not love or even dwell
upon in longing thought. the man who
bad no right to dream of loving her.
Yet she was fully dressed when. even
tually, Madame Savaran surprised her
M like apathy of reverie, opening the
communicating door with her character
istic vigorous readiness sharp upon her
warning knock.
My dear-g' began that virile lady
with the vivacfty of her habitual early
morning manner. And then, in swift
sympathy. she paused.
Cynthia, dear, said she in a softened
voices touched by the girls wan attempt
TO smile as sheN rose and turned.
TChild.Y she said with a hint Of ready
arms and bosom warm with comfort.
SIS there anything can do for your
Slowly. her lips compressed, Cynthia
shook Der head. 9No,". she said. her
tone lifeless. Il am all right !. /. thank
you
You haven't been able to sleep 1 can
see that This Internal racket =.
shall speak to George Rhode about it."
mo" said Cynthia again; II have
slept-but not well. I was too tired.
presume I don't feel rested yet.
She forced a semblanee of animation.
stirring about to set her room to rights
before going below for breakfast. But
madame was not to be deceived.
Cynthia" she insisted in her more
tender tone. ARE you sure you've moth
ing to tell me2'
TO tell you, madame No" Cynthia
essayed- an unconvincing look of sur
prise. II required admirable dissimula-
ton indeed to bafie that kindly.s sympa-
thetic and crafty scrutiny. Il am only
tired" she faltered. @
Tell that to the marinesi' commented
the old lady vigorously. TITS no good
trying to deceive a woman of my age,
child. / know very well that something's
radically wrong with you" She perked
her head to one side. critically. subject
ing Cynthia to an intelligent but merci-
less summing up. 1.-THE way you looked
when you came back from Crittenden
this morning-as if you'd been beaten
with stick; and now-youre pale. there
are rings beneath your pretty eyes;
you'd have been crying if you weren't
made Of sterner stuff land mores the
pity! What are brains and spirit doing
in company with such beauty. I'D like
70 know It's not human Mark my
words your be sorry for il; it's fairly
hying in the face of Nature: and punish
ment's bound to follow that. But II it's
Just that Crittenden-"
II Continued in Next rssue)