The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-01-26


aby relieved. "You, then, are Colonel
O'Rourke?"
He bowed. Terence O'Rourke,
madam, and at your service, believe
me-"
81 am very glad," she said slowly,
eyeing him deliberately, that, since
I had to be aided, it came through one
Of whom have heard so much"
Filth, Mrs. Prynne-!"
"And 1 thank you a second time,
very heartily!" She offered him her
hand, and smiled bewitchingly.
"'Tis embarrassing me ye are," he
protested. Path, to be thanked
twice for so slight service! I can
only wish that I might do nor"
ct is possible" she said, apparent
ly not in the least displeased by his
Presumption cit is possible that I
may take you at your word, Colonel
O'Rourke."
In her eyes, intent upo7 his, he
fancied that he recognized an amused
flicker, with, perhaps, trace of deep
er emotion: the kindling interest of a
woman in a strong man, with whose
signals ne was not unfamiliar. Pride
and his conceit stirred in his breast.
"'Twould be the delight Of me life,
he told her in an ecstasy.
Don't be too sure, I warn you,
colonel" Her manner was now arch,
her smile entirely charming. 1T might
be no light service I should require OF
you"
eye couldn't ask one too heavy.
But it's weary ye are, Mrs
Prynne?" he inquired, solicitous.
Very" There was in fact an in
definite modulation of WEAKNESS IN
her voice. "I'm only woman" she
said family, with a little gesture OF
depreciation; "and my ways are hedged
about with grave perils-"
"'Tis the O'Rourke would gladly
brave them all for ye, madam" he de
clared gallantly. command me-
! what ye will"
She lifted her gaze to his, colorlng
divinely there in the moon-glamor. He
looked into her curiously bewitching
eyes and saw there an appeal and
i strange little tender smile. Her heac
was so near his shoulder that he was
aware of the vague, alluring perfume
! of her hair. Her scarlet lips parted
And ne became suddenly aware
! that it behooved him to hold himsel
we'll in hand. It were an easy mat
ter to imagine himself swept off his
feet, into whirl of infatuation, with
little encouragement. And he wa:
not unsophisticated enough to fail tt
see that encouragement would not be
lacking if he chose to recognize it.
Faith" he told himself, I'm think
ing 'twould be wiser for me to take
to me heels and run before :
He was spared the ignominious ne
cessity of flight. In two breaths the!
showed two very different pictures
Now they stood alone on the deat
| Wu1IS GSCh, d1OuS WILL lAC AAS"e' 49,
sea, the stars, the silence and th'
moonlight: O'Rourke a bit dismayet
and wary, but as curious as any NAL
I in such a case; the woman apparent
ly yielding to a sudden fascination TO
him, swaying little toward him a
If inviting the refuge Of his arms.
And now she started away
clutching at her heart, with a llttl
choking cry of alarm; while beneatl
them the vessel was still qui7erln
with harsh yet deadened detonatlo
like an explosion, together with
grinding crash and shrek Of rive!
steel somewhere deep in the hold.
Inexpressibly dismayed, they stare
with wide and questioning eyes at on
another, through long minute file
with an indescribable uproar: a succes
sion of shocks and thumps in the II
terror of the vessel gradually dinl1
ishing in severity while, IN panoe
monium of clamorous voices, the line1
like stricken thing, hesitated IN 1t
southwark surge, then slowly hmpe
into a dead halt on the face OF tn
| waters.