The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1912-02-06

lug request so unaccOuntable to
you
"But-but-Mrs. Prynne-!"
On, you know me them" she inter-
rupted sharply. And her look was
curious and intent.
I-us-faith!" O'Rourke stammer-
ed. He felt his face burn. "Me valet
told me" he confessed miserably.
lis a bit of Irritation he's been hav-
ing with your maid, Cecile, 1 believe,
madam"
"Ah, yes" She seemed unaccount-
ably relieved. "You, then, are Colonel
O'Rourke?"
He bowed. Terence ORourke,
madam, and at your service, believe
me-"
Il am very glad" she said slowly,
cycling him deliberately, ''that, since
l had to be aided, it came through one
OF whom L have heard so much"
Faith, Mrs. Prynne-!"
And thank you a second time,
very heartily" She offered him her
hand, and smiled bewitchingly.
"'Tis embarrassing me We are" he
protested. Faith, to be thanked
twice for so slight service, l can
only wish that 1 might do more
''It is possible" she said, apparent
ly not in the least displeased by his
presumption "It is possible that |
! may take you at your word, Colonel
O'Rourke.'
In her eyes, intent upon his, he
fancied that he recognized an amused
flicker, with, perhaps, a trace of deep
er emotion: the kindling interest of a
woman in strong man, with whose
signals he was not unfamiliar Pride
F, 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 ''It might
be no light service should require of
YOU"
Eye couldn't ask one too heavy.
But it's weary We are, Mrs
Prynne?" he inquired, solicitous.
Very" There was in fact an in
definite meditation of WEAKNESS in
| her voice. I'm only a woman" she
said family, with a little gesture of
| depreciation; 'and my ways are hedged
! about with grave perils-"
IT'S the O'Rourke would gladly
brave them all for ye, madam" he de.
clared CALAMITY. Command me
what We will"
She lifted her gaze to his, coloring
divinely there in the moon-glamor He
looked into her curiously bewitching
eyes and saw there an appeal and a
strange little tender smile. Her head
was Sc near his shoulder that he was
aware OF the vague, alluring perfume
Of her hair. Her scarlet lips parted
And he became suddenly aware
that it behooved him to hold himself
well in hand. 1t were All easy mat
ter to imagine himself swept off his
| feet, into a whirl of infatuation, with
little encouragement. And he was
not unsophisticated enough to fail to
see that encouragement would not be
lacking if he chose to recognize it.
Faith" he told himself, I'm think.
ing 'twou1d be wiser for me to take
to me heels and run before -
He was spared the ignominious ne
cessity of flight. In two breaths they
showed two very different pictures.
| Now they stood alone on the dead
| white deck, alone with the night, the
| sea, the stars, the silence and the
moonlight: O'Rourke a bit dismayed
| and wary, but as curious as any man
in such a case; the woman apparent
| ly yielding to a sudden fascination for
| him, swaying a little toward him as
if inviting the refuge of his arms.
And now she started away,
clutching at her heart, with little
! choking cry of alarm; while beneath
them the vessel was still quivering
with harsh yet deadened defamation
like an explosion, together with a
| grinding crash and shrek Of riven
steel somewhere deep in the hold.
Inexpressibly dismayed, they stared
with wide and questioning eyes at one
| another, through long minute filled
with an indescribable uproar: success
| sion of shocks and thumps in the in
terror of the vessel gradually dimin
fishing in severity while, in pande
monium of clamorous voices, the liner
like a stricken thing, hesitated in its
southwark surge, then slowly limpeo
into a dead halt on the face of the