Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-07
CHAPTER XVI.

Deliberately like some strange clumsy.
grizzled creature, creeping across a plate
or polished cyanite) long oars lifting and
dipping I'm slow rhythm, the IfeboaS
crawled over the stretch OF sun and sky
stained waters that lay, within the cir
cling arms of the cay, as still as glass.
only casually fiawed by fugitive breaths
of air-offshooting currents from the
sweeping wind that whipped the outer
main.
From the edge OF the painted beach,
where the shadows OF wind-swayed TO-
liage maculated the glowing sands with
shifting shapes of mauve Crittenden, for
lorn and desperate Of air and plight alike,
watched the boat as it moved away.
BY the rail Cynthia likewise watched.
apportioning her attention between the
two-the boat with its crew of outlaws,
the cay with its solitary victim OF a
malign and arbitrary prescription
Whether or not he saw her she was un-
able to determine at that distance; for
a long span he neither moved nor made
sign, but merely stood at gaze. his pose
proclaiming a deep. corroding desolation
of spirit no less than of circumstance
To this pass was he because of her: to
be deserted and abandoned by her as
well as by those against whom he had
pitted himself and all his strength and
wits and daring, in the hope of serving
her.
Bitterly she blamed herself, at her own
door laying all responsibility for this ex-
tremity that he was come to face II
she had not permitted him to turn aside
to do her a common Kindness. moved 10
pity by the evidences of distress she had
not sought to disguise from him-there
had been no subsequent propinquity. no
community of thought and interests, to
be the occasion of this devastating love
of theirs. If. when at length she learned
the name OF the passion that consumed
her. she had known the meaning OF reti-
cence or womanly reserve: IL she had not
been so keen TO share with him the Joy
of her discovery; If she had had the sim
pie delicacy TO hold her peace against "A
time more suitable, Crittenden had not
been driven to confession, and, there
after. to that pitch OF desperation which
had ended in this sentence Of exile.
Her lima gination, Spurred by a merci-
less conscience. limned his fate in vivid
colors. She saw him doomed to death I'm
life. saw the atoll as living tomb, its
smiling verdure but a grinning mask for
harsh and barren inhospitality. She fig
ured to her fancy the cycle of his days
sequestrate from that on which his
straining vision should see the last film
of smoke fade from the staring skies
through those in which hope must per-
ish, TO that when madness should blunt
his sensibility to suffering. or death put
a period to this chapter OF crime, bru-
tally. horror and starvation. 80
Unconscious of exaggeration. denying
another side to the picture, she dashed
herself into a state Of semi-hysteric con-
sternation and contrition, the while she
stood without culver, eyes spellbound
by the fascination of that lonely and be-
loved figure.
At length-still with that puzzling stiff
ness of carriage-he turned and slowly
moved away into the shadows
Smitten unreasonably with q panic pre-
monition that she had looked her last
upon him, Cynthia started and barely
restrained a cry. A fit of trembling
seized her, strong that she was glad
there was none by to see. And then she
Gained, suddenly discovering that the
lifeboat had been drawn close in under
the vessels side.
Go be continued tomorrow