The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1913-01-22
Tho
Stolen
Singer
by Martha BeIlinger
CHAPTER XII.
seeino the Rainbow.

sea and suncooled weather, may be
something like a century of bliss for
a pair of lovers, IL they happen to
have taken the lucky hour. The con-
ventions of yacht life allow COM
partnership from dawn TIL dark, II
they choose to have it, there is
limited amount of outside distraction;
II the girl be an outdoor lass, she
looks all the sweeter for the wind
rumpling her hair; and on shipboard'
II anywhere. mental resourcefulness
and good temper achieve their full re-
ward
Aleck had been more crafty than
he knew when he carried Melanie and
Madame Reynier off on the Sea Gull.
Almost at the last moment Mr. Cham
berlain had joined them, Alexis lik'
ing for the man and his instinct OF
hospitality overcoming his desire for
something as near as possible to a
solitude a deux with Melanie.
They could not have had a better
companion. Mr.. Chamberlain was
nothing less than perfect in his posi-
ton as companion and guest. He en-
joyed Madame Reynier's grand Ouch
ess manners. and spared himself no
trouble to entertain both Madame Rey-
nier and Melanie. He was hearty
admirer, If not a sutton of the young
er woman; but certain 1t was, that, II
he ever had entertained personal
hopes in regard to her, he buried
them in the depths of his heart by
the end of their first day on the Sea
Gull. He understood Alexis position
with regard to Melanie without being
told, and instantly brought all his 10y
atty and courtesy into his friends
service.
Madame Reynier had an interest in
seeing the smaller towns and cities of
America; something besides the
show places" she said So they made
visits ashore here and there, though
not many. AS they grew to feel more
at home on the yacht, the more re-
luctant they were to spend their time
on land. Why have dust and noise
and elbowing people, when they
might be cutting through the blue
waters with the wind fresh in their
faces? The weather was perfect; the
thrall Of the sea was upon them.
The roses came into Melanie's
cheeks and she forgot all about the
professional advice which she had
been at such pains to procure in New
York There was happinessAin her
eyes when she looked on her lover,
even though she had repulsed him.
AS for Mr.. Chamberlain, he breathed
the very air of content. Madame Rey-
nier, with her inscrutable grand man.
ner confessed that she had never be-
fore been able precisely to locate Bos-
ton, and now that she had seen it, she
felt much better Even Alexis lean
bulk seemed to expand and flourish
in the atmosphere Of happiness about
him. His sudden venture was a sue
cess, beyond a doubt The party had
merry hours, many others full of
quiet pleasure, none that were heavy
or uneasy.
II Alexis outer man prospered in
this unexpected excursion, it can
only be said that his spiritual self
lowered with new and hitherto un-
known beauty. 1t was a late flower
ing, possibly-though what are thirty
four years to Infinity?-but there was
in II richness and delicacy which
was it's own distinction and won it's
own reward.
Melanie's words, spoken in their
long interview in the New York home,
had contained an element of truth.
There was a poignant sincerity in her
saying, "You DO not love me enough"
which touched Alecli to the center of
his being. He was not niggardly by
nature; and had he given stintingly
of his affection 10 this woman who
was to him the best? His whole ma
ture shrank from such a role, even
while he dimly perceived that he had
been guilty of acting it. If he had
been small in his gift of love, It was
because he had been the dupe OF his
theories he had forsworn gallantry
toward women, and had unwittingly
cast aside warmth of affection also.
But such a condition was, after all,
more apparent than real In his heart
Aleck knew that he did love Melanie
enough" however much that might
be. He loved her enough to want,
not only and not mainly what she
could give to him; but he wanted the
happiness of caring for her cherish
ing her. rewarding her faith with his
own. She had not seen that, and II
was his problem to make her see II.
There was only one way. And SO, in
forgetting himself. forgetting his
wants, his comforts, his studies and
his masculine will-herein was the
poisoning Of Alexis soul.
MeIanie instlnctiyely felt the sub
tie change, and knew in her heart
that Aleck had won the day, though
she still treated their engagement as
an open question. Aleck would read
TO her in his simple. unaffected man