Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-03-07
CHAPTER XII.
seeInq the Rainbow.

Seeing the Rainbow.
A few days on a yacht, with a calm
sea and suncooled weather. may De
something like century of bliss Tor
a pair of lovers. II they happen TO
have taken the lucky hour. The con-
ventions of yacht life allow COM
panionship from dawn till dark. II
they choose to have it; there Is
limited amount of outside distraction;
IL the girl be an outdoor lass. she
looks all the sweeter for the wind
rumpling her hair; and on shipboard'
If 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 OF 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
solitude deux with Melanie.
They could not have had 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 a hearty
admirer, II not a suitor 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 happiness in 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 1t, 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 a
quiet pleasure. none that were heavy
or uneasy.
II Alexis outer man prospered in
this unexpected excursion, 1t can
only be said that his spiritual self
fiowered with new and hitherto un-
known beauty. 1t was late flower
ing. possibly-though what are thirty
four years to lnhnity!-but there was
in It a richness and delicacy which
was its own distinction and won its
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 Aleck to the center of
his being. He was not niggardly by
nature; and had he given stintingly
of his affection to 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. 1t was
because he had been the dupe of his
theories; he had forsworn gallantry
toward women, and had unwittingly
,,Ot acido pf faction alcn