The Washington times., 1913-07-13
CHAPTER IX-Continued.
y WILL not get better-I know"
said the Shanghai woman pres
entity 1T is pneumonia again


said the Shanghai woman pres,
i i entity" 1T is pneumonia again
. the women Of the lighted house
quickly. clutching at her breasts. Il
am like fire..and lead in here! Oh! God.
! II Is SO hard to breather'
Can't / think of something to do for
you?.
Only hold me-tust this way" and
she sank san I IN Emily.s lap again. Il
very kind. You were made for-for the
| mother Of men-stronK men-like my
| captain out there. No; do not draw
away from me. You would trust him
II You could have seen him-him and
that Chang-that night in Shanghai.
everybody-but the women-the toys
from behind the green jealousies.
l. Ask Chans-he-he will tell you.
They picked US out-of the dark river.
Its very dark now. isn't it? Very
daTk- Her whispers trailed away In
take a drink Of water, but she would
not open her lips. "wili you say Our
Our Father" Her voice failed, but
Emily understood what she wanted and
repeated the Lords prayer slowly. She
sensed tnat tne other woman's lips were
moving dumbly after hers.
ASK him-my captain-please, II he
will speak to mo-" Elsie murmured.
after long silence.
Emily heard a movement aft and.
pushing back the rug. saw Chang re-
Ievins Layeile at the helm, The dawn
was Just pinking the sky.
Layelle saw Emily beckonine and
erept forward. He took the hand which
Elsie held out to him, and its pulse
nashed to him what she must be suf-
fermg ana an that she had suffered un-
0INr NRtv
was sweating on her brow.
I'm going away-going home Elsie
whispered. will you hold" She
glanced over his shoulder and a look
OF awe came into her face. "The dawn"
she said very clearly.
Lavelle got behind her and lifted her
body trto sitting posture.
isn't 1t wonderful?' she asked. look
ing toward Emily and then up into La
velle's face. She found his hand again.
which she had lost. He nodded "I am
not afraid to die, I've learned last night
Il learned from you-to smile at death.
saw you on the deck of the ship. i
am glad-yes. glad
marvellous smile lighted her face
The marks of her hard years sped
from 1t forever in the glow of new
day which suffused the sea and sky
with the spirit of the infinite mystery
this waif Of life was on the threshold
of solving.
'"Our Father, who" she whispered,
Then, starting suddenly from Lavelle's
clasp. she put out her hands to the
called ecstaticaily. "Moth-"
Elsie Of Shanghai fell back in La !
velle's arms with q sigh of peace part I
ing her lips in a smile. Emily looked |
up at Lavelle and, as he turned away !
quickly. the pent-up misery and loneli,
tears. The sobs which she could not !
choke back aroused the Sleepers for
ward. Death had come and soul had 4
sped SO quietly that 1t had not dis |
turbed their slumbers- !
held Layelle just laying the burden out |
Of his arms along the fore-and-aft seat
near Chang. The helmsman might have
been an image. The Chinese sailors
arising from the bottom Of the boat
were seized Immediately bv the awe Of
the mystery that had so swiftly come
among them. They huddled together
on their launches, muttering over some
held In common. !
Emily followed Lavelle and sat at
the feet Of the shell Of clay. smooth
ing down the bedraggled dress over
the delicate ankles and feet.
''I-you Observation-Disclosures we
can't find words" he said to her gent
Nothing ne could have said would
tleness. the kindness. the comprehen-
sion OF this man were battering a
breach in the barriers Of her terror
and hatred Of him. Falling on her
knees beside Elsie's body. she prayed
for strength and fortitude and for
bearance.
Emily started up amid a silence
broken only by the breeze and the
boat snoring away before II. Lavelle
was sitting opposite, his gaze upon
her. She sensed in the faces Of Chang
pectancy. Lavelle stood up and hand
ed her into his seat.
One Of the Cinnamon crawled aft
and passed Lavalle a piece of rope and
the iron block which had been left in
the bow Of the boat when Chank cut
thefall away. Lavelle turned so that
what he did with these things was
hidden from Emily's sight but she un-
ierstood. As he faced her again she
saw that the block was fastened to
Elsies ankles although he had en-
to hide II beneath the silken
gown.
''Do ycu kuow-would you wish to
'ay prayer. Miss Granville? he
Ernily stood UP and met his gaze.
lc expected something of her and she =
vas helpless
II know only the simple prayers Of
he sea-" Lavelle added. With that
emily found her voice.
"She-she would want you to say
hose-and so would Lift" Her eyes
losed and as from a great distance
IL