The Washington herald., 1914-09-06

nerS. Inc girl mad already established
. little court, as was usual with her
wherever she went The man had not
yet appeared.
He came just as the deck-steward ap-
peared with the afternoon tea. He was
tall and pale, with dark, deep-set eyes
and sensitive mouth, notwithstanding
its straight, firm lines. His features
were hard and cleanly cut, his clothes
hung loosely about him, as if his gaunt-
ness were merely the temporary result
OF some recent illness. He stepped from
the gangway out on to the deck with
some hesitation; but once there, he swept
the deck with a keen, masterful glance.
A lurch of the steamer threw him
against the side of a chair. He calmly
seated himself in it and commenced to
look bored
The chair was next to the girls. but
he did not appear to notice the fact. Sew
eral Of the young men who were in at
tendance upon her had coveted that
, chair, but in vain. The girl, however,
made no remark at this act of calm ap-
preparation. 1t was left for his serv-
ant, who appeared a few minutes later
with rugs and small library of books,
to point out to him that he was a tres
passer.
81 beg your pardon. sir" he said, but
l don't think that this is your chair"
The man looked annoyed.
1T will do he said shortly. 'un-
less" he added, turning to the girl, 1t
belongs to one of your friends"
The girl smiled upon him pleasantly.
1t is my aunt's chair" she said; but
| think that you may safely occupy it
for the present, :, any rate. She will
not be on deck this afternoon
The young man raised his cap, but he
seemed curiously bereft OF words. His
thanks were barely articulate, and if it
were possible for him to have become
palcr he certainly did so. His long,
white hands clutched nervously at the
rug which covered his knees. Every
now and then he cautiously studied the
girls profile Under his breath he
groaned to himself
This is the beginning What a fool
am! What fool have been"
There was change also in the girl
Her high spirits seemed to have desert
cd her Her laughter was forced, the
>allies of her cavaliers failed to amuse
her. She, too, was apparently conscious
of the sudden approach of tragedy. One
by one her attendants deserted her Soon
She was alone with the man.
They did not begin to talk at once.
They both seemed interested in the
tumbIcd gray waste OF waters through
which the steamer was blowing her
way. But presently her rug slipped, and
>hc felt it replaced with firm, skillful
fingers. She thanked him-almo>t shyly
iCr hcr-and they began to talk
Their conversation took its tedious
hut necessary course through the desert
of the commonplace, but long before the
dinner bell rang the probationary period
WAS past. He had learned that she was
York society papers loved to allude as
the prototype OF the modern American
Young woman OF fashion. She was
tired OF Newport and Lenox, and, al
though she did not tell him so. she was
tired also of being ceaselessly impor-
tuned to marry one or another of a |
coodly number of eager young men. She
was an orphan and her own mistress.
In a moment of inspiration she had |
planned this flight, a Continental tour
among the unvisitcd places of Europe, |
with an elderly aunt of purely negative
tendencies. She Was very enthusiastic |
over her escape.
You can't imagine how it feels" she |
told him. as they leaned over the rail !
together to watch a shoal of porpoises. |
TO he really free from it all for a month |
or two, at any rate. We're too much in
NdI uGSl ONSI Oul plCdSulG VIC MAKE |
business of it, as we do everything else"
He looked at her with faint smile |
I'm glad to sec he said gravely, |
that you have emerged from the holo-
caust without any ineffaceable signs of
the struggle"
She laughed good-humoredly.
oh! l know what you're thinking
she exclaimed; but it isn't in the face
alone one carries the marks of deteri-
Grafton"
Il suppose not" he answered thought
fully. Yet the face is wonderful m
dex."
She turned and surveyed him coolly.
you would trust your own impress
sions of a face, then? 1t would be suf-
fcient for you?'
Il think So he answered. Cor
roborative evidence would of course, be
reassuring."
But suppose the evidences-aIl ap-
pearances were against your impres-
sions, which should you rely upon ," she
persisted.