Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-06-16

her that she was d1mly afraid OF the
| stranger. Her glance fell upon the
mandarin's ring. She twirled it round
undecidedly. Should she wear it or
put it away? The question remained
suspended. She saw Craig coming
aboard and she hid her face behind
her magazine. Upon second thought
she let the magazine fall She was
quite confident that that chapter was
closed. Craig might be scoundrel,
but he was no fool
A sharp blast from the tenders
whistle drew her attention to the
gangplank. The last man to come
aboard was Warrington. He 1mhedi-
ately sought James; and they stood
together chatting until the tender drew
up alongside the steamer of the Brit
ish-India line. The two men shook
hands finally, Warrington added
friendly tap on the Eurasian's Shout
der. No one would have suspected
that the white man and his dark COM
panion had been "shipmates," in good
times and in bad, for nearly decade.
Elsa, watching them from her secure
The dignity of the parting told her Of
the depth of feeling.
An hour later they were heading for
| the delta.
Elsa amused herself by casting bits
of bread to the gulls. Always they
caught it on the wing, no matter in
| what direction she threw it. Some
times one would wing up to her very
hand for charity, it's coral feet
stretched out to meet the quick back
play of the wings, its cry shallow and
plaintive and world-lonely.
Suddenly she became aware of q
presence at her side.
A voice said: cit was not quite
fair Of you"
What wasn't?" without turning her
head. She brushed her hands free Of
the crumbs.
you should have let me know that
you were going to sail on this boat"
"You would have run away, then"
"Why?" startled at her insight.
Because you are little afraid Of
me-" She faced him, without smile
either on her lips or in her eyes.
Aren't your"
Eyes. am afraid of all things do
not quite understand"
There is not the least need in the
world, Mr.. Warrington. I am quite
harmless. My claws have been clipped.
I am engaged to be married, and am
going home to decide the day."
Hes lucky man" He was aston
ished at his calm. for the blow went
deep.
Lucky? That Is in the future. What
a lonely thing gull isl"
What lonely thing a lonely man
isl" he added. Poor fool! To have
dreamed SO fair dream for single
moment! He tried to believe that he
was glad that she had told him about
the other man. The least this infor-
nation could DO would be to give him
better control Of himself. He had not
been out In the open long enough en-
tirely to master his feelings
Men ought not to be lonely" she
said. There's the excitement of
work, Of ming1ing with crowds, Of go.
ing when and where one pleases.
Woman's lot is wondering and wait
ing at home. When I marry I sup
pose that shall learn the truth Of
that
Perhaps it was because he had been
away from them SO long and had lost
track of the moods Of the feminine
mind; but surely it could not be pos
sible that there was real happiness in
this young woman's heart. It's evi.
} dence was lacking in her voice, in her
face, in her gestures. He thought II
over with sigh. He felt sorry for the
girl, sorry for the man; for it was not
possible that a girl like this one would
go through life without experiencing
that flash of insanity that is called the
grand passion
He loved her. He could lean against
the rail, his shoulder lightly touching
7 hers, and calmly say to himself thai
he loved her. He could calmly per
nit her to pass out of his life as {
cloud passes down the sea-rim. He
hadn't enough, but this evil must be
: fall him. Love! He spread out hi:
: hands unconsciously.
what does that mean?" she asked
, smiling now. can invocation?"
Its a sign to ward off evil" he re
turned.
Are you expecting evil?"
. II am always preparing myself t,
meet it. There is one thing that will
: always puzzle me. Why should 20,
n have asked the purser to pick out sucl
p a tramp as was? For was tramp.
t i thought explained that"
d mot clearly"
g well, then, shall make myself
{ clear. The sight Of you upon tina
|. bank, the lights in your face, strucl
l. me as the strangest mystery tina
It could possibly confront me. I though