The enterprise., 1915-11-18


very shallow and is ful, of oysters
"And al for this storm Of which you
speak. ladies'" I added us I poured Il
would there might come every day az
III wind II It would blow me as great
good a. yourselves for luncheon.
Yes" said LOlonnois brightly. you
might blow In oncet In awhile and see
US fellers. ! told Black Bart that cap
tives"- But here 1 kicked Jimmy un'
der the table. Poor chap. what With
his Auntie Helena,s hand at one ex-
tremity and my boot at the other ne
was strained IN his conversation ana.
in disgust. Joined Jean LATTE in COM
plete silence and oysters.
Really" and Helena raised her eyes.
isn't it growing colder7"
Jean. close the port behind Miss
Emory" said I. It was plain enough
to my mind that blue norther was
breaking. with its swift drop in tenn
perature and its possibly high wind
THE tables acting funny" comment
ed Jean Laftte presently. He had new
er been at sea before.
"Yes." said Aunt Lucinda. with very
tnuch-too much-dignity. "1f you all
will please excuse me. think l shall
30 back to the cabin. Helena"
Go with Mrs. Daniver at once. jim
N.Y." said to L'Olonnois.
AYE. aye. STRIP saluted he joyously.
and added aside as he passed me.
Hope the old girls going to be good
and sick!''
| could see Peterson standing near
the saloons door and bethought me to
send Jean Latitte up to aid Eim III
making all shipshape. We were begin.
ming to roll. and | missed the smooth
thrust of both our propellers. although
now the engines were purring smooth.
ly enough. Thus by mere chance
found myself alone with Helena.
put out a hand to steady her as she
rose.
lis it really going to be bad?" she
inquired anxiously. "Auntde gets 50
sick"
1T will he rough for three hours
yet" admitted ~She's not so big as
the Mauretania. but as we'll built for
her tonnage You couldn't pound her
apart no matter what came. She's
oak and cedar. through and through.
and every point
you've studied her well since you
since you came aboardT'
"Yes, yes. to be sure I have. And
she's worth her name. Don't you think
it was mighty fine of-of Mr.. David
son to name her after you-the Belle
HeleneT'
HE never did. IL he had. whyT'
Don't ask such questions. with the
glass falling as it is" said, pulling
up the racks to restrain the dancing
tumblers
"Oh. don't joke" she said "Harry!"
Yes. Helena" said L
I'm afraid"
"Whyy" ,sA f.S~.
II don't know. But we seem so little
and the sea SO big. And it's getting
black and the fog is coming. Look-
you can't see the shore line any more
now!'
1t was as she said. The swift bank
Of vapor had blotted out the low Tying
shores entirely. We sailed now in {
narrowing circle OF mist saw thiI
points of moisture on the port lights
And now ! began to close the ports.
There is danger!' she reiterated.
"All horses can run away, all autI
cars can blow up, all boats can sink
But we have as good charts and com
passes as the Mauretania and in thre,
hours
But much can happen in thre
hours"
Much has happened in less time. |
did not take me so long as that t.
love you. Helena, and that have no
forgotten in more than five years-fiv
years, Helena. And. as to shtpwreck
what does one more matter? 1t is yo
who have made shipwreck Of man
life. Take shame for that"
'Take shame yourself to talk in thi
way to me when | am helpless, whel
| can't get away. when I'm trouble'
and frightened half to death" Sh
sobbed. choking little. but her hea'
high. LET me out! I'm going t
Auntie Lucinda. hate you more an
} more. 1t were to drown I'd not tax
aid from you"
do you mean that, Helena?' ! ask
I'd. more than the chill OF the northe
: in my blood
"Yes, mean it. You are coward!
+ stood for quite time between he
e and the companion stair, my hand sti
offering aid as she swayed in the boat
9 roll now. was thinking. and wa
very sad
9 "Helena." said /, perhaps you hav
won. That's hard word to take frol
] man or woman. If it Is In any wa
), true you have won and have lost an
e deserved to lose. But now, since litt
|. else remains. let me arrange matter
D as simply as | can. I'll admit there
0 an element of risk in our situation