The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-10-09


vanity that was without aim or direc-
ton Farthest from her thought was
conquest OF the man. She did not wish
to hurt him. She was not a coquette.
After dinner he did not suggest the
usual promenade. Instead, he excused
himself and went below.
They arrived at Penang early Mon
day morning. Elsa decided that War
rimgton should take her and Martha on
a personally conducted tour of the
pretty town. AS they left for shore he
produced a small beautiful blue feath
Ell; he gave it to Elsa with the compli-
ments of Rajah; and she stuck it in
the pugree Of her helmet
This is not from the dove Of peace"
Its archenemy, rather" he laughed
Il wish | had the ability TO get as
furious as that bird. 1t might do me
a world of good"
And how long is it since you were
here?"
-Four years." he answered without
enthusiasm. He would not have come
ashore at all but for the fact that Elsa
had ordered the expedition.
There was no inclination to explore
the shops; SO they hired landau and
rode about town, climbed up to the
quaint temple in the hills, and made
tour CT the botanical gardens.
Isn't it delicious." murmured Elsa
taking in deep breaths of the warm
spice-laden air. Since her visit to the
wonderful gardens at Handy in Cey-
Ion she had found a new interest in
plants and trees.
She thoroughly enjoyed the few
hours on land, even to the poWwoW
Warrington had with the INSCRIPTIONS
driver. who, at the journeys end. sub
stituted one price for another. despite
his original bargain.
AS they waited for the tender that
was to convey them back to the ship.
Elsa observed a powerful middle-aged
man, gray-haired. hawk-faced, steel
eyed. watching her companion intent
ly. Then his boring gaze travelled over
her, from her canvas shoes to her he'll
NIT IHtlt was oOIuctHiHS ~ beiNiy
appraising in the look that a flush of
anger surged into her checks. The
man turned and said something to his
companion, who shrugged and smiled.
lmpatiently Elsa tugged at Warning
tons sleeve
'Who is that man over there by the
railing?" she asked in a very low voice
He looks as if he knew you"
Knew me?" Warrington echoed.
The moment he had been dreading had
come. Someone who knew him! He
turned his head slowly. and Elsa, who
had not dropped her hand, could feel
the muscles of his arm stiffen under
the sleeve. He held the strangers eye
defiantly for space. The latter
laughed insolently if silently. 1t was
more for Elsa S sake than for his own
that Warrington allowed the other to
stare him down. The flame passed,
leaving him as cold as ashes. Il shall
tell you who he is later; not here"
For the second time since that night
on the Irrawaddy, Elsa recorded a dis
agreeable sensation. 1t proved to be
transitory, but at the time it served to
establish stronger doubt in regard to
her independence, so justifiable in her
own eyes. 1t might be insidiously lead
ing her too far away from the step
ping-off place The unspoken words in
those hateful eyes! The man knew
Warrington, knew him perhaps as a
malefactor, and judged his associates
accordingly. She thus readily saw the
place she occupied in the mans esti-
nation. She experienced a SILVER of
dread as she observed that he stepped
on board the tender She even heard
him call back to his friend to expect
him in from Singapore during the Sec
ond week in March. But the dread
went away. and pride and anger grew
instead All the way back to the shin
she held her chin in the air, and from
time to time her nostrils dilated. That
look. If she had been nearer she was
certain that she would have struck
him across the face.
There will be no one up in the
bow" said Warrington. will you 60
up there with me?''
After a moments hesitation, she
nodded A moment after she felt the
old familiar throb under her feet, and
the ship moved slowly out of the bay.
DO you know that that man came
aboard?"
Il know it." The wide half-circle of
cocoanut palms grew denser and lower
as they drew away. This is the story.
It's got to be told. should have
avoided it if it had been possible. He
is the owner of the plantation. Oh,
rather expected something like this
It's my run of luck. was just recov.
ering from the fever. God knows how