Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1915-05-27
CHAPTER lV-continued.

CHAPTER lV-Continued.
Warrington rushed ashore to find
the dry-goods shop. His social redemp'
tion was on the way, II vanity went
for anything. 1t was stirring and
tingling with life again. With the
money advanced by the purser he
bought shirts and collars and ties, and
as he possessed no watch, returned
barely in time to dress for dinner. He
was not at all disturbed to learn that
the inqusitive German, the colonel
and his fdgety charges, had decided
to proceed to Rangoon by rail lndeed,
there was bit of exultation in his
manner as he observed the vacant
chairs. Paradise for two whole days.
And he proposed to make the most
OF 1t. Now his mind was as clear OF
evil as forest spring. He simply
wanted to play; wanted to give rein
to the lighter emotions so long pent
up in his lonely heart.
The purser, used to these sudden
changes and assertions in his passen-
ger lists, gave the situation no
thought. But Elsa saw mild danger,
all the more alluring because 1t hung
nebulously What harm could there
be in having a little fling? He was
so amazingly like outwardly, so aston.
ishingly unlike inwardly, that the stu
alton had for her a subtle fascination
against which she was in nowise In.
clined to fight. She was not wholly
ignorant Of her power She could bend
the man II she tried. Should she try?
They were like two children, setting
out to play game with fire.
She thought of Arthur. Had he gone
the length of his thirty-fve years with
out his peccadillos? Scarcely. She
understood the general run OF men
well enough to accept this fact. Whom
ever she married she was never going
to worry him with questions regarding
his bachelor life. Nor did she pro.
pose to be questioned about her own
past. Besides, she hadn't married Ar.
thur yet; she had only promised to
And such promises we're sometimes
sensibly broken. These thoughts
flashed through her mind, disconnect
eddy, while she talked and laughed.
1t never occurred to her to have Mar
tina moved up from the foot of the
table. Once or twice she stole a glance
at the woman who had in the olden
days handled her on her knees. The
glance was a mixture of guilt and
mischief, like child's. But the glance
had not the power to attract Martha s
eyes. Martha felt the glances as
surely as If she had lifted her eyes tC
meet them. She held her peace. She
had not been brought along as Elsa's
guardian Elsa was not self-willed blu
strong willed, and Martha realized tha
airy interference would result in es
arrangement. In fact, Martha behelC
in Warrington real menace. The ex
traordinary resemblance would natu
rally appeal to Elsa, with what result
she could only imagine. Later sh
asked Elsa II she had told Warrington
OF the remarkable resemblance.
Mercy no! And what is more,
do not want him to know. Men ar
vain as a rule; and should not lik
to hurt his vanity by telling him tina
! sought his acquaintance simply b,
cause he might easily have been Al
thur Ellison's twin brother"
"The man you are engaged to marry
well. Martha?"
Il beg your pardon. Elsa; but th
stranger terriies me. He is som
thing uncanny."
Nonsense! You've been readir
tales about yogi"
1T IL a terrible country"
at is the East, Martha. the Eas
Here a man may wear a dress gu
and a bowler without offending an
one"
"And a woman may talk to anyol
she pleases."
"You have been with me TWEEN
years." began Elsa coldly.
"And love you better than the who
world! And wish could guard y
always from harm and evil. Tho
horrid old Englshwomen :"
"Oh; 90 there's been gossip alread
You know my views regarding goss
10 larR a. l know that I am dol