Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-25
CHAPTER VII.
Condolences.

CHAPTEH VII.
Condolences.
That night Martha wrote letter.
During the writing Of it she jumped
at every sound; a footstep in the hall,
the shutting of door, a voice calling
In the street. And yet, Martha was
guilty of performing only what she
considered to be her bounden duty.
Ny Dear Mr.. Arthur: I do not
know what to make of it. His likeness to
you is the most unheard of thing. He is
| little bigger and broader and he wears
his beard longer. That's all the differ
ence. When he came on the boat that
night. 1t was like a hand clutching at my
throat. And you know how romantic
Elsa is, for all she believes she is prosaic.
! am certain that she sees you in this
stranger who calls himself Warrington.
If only you had had the foresight to fol-
low us, a sailing or two later! And now
they'll be together for four or five days.
down to Singapore. I don't like 1t.
There's something uncanny In the thing.
What IL she did forbid you to follow?
There are some promises women like men
to break. You should have followed.
Neither Of US has the slightest idea.
what the man has done to exile himself
In this horrible land for ten years. He
still behaves himself like gentleman,
and he must, have been one in the past.
But he has never spoken Of his homo.
Of his past OF his people. We don't even
know that. Warrington is his name. And
you know that's q sign that something Is
wrong. wonder If you have any rela-
tives by the name Of Warrington? be-
gin to see that mans face IN my dreams
am worried. For Elsa is puzzle.
She has always been one to me. I have
been with her since her babyhood, and
yet know as little of what goes on in
her mind as stranger would. Her Ia
Their, you know. was soldier Of fierce
loves and hates; her mother was hand
some statue. Elsa has her fathers scorn
for convention and his independence,
clothed in her mothers impenetrabe
mask. Don't mistake me. Elsa Is the
most adorable creature to me. and wor-
ship her; but I worry about her. be-
lieve that it would be wise on your part
to meet US in San Francisco Give my
love and respect to your dear beautiful
mother. And marry Elsa as fast as ever
you can.
The day Of sailing was brilliant and
warm. Elsa sat in chair on the deck
Of the tender. watching the passengers
as they came aboard A large tourist
party hustled about, rummaged among
the heaps Of luggage, and shouted
questions at their unhappy conductor.
She saw Hooghly standing in the
bow. A steamer trunk, a kit-bag, bed.
ding-bag, and the inevitable parrot
cage, reposed at his feet. He was
watching without interest or excite.
ment the stream passing up and down
the gangplank. If his master came,
very we'll; il he did not, he would get
of with the luggage. How she would
have liked to question him regarding
his master! Elsa began to offer ex.
cuses for her interest in Warrington.
He was the counterpart Of Arthur Eli.
son. He had made his fortune against
odds. He was mystery. Why shouldn't
he interest her? Her mind was not
ice, nor was her heart stone. She
pitied him, always wondering what
was back Of 1t all. She would be in
Singapore; after that their paths would
widen and become lost in the future,
and she would forget all about him.
save in shadowy way. She would
marry Arthur whether she loved him
or not. She was certain that he loved
her. He was, besides, her own sort;
and there wasn't any mystery about
him at all. He was as clear to her as
glass. For nearly ten years she had
known him, since his and his mothers
arrival in the small pretty Kentucky
town. What was the use Of hunting
q fancy? Yes, she would marry Ar
thur. She was almost inclined to cable
him to meet her in San Francisco.
That there was real danger in her
interest in Warrington did not occur to
her. The fact that she was now will
ing to marry Arthur, without analyz-
ing the causes that had brought her
to this decision. should have warned
her that she was dimly afraid of the
stranger. Her glance fell upon the
mandarin's ring. She twirled it round
undoubtedly Should she wear It or
put 1t 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 tc come
aboard was Warrington. He immedi-
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 snook
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
nook, admired the lack Of effusiveness.
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, its coral feet
stretched out to meet the quick back.
play Of the wings, its cry shallow and