The Washington times., 1921-02-27

~ s@-~EF@
My lessons had ceased; Lorraine
was too much occupied with my
father In these days. to attend TO
me. She sat with him q great deal
In the glittering GOODNESS Of Perse-
phones Hall, and they seemed 20
talk for hours; sometimes. when !
came In from one of my long. aim
less rambies about the coral beach,
or up Parnassus. I would catch q
word or two as I entered. and II
seemed that they had been disput-
ing; sometimes Lorraine was SIT
ting still and attentive with note
book on her knee and pencil In
her hand, writing down things that
my father seemed to be telling.
They always stopped VIXEN ]
came In and my father always
greeted me with some cheerful.
Joking word. Whatever their con-
fidences were. It seemed clear that
was not to be admitted.
One day, when came IN tired
and somewhat dispirited. with q
bundle of lacy-white dead coral and
q huge petal-lipped trumpet shell
that l did not want at all. but had
picked up out OF sheer idleness. l
saw that Dinah was Just leaving
the hall and that old Mr.. Ivory,
whom had thought to be away
among the cocoanuts, had appar.
emily come out not q moment be-
fore.
Lorraine, when ] entered. was
rolling up a large sheet OF stih
paper and tying It round with tape.
There were ink and pens on the
table and q pepper-castor full OF
the fine sand that we used instead
OF biotting paper.
80 you see." father was saying.
"she Is not dependent on him in
any way; share and share alike Is
the-oh, Dara, my child, i did not
know you were there. Well, and
where has the walk been to-day"
~ went up Parnassus." an
swered him. Lorraine finished roll
ing and tying the paper.
"The chest in your study?" she
asked.
"Yes," said father. "Thank good
ness safes are superfiuous In this
house. Another advantage OF the
cave system. Well. grille, and
what did you see on Parnassus"
Nothing. No ships, father"
.You can't expect ships every
day. my child. And, you know. they
wouldn't bring Luke back II they
came"
II know they wouldn't. want to
see some ships. anyhow"
"Why?" asked father, looking at
me with that expression of specu-
lative interest that always silences
a sensitive child.
II don't know."I ] said. jumping
of. the table where / had taken my
seat and gathering my bunch OF
coral together.
'I shall give this to- Dinah; /
don't want It," said, marching out
OF the hall. / did not want to be
questioned any further about my
watch for ships.
Dinah was sitting under one OF
the big lamps that burned all day
in her kitchen reading the Bible.
She raised her eyes when came In.
II stood there purified when
they told me-" she stated.
Who?"
"I felt for all the world as II a
spectacle had rose from the tomb
and breathed cold upon my face.
said to Miss Lorraine"--
when? What about?"
"I said, Miss Lorraine said. I
am always at your service ! said,
day or night ] said. I devoted
myself Internally to the service OF
Mr.. Hamilton and YOURSELF | said,
when l came to these savage
places I said, 'and' -
what did she want?' I cried.
impatiently.
"She wanted" said Dinah, COM.
ing down to earth, "for me to sign
my name, in witness whereof, the
testator being Of sound mind. land
I done it."
"Has my father been making a
will?"
"a last will and-Sestament." said
Dinah, relishtngly.
is ne worse! dSkeu, my
breath coming suddenly short.
Dinah staunched her eyes with a
huge clean pocket handkerchief and
said nothing.
Its as Ill to see you cry as to see
a goose go barefoot" quoted with
eringly. with an ugly little pain at
my heart. II don't believe dads
any worse. He looks just the
same"
"The island said Dinah. "has
been left half Of 1t to you and half
of it to Mr.. Luke. Independent Of
each other, because the fact that
come in after the time was mar
ried allows Of that. though in my
coverlet. as the lawyers calls 1t,
what was mine was his, and well
he let me know 1t. Miss Lorraine,
she told me. because, says she,
there will be only you and me some
day that knows about It, and
There had been no sound. There
was not so much as a draught from
the door to warn me, as I stood be-
side Dinah, back turned toward the