The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-01-12

got together In another part OF the
garden, Us Dyck Calhoun came near
enough almost TO touch Shella
Surely, he thought. she was supreme
In appearance and design. She was
touched by q rose on each cheek and
made womanly by firm and yet gener-
Gus breasts, tenderly imprisoned by
the white chiffon of her blouse In
which was one bright sprlg of the buds
OF cherry tree--a touch of modest
luyurlance on a person sparsely orna.
mented. 1t was Sheila herself, whom
time had enriched with fur more than
years and experience. Ii was a per-
sonality which would anywhere hive
taken place and held It. II was un-
defeatable. persistent and permanent;
It was the spirit OF Ireland loose In
a world that was as far apart from
Ireland as she was from her dead, dis.
honored father.
And Dyckf At first she felt she
must fly to him-yes, In spite of the
fact that he had suffered prison for
manslaughter. But nearer look at
Here was the Dyck Calhoun she had
known in days gone by, but not the
Dyck she had looked to see for this
man was like one who had come from
q hanging, who had seen his dearest
swinging at the end Of rope. His
face was set In GOODNESS; his hair was
streaked with gray: his forehead had
line in the middle: his manner was
rigid, almost frigld. indeed. Only In
his eyes was there that which denied
all that his face and manner saba
hungry. absorbing. hopeless look. the
look Of one who searches for a friend
In the denying desert.
Somehow, when he bowed low to
her and looked her In the eyes as no
one in all her life had ever done, she
had an almost agonized understanding
of what man feels who has been
imprisoned-that he is never the same
again. He was an ex-convict and yet
she did not feel repealed by him. She
did not believe he had killed Errls
Boync. AS for the later crime of mu-
tiny. that did not concern her much.
She was Irish; but, more than that.
she was In sympathy with the mu.
allneers. She understood why Dyck
Calhoun, enlisting as a common sailor.
should take up their cause and run
risk to advance 1t. That he had adj
yanced 1t was known to all the world
that he had paid the price of his mu-
tiny by saving the kings navy with
a stolen ship; and TINT he had won
wealth was but another proof of the
mans power.
You would not come to America,
so | came here, and" She paused,
her voice trembling slightly.
There Is much to do at Salem," he
added calmly, and yet with his heart
beating as 1t had not beaten since the
day he had first met her at PlaymOre.
you wouldn't take the money
sent to Dublin for you-the gift OF
believing friend, and you would not
come to American"
II shall have to tell you why one day."
he answered slowly, but I'll pay my
respects TO your mother now"
So saying he went forward and
bowed low to Mrs. LEn. Unlike her
daughter, Mrs. Llyn did not offer her
hand. She was pale, distrhught, trou.
bled-and vexed. She, however, muir
INJURED his name and bowed.
"You did not expect to see me here
In jamaica" he said boldly.
Frankly, did not, Mr.. Calhoun"
she said
you resent my coming here TO see
you? You think 1t bold, ut least"
She looked at him closely and firm
~. "You know why cannot welcome
YOU"
"Yet l have paid the account de-
manded by the law. And you had no
regard for him. You divorced him."
Shelln had drawn near. and Dyck
made gesture in her direction. "She
does not know" he said, land she
should not hear what we say now"
Mrs. Llyn nodded, and in n low tone
told Shella that she wished to be alone
with Dyck for little while. In
Dyck's eyes, as he watched Shella go,
was thing deeper than he had ever
known or shown before. In her white
gown and with her light step Shcila
seemed to float away-a picture grace
full. stately, buoyant, "kcen and small"
AS she was about TO pass beyond a
clump of pimento bushes, she turned
her head toward the two. and there
was that in her eyes which few ever
see and seeing are afterward the
same. 1t was look OF inquiry, of
revelation, of emotion which went to
Dyck's heart.
mo, she does not know the truth. +"
Mrs. Llyn said. "But 1t has been hard
hiding 1t from her. Ono never knew
whether some chance remark, some
alluslon in the papers would tell her
you had killed her father"
Ibid kill her father?" asked Dyck
helplessly. ibid l? l was found gull
ty of it. but on my honor, Mrs. Llyn,
| do not know and do not think |
did. ! have no memory of 1t. We
quarreled. drew my sword on him,
then he made an explanation and !