Evening star., 1923-05-22


in the lines OF the tranc
route.
The great transatlantic steamer
Citv of New York was the next 10
greet their strained gaze The out
look had sighted the lifeboats some
time before.
As she loomed ~ nearer and near
err mighty prayers or thanklulnesS
rent the air for their deliverance.
The work of getting them apoaro
Uas accomplished as speedily as pos
sibIe. When their names were taken
he gave his own. jay Smith. IN tne
excitement he quite forgot Jli-Bett
for the moment.
pacity, therefore cots had TO be i'm :
provised for the women from the
burned boat in one or the Iaoies
cabins Like accommodation Tor the
men in the mems CABIN at the iar
end of the boat.
JAYS mind was filled with comfort
ing thoughts. The great ocean
steamer was speeding fast as steam
glorious New York! The Alpha and
Omega of his hopes and dreams.
The first face Ju-Bett saw as she
was taken abroad the steamer was
that of the stewardess OF the other
boat.
"Oh, you dear little lamb she
cried, seizing Jil-Bett and cuddling
her close to her heart. Il was 80 Wor-
ried about. you. until ! saw you IN
one of the boats: How wen you nave
stood the terrible experience"
She changed her opinion the mex.
moment. noticing how white and III
Jil-Bett looked. She had intenoed
questioning her as to how she reach
ed the deck and had been rescued
but saw the girl was not equal TO
recounting what had taken place.
During the next two days Jn-Bett
was too weak to leave her couch.
The stewardess was extremely indig-
nant that her young husband did not
fact, It seemed as If he had quite
forgotten her existence.
The actual fact was. he had made
repeated inquiries of one Of the cabin
maids asking IL she were well enough
TO see him on deck. The maid did
not take the trouble to make inquiry.
but gave him the glib answer: the
Young girl was entirely recovered
from the shock she had undergone.
but there was no mention as TO
whether or not she would see him.
During this time on shipboard he
paced to and fro,' doing his best to
control his conflicting thoughts and
emotions.
He tried to analyze what Cairenas
attitude toward him would be when
he explained all. Then, like a heavy
load sliding down and lying on his
heart, what his attitude toward the
girl who was to have become his
bride should be in the face of the
complication which engulfed him.
First and foremost, he must con-
fer with Jil-Bett and come to some
sort of an understanding with her
as to whether or no they could. come
to an amicable settlement of the
tangle.
..I,yer1- uvopop boa t,ar prica IN,
such affairs. Jil-Bett shall name her
own figure as to how she will accept
to break the clutch which binds U.s."
He felt that she was not the kind
that she understood the case, mas
much as this marriage had been the
result of q mistake OF Judgment on
the part of her crazed grandfather.
That she cared for him. he had no
doubt, but unfed tenderness would
get him. With freedom and wealth
at her command, she would in all
probability meet some other man
who would love her. and whom she
might love. and she would realize
that the arrangement she had made
with him was indeed for the best.
On the contrary, if she decided she
would not set him free. it would re-
suit in a lifetime OF bitterness for
both, for his heart was with Clair
ena.
Then he fell to wondering what
Clairena had thought and done when
the wireless message was received,
He wondered, too, if they had learn ed
of the disaster which had sent II to
the bottom of the sea, and If they
were awaiting tidings of his rescue.
TO assure them, he sent second
message to Col. Vail, notifying them
of this fact.
He marveled much. as the hours
went by, that he did not receive a
reply. AS time grew shorter on
shipboard, he made up his mind that
Jil-Bett must see him. He could
not bear the suspense Of not know
ing what she intended to do any
longer.
urging her see him. This he sent
by another maid, who returned with
the message: there was no reply. He
was beside himself with annoyance
There was another thought that
worried him not a little. What II
Clairena accompanied her father
down to the pier to meet him--which
she was almost sure to do-and saw
.Jii-Bett? He must find some way TO
avoid that
When it came to the last evening
on shipboard he could scarcely con-
troll his great impatience. For hours
he had been pacing the deck, busy
with his conflicting thoughts.
He knew Ji1-Bett was not like other
girls. Perhaps she had the notion
to dash ashore, the instant the gang
plank was lowered, hiding herself
forever beyond all possibility of f1nd-
TO guard against anything of that
N;nN he fnoL the YlrS<snutfon tO nav