Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-06


heat, from which the lenses had melted away.
MAI STANLEIGH and his wife deferred
their departure for England until their
niece should be properly married to Joyce At
Eleanor's wish, 1t was very simple affair, AMI
as Joyces bride she was eager to be off to his
rubber plantation in Malduna~as he was to set
her up there as mistress Of his household.
had agreed to give them passage on the Sylph,
since the next sailing of the mail beat would
have necessitated further fortnights delay.
In the cabin that evening at dinner when
the two of them degned to take polite cogni-
zance of my existence, announced to Joyce
that proposed to hug the island pretty close
during the night. 1t would save considerable
time.
Evening had fallen when we came up on deck.
Joyce bethought himself of some cigars in his
stateroom and went back For the moment
was alone with his wife by the rail, watching
the stars beginning to prick through the dark
ening sky.
You may think 1t unfeeling of me-" she be-
gan, quite abruptly, but all this past trouble
of NINE low that it is ended, have completely
dismissed. Already 1t begins to seem like a
horrid dream.
Perhaps you understand" she went on, after
a pause, that have not told my husband. But
I have not deceived him. He knows that was
once married and that the man is no longer
living. He does not wish to know more"
1t was after midnight. The Sylph came about,
with sails trembling, and lost Roadway. Sud-
denly she vibrated from stem to stern, and
with soft grating sound that was unmistak-
able came 10 rest We were aground in what
n H.
clad shore of Muloa lying close off to port.
The helmsman turned to me with look Of
silly fright on his face, as the wheel revolved
useless in his hands. We had shelved with
scarcely jar sufficient to disturb those Sleep
ing below, but in a twinkling Jackson, the mate,
appeared on deck in his ajamas
What do you make of this?" he exclaimed,
as called for the lead.
ITS the volcano we have to thank for this"
was my conjecture. Its recent activity has
caused some displacement of the sea bottom"
There was nothing to do but to wait for the
tide to make and lift the vessel clear. It would
be matter of three or four hours. I dis
missed the helnsman; and the watch forward,
taking advantage of the respite from duty, were
soon recumbent in attitudes of heavy sleep.
Alone, paced back and forth-countless soft
footed miles, it seemed, through interminable
hours.
Suddenly a soft thump against the side of
the schooner, followed by a scrambling noise,
made me turn round. The dripping, bedraggled
figure of man in a sleeping suit mounted
rope ladder that hung over the side, and
paused, grasping the rail.
Just then the sooty vapors above the edged
raw nav Of the volcano were rent by flare
of crimson, and in the fleeting instant of I'M
natural daylight beheld Farquharson, bare
footed, and dripping with sea water, confront
ing me with sardonic, triumphant smile.
1T was not your intention to stop at Muloa,"
he observed, dryly, for the plight of the
schooner was obvious.
Wen float clear with the tide muttered
But in the meantime'-there was some
thing almost menacing in his deliberate pause
II have the pleasure of this little call upon you"
To get rid of him, to obliterate the horrid
fact that he still existed in the flesh, was the
instructive impulse of my staggered brain. But
the peril of discovery, the chance that those
sleeping below might waken and hear u.s. held
me in a wise of indeciSion
If could bring myself to reproach you cap
tain" he went on, ironically polite II might
protest that your last visit to this island savored
of a too-inquistive intrusion. You'll pardon
my frankness I had convinced you and Maj.
Stanleigh that Farquharson was dead To the
world at large that should have sufficed. That
choose to remain alive is my own affair. Your
sudden return to Muloa-with a lady-would
have upset everything, if fate and that inspired
fool of Malay had not happily interviewed.
But now, surely there can be no doubt that I
am dead?"
Il can promise you that" attempted to as
sure him in weak, sepulchral tones. And now,
if you like, I'll put you ashore in the small
boat. You must be getting chilly in that wet
sleeping suit"
"As a matter of fact am and was wonder
ing if you would not offer me something to
drink"
You shall have bottle to take along"
promised with alacrity but he dcmurred.
There is no sociabity in that. And you
seem very lonesome here-stuck for two more
hours at least. Come, captain, fetch your
bottle and We will share it together"
contemplated him helpessly. There was