Year: 1875

EvELINE BERTON.


1t was long voyage, that of the Diana,
for strong winds and adverse currents car
ried the vessel far out of the regular
N ursa and it detied the skill of its crew
III a er1cnle the many obstacles presented
IS 4 speedy Journey. The journey was
,l.le, y sful and tedious. and the rarity
with which the vessel touched at any port
for water or provisions, rendered the life
on board as monotonous az II wei could
be.


To all Of the crew a very irksome res
traint was experienced, and to Eveline
BertoD it was simply living death. The
realization Of her fathers torturing sus-
pense, the knowledge of her inability to
aid her lover if he was still alive, and
above all the knowledge that she was en-
tirely in the power of a man who would
leave no channel unmatched to prevent her
escape, who would stop at nothing to Sc
cure the end he was SO deslrous Of attain
ing, we're all too narrowing to contemplate
quietly. All her emotions were of the
most poignant kind, aud she became pale
and sad and wearied with the load upon
her mind. Her persecuter, after his first
interview with her, did not approach her
for over a week, in which time she re-
manned entirely in the cabin.


One beautiful night, a week out from
port, the stewards wife entered the cabin.


There is no one on deck but the mate
and two Of the crew, Miss Berton, she
SAID IF you desire to go IN deck for a
short time you can do SO.


Evellne hailed the change from her close


.Al


Il will 90 if you will allow me, she
said


The steward $ wife gave her her hat and
light shawl, and escorted her 10 the
deck.


You can sit here, she said, as they
reached the fore part Of the vessel, where
a coil Of rope afforded a comfortable seat
81 will 90 below, but will soon return to
keep you company


Evellne thanked her courteously for her
kindness to her, and then turned her Wis
sion to the blended beauty Of sea and sky
each gorgeous in light and lOvellness. So
lost was she i'll admiration and contempla-
tion of the scene before her that she did
not perceive form approaching her, and
only became conscious Of another presence
than her own as she turned to the touch
upon her arm Of the hand Of Eugene
Faber.


Instinctively she shrank from his touch,
arising to her feet and holding by the rail
of the vessel as he bowed politely to her.


"A beautiful evening"" he said. 81
understand from the stewards wife that
you we're sufficiently recovered from your
indisposition 10 enable you brief respite
on deck, so ] gave her orders to allow you
to come up.


A flush Of anger tinged the young girl s
pale cheeks.


Had | thought was to be annoyed by
your presence" she replied coldly, Il
would have preferred my Imprisonment
below in the cabin.


Her whole manner indicated her utter
loathing and adherence for the man who
was forcing his company upon her, and he
saw it. He choose to be persistent, how
ever, and concealng his chagrIn as best he
could, he continued


"You are uusociable. We understand
each other too thoroughly now for us to
carry on this system Of antagonism any
farther. You will tlnd that a pleasant
frame of mind will best succeed in secu-
ring even this liberty from the solitude Of
your cabin.


Then | choose to be shut up in that
dark, unwholesome place, and be freed
from your presence, To the freedom Of the
deck and your hateful company. | cannot
prevent your intrudlng upon me, but | can
at least express my utter adherence and
detestation of your low nature, which has
suggested 80 vile a scheme to gain my hand
as you are bent on carrying out.


Eugene Faber turned white with sup
pressed anger.


You have chosen your own way" he
said hoarsely. You will aDide the issues.
You reject my love you will have an op-
portunIty of realizing how far a resolute
mans anger can 60.


She trembled at the fearful intensity Of
his wrath. She did not fear him, but she
realized to what lengths his hatred might
carry him. She moved away from him
and went down into the cabin.


From that time until the Diana touched
the wharf at Sydney, she knew no free
dom. 1t was night when the vessel landed,
and she was taken to close carriage and
conveyed through the city to house at
the remote outskirts of the town, where
the stewards wife took her in charge. She
was led to a room, and the door locked
upon her, the prisoner of Eugene Faber,
the ex secretary of the Australian Gold
Mining Company.