iferift
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EVENING LEDGER-PHILADELPHIA. SATURDAY, JUNE
19, 1915.
m
5
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(Copyright. 1014,
Associated Newsr.
ewspsptrs, Ltd.)
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CHAPTEB I,
AtJD PIjESBEY rested her elbows
on the ship's side and, pressing her
, against her cheeks, gazed out
ojj the sea. Tho night was dark
moonless. Tho waves Wero vis
only by their own phosphor
ites or In tho thin ribbons of light
ch radiated from tho little cargo
tmar. Hw and thero a point of light
yjng BWlHiy acruss uio uiaciwcss oi
night Indicated tno patn or some
tt vessel. Tho throbbing of the engines
the rush of waters undor tho keol
iti very l'-ud In tlio listener's car.
evenly ft great star, larger and
jmm- than any In tho heavens, ehono
ijl of the darkness to tho northward, on
MI Wlui ma umsiiicau xis uruoa ana
b beam glanced across tho hcavlrur
b.)M and rested for 30 seconds lnoulr-
tlnilr. searohlngly, on tho low deck or
Sit, stepped back a pace, clasping her
ill and full of figure, long and slender
t l. .1... tnfteiA tnA VAiltal.i.1. Ql... ......
ijYounff Juno. Uor head una bare; the
dit braexo ruffled her chestnut hair and
;Bi4 ner ,urn Ul" tne colln" o' nor coat
jfjotid ner wimo ana gracious tnro.it.
'ga cheeks were full and tlngod with
ttwft her lips red and prominent. But
(Sibroad forehead was very palo and
IhJr'aSrk bluo eyes looked out at jou from
JMP inaaoivn. udio wu u iaqc naiurany
laMlve. almost grave. She was brood-
mt.-Romantic people liked to think over
ifi .i.Altf uhlnl, linn iln.li.H.J I..
fftifldhood,' but her father's mysterious
itiUl had only seen Heard of by her long
ifler It had occurred, and had long slnco
Hummed tho proportions of a distant his-
ttorfCAl cvrnt. remaps it was her ox
prtUlon and tho ripeness of her form
which hado her appear older than she
tls. Toil would havo taken Maud Ples
r for two or threo and twenty, but sbo
F wtnwa yet year ul nor majority.
t ina li&ub ? uk u ouuuum un u naa
come, it was tno uungeness light, alio
feiew. Over thero not farther than a
man could easily swim lay tho English
ttut Within a very few hours now sho
would tread hor native shore.
!jtWHh a faint sensation of wondor, as
tough sho wero looking Into another's
I olnd. she romombered how eager sho had
f kesn to get homo only a month ago. She
Ui become bored by her sojourn at Glb
inJuir. Excursions Into tho most roman-
tls regions of Andalusia had ceased to In
terest. That was why sho had Joined a
'idsntlflc exploring party on a daring ex
pedition Into the interior of Morocco. It
lii been Jolly enough at first. She was
iilow with glcoful excitement. Her unl-
'wilty-career finished, she missed the In
terests and distractions, tho freedom and
merry companionsnips or college lire.
fh wanted a new Interest, a fresh
outlet for her ambition, and talked of
Luxlng up archeology.
f yrnere were not many Roman remains In
Horocco, it was true, ns ner scientina
friends smilingly reminded her; but tho
UCU86 was good enough. Sho enjoyed the
jrlld, open-air life, tho camping, tho
lirinre, harsh country, tho danger which
f n like a hodgo beside their path. Now
utt mat cnapier in ner mo was so near
Id close she skimmed It over In hor
'ilnd. gazing down into the dark-green
English seas.
f 'She recalled those first vague fears
vksn feint mtnrl li Aa-aAlt "Vximrt ! ntnnnr
u lower spurs of tho Atlas, alone with
"ier flery-cyed natlvo guide. Thoso fears
'Hi changed to sjckcnlng dread when
hey came within sight of a white-walled
tltyon the coast and she realized that the
man had played her false that he had
t leen leadlne her awav from Instead of
I fowsrd her party. It was all right, he ns-
wed her In broken Spanish, and showing
t,M his teeth tho town was Larache.
There was a British Consul there; sho
could eel ii hont hack In Gibraltar. So.
jrtth a bravo front and terror clutching
tt her heart, she rode In through the
korseshoo-curved gateway, tho guide
Mdlng fast to her bridle.
In stammering Arabic sho asked a pass
is woman if this were Indeed Larache.
rThe bystanders heard tho Inquiry and
lwrled at her in derision. They cursed
Ut for an Infidel for a shameless Naza-
nat, wno roao witn race uncoverea. men
ifcsjcnew that sho was a prisoner. The
Sims of tho town was one she had never
Jxeard. Here thera was no Consul, no
fillip to Gibraltar. Sho found herself tho
jjjnljr European in a nest of fanatical
oors.
sjShe was led unresisting Into tho pres
jptt of tho Basha. Ho affected kindness,
jHTillty. A boat would call to take herpft
slthln a month. Meantime she must havb
jo fear. Sho should bo his guest. In hlB
wem, among the ladles of his household,
oe would find a securo repose. 'He would
J nis respects to her on the morrow.
tguestl Forcing a smile, she thanked
1. Dretfinrilntr ntt tn niiannpl htn trnnt
'tlth. She was a girl of high courage;
fff agile brain had been quickened by
WPrate training. Sho divined with what
"nga her introduction into their mas
5 1 harem nust be regarded by tho
Mha'B womenfolk.
SSBeiore dawn she had made allies of
HBO. It WaB not hnrrt tn tnA n. rnnn
Cfl reached fmm nnnvitv wlnrlntv in
V& , tha tnlck awthlngs and vell
pn of a Mohammedan woman she crept
&S the lanes of that squalid town. In
" ne strove to recall directions given
U a tongue shn h&rdlv undArstnofl.
I'Wrstely eho wandered up and down,
! tflU frO. In thnt nmnvlnw laS.nlnlh
IS1 and repassing the same spot a
""Wred tllnpn. nrVlntr tnw tin ,! Illr
wly caged beast Faint and terror-
'aD. fih ft hAffirriA rmniiMmis f niiclniiti
!plcJ0Ua InnUo f rtiia.flAnH uiAk ,-
m not underiond. Men turned and
Jwea her. Sho quickened her paco
emerged upon a wide market place,
woke Into a ran. Her yashmak fell
tad rRVAljiil I,. A t. .j A
ff"l Negroes and Beduwins as a white
8 an Instant the mob waa after her.
's. sna nea straight before her,
ionar Rhn Mn iit.. .i.. .An bk&
,w. . " - nmviioi ni9 atl, dub
jw Knew All at onca ha saw th sea
her a Ht,Aml In Dib nffinw Irtinla
fif.n.sa.therea about a low breakwater.
vuBn a mist thero roaa un the flgr
S. mail. a. V!lirnntnn larf In Haa.
e white, with a scream, she fell at
wrp command in an Encllsh vclce.
Beard a Distal ahnt. and then xvarv-
rew dark.
aWOke tn nnrl h.,U In lh ahln
steamer Through the onen port,
h where she lay she could see low
,ifn lhe hrin the tajl minarets
evening walls of tlje city of her
;rfre- sha lay still for a while and
. one culd hear abovo the rat
Plate and dishes. Immediately
v, IDUPn-tatnna T"nvllh vnlKlfl a
the Snatch of an mnirllah ana'. A
Ct. hOl3ielv.rar.tf! man naantfil In nt
i '!.ne,' ani wen away. Presently
'erer came, jt waa Captain
Olmstlf It waa hv tha rarest
8 that the SIdl had called at the
10 land a partrn from nnnther Moor-
Sort No othep nrlllsh vaaacl had
there for years. And. be went
explain apologetically, he was
q call at several other ports. It
bfcfc "- VVJKkW, IU IIV.,
fwp. be ftdmm-4 wUl jj, laugh, ya.9
. - - aujr iiwisr. oui UO WUW
? ke th mail boat for Bngland.
isiyily agreed But, when they
3 UXil Panarlaa al.. lKtfKA Ia ivim.
ta tit-n.a.. - tt.. .. uaa-
iHd lose feer wardrole and li
" OUiii Jii! ainU, Dn,..)r un tO
Fi,?i?.c.r5t'n. "Peter Pan." She had
iii,.ii:v.""r.r"! ne naa
,f?'"7" l " mother that she was
no hurrv0" A? h0rae' Sha '"
ihrua- of nlVhi C?pla,n Arro1' wUh ft
conUnt 1,2 Vdera and a mt'e
sit Ln301 hl? ,lps' had acquiesced.
thn? .1 l"'n ,.oalh to ,eav, vessel
That' .. W18 '?ath t0 leave It now,
oM w.10. 8,lmp so ,oudlj'' the creaking
.n t0u be rising ohward like ah
?nt-n8ruyh0.uJla' Th6 flt "Sht which
m nn iuh(!r tha Bhores of England had
cL '"l6 "'cret rcessea of her heart
Iai.tW . b.5en ,rlhtned, sho had
!,? nt herself, had talked to her
::,(Jflrml,,.i but now when the dawn
Vnu dJ.eoJher al her iourney's end, she
a. u M lie.rflelt t0 'he truth no longer.
At the thought of the Impending parting
she winced and set her lips together.
i. . .a" she Iea"l moro over the side,
she felt a tear rolling slowly down her
cheek.
"That Is the Grlsnez light on the side,"
!a .,.aLVo.lc8 at h8r elbow. "Tomorrow
you'll be In South Kensington."
CHAPTEIt It
SHH looked round and smiled. Cap
tain Arrol was standing by her. He
was a broad-shouldered, lithe, and sinewy
man of three or four and thirty, with
the slightly aquiline features and ex
tremely clean-shaven appearance which
ono associates rather with the naval
ofllcer than the master of a 1200-ton trad
ing steamer.
Ho leaned with his back to the bul
warks and extracted a cigar from tho
pocket of his reefer coat. "Wo shall bo
In the Thames before 9 tomorrow morn
ing," he remarked thoughtfully. "Mc
Closkte Is not sparing tho coal tonight.
It's wonderful the speed ho gets out of
those engines, considering they are 20
years old."
Ho lit his cigar with a patent lighter.
The girl looked Intently at his face,
evory detail of which she knew a thou
sand times better than he did. Tonight
sho missed the smile which, for all his
habit of command and aggressive chin,
was generally hovering In his clear grey
eyes orabout tho upturned corners of
his mouth. The lines on his forehead
wero contracted. Ho had tho nlr of ono
who has been thinking very seriously.
The stamping of tho engines grew sud
denly loudor; the vessel throbbed and
leaped forward as though redoubling her
speed. Miss Plessey made a gesture of
Impatlenco and kicked tho oldo of the
bulwark with tho tip of her white shoo.
"This beast of a ship!" she exclaimed
passionately. "It Is llko a horse that
scents tho stable Any one would think
wo were In a hurry to reach London!"
"Some of us are," remarked tho cap
tain. "McClosklo for one."
She scanned his face, but his eyes were
fixed tn a keen staro on the faraway
French light. "And you," sho asked,
"are you glad 7"
"17 No, I don't care for London.
Haven't set foot thero for three years."
Sho turned her head away to hldo her
disappointment. "You don't say that
you are sorry tho voyago Is ended?" she
said with a trace of bitterness. "I
thought perhaps you might be."
"You called this a beast of a ship Just
now," he reminded her, with a faint up
ward curvo of his lips, but he did not
look nt her.
"I know. I'm sorry I said that. Sho's
a dear old ship. I love her, and I love
every one of tho crew."
"Which Includes some of tho greatest
rascals who ever went unhung"
"That mT he. But they havo been
ery decent towards me all of you have.
I shall never forget the dear old Sldl
and the days we have passed togother.
Will you?" Sho turned her serious blue
eyes upon him, oagcr for his reply.
"No," he said quietly. Ho took the
cigar from his mouth and added, "It's
been a Jolly voyage, thanks to you."
"You will miss me, won't you Just a
little?" she asked with a tremulous laugh.
Ho nodded gravely. "Yes, I shall miss
you next trip, a great deal. I'm glad
that you retain such pleasant Impressions
of the poor old Sldl and her crew."
Sho laid her cheek affectionately
against the bulwark. "I have been hap
pier In tho ship than I havo ever been
before In all my life," she said In a low
tone.
Captain Arrol glanced quickly at het
and seemed about to speak. But he
checked himself and puffed furiously at
his cigar.
"Wo have had such Jolty talks, yuu
and I, haven't wo?" went on Miss Ples
sey. "I never met a man who could talk
like you. You remind me of Othello In
that respeot only, of course. And the
walks up and down this deck before
breakfast and at this time oh," sho
cried, raising her face and gripping tho
side, "I wish it wero to come all over
again."
She swung round on her heels and, dig
ging her hands Into the pockets of her
long coat, took a step forward. In
stlnotlvely the captain took his accus
tomed place beside her. For a few min
utes they paced the deck in silence. Ar
rol gazed almost moodily at the figures
of the pilot and the first mate silhouetted
above the bridge; his companion looked
straight before her, evidently a prey to
violent emotion.
"This Is our last walk, I suppose on
this deck," she blurted out presently.
There was a queer little catch In her
voice.
"Well." ho said with an attempt at
lightness, "all holidays must havo an
end. I'm sure you will And plenty of
friends and distractions ashore to make
you forget the poor old ship."
Miss Plessey bit her lips and looked
down at the man almost angrily. She
was nearly an Inch taller than he.
"I've told you I'm sorry that I'm go
ing home." she said hotly, "I havo told
you already that there Is no particular
sympathy between my mother and my
self. My father died when I was 8 years
old. and I have no brother or sister,"
eho added, "but-oh, It's not that!" She
tossed her shapely head Impatiently.
"But I see you don't understand. , ,
You don't really mind losing me at all,
do you?" Bho tried to speak In a mock
ing strain, but sho glanced at him anx-
"I mind very much Indeed," he replied
gravely. "I think you know that. But
it's no use for mo to talk In that strain,
. It won't make things any easier.
The best of friends must part."
"I don't see why we should. '
It was his turn to glance up at her.
"What da you mean?" he asked.
Sho flushed deeply and averted her eyes.
"Only that I shall see you on shore, I
presume, the next few days, of course,
and every time you call at London.
" We seldom call at London." returned
Captain Arrol shortly, "this is the first
Urna f or three years. It may bo another
inr. vears before wo call again. I bojw
It will b I've WW. d-nfUto Loo
don." . . . ... .... h, ,.d been
r?'"-I see. TJt bought you iike4 me.
hurt.
though." . .M-.thlng under
brs
brlath "Don't begin to talk like thaV'
!'.M,dhe. "It is bard enough M
ftV'yIS & I J, you-. X w-t trust
Trmiy ru I hav
.u"5.r-...( far a loos time. Then
una -- - - ,,
lit would be
,b tooxi rr -nr.
ffaT SUaei vote" fre never to
age In both hands "I bellevo I care for
you-very much!"
llj8 calm face lighted up as ho heard
that He made a movement toward her,
seized her linrd, then dropped It and
stood still. Ho forced a laugh.
"In that case well, I also lovo you."
'Thank you." sho said. They both
laughed outright.
"I'm glail I told you," said Miss Ples
sey in deep contentment. She slipped her
arm In Ids and pressed close to his side.
You were awfully stupid not to have
guessed It before." Sho leaned her head
toward him and brought her lips close to
his Ho placed his hands on her shoul
ders and kissed her long and tenderly.
Then he pushed her gently away from
him.
"This won't do," he said with an accent
of determination
"Don't you llko kissing me?" she nsked
wonderlngly.
His composure waa shaken. "My dear,
my dear!" he cried. "Wo ought never to
have admitted this to each other. Wo
must forget each other. Wo must not
meet after tomorrow."
"Are you quite mad, Martin?" she do
rnanded, his Christian name slipping from
her lips unawares. "Since wo lovo oach
other why shouldn't we admit It? Why
shouldn't wo meet again? Why shouldn't
we" she broke off abruptly and regarded
him with affrighted eyes, "Thero Isn't
another woman, Is there?" sho asked
tremulously.
Ho dismissed tho Inquiry contemptu
ously. "No, there Isn't another woman
"OH " CRIED THE GIRL, AS IP
never was. What sort of a woman do
you think I am likely to meet cruising
on tho coast of Morocco? But-'
"Thank heaven for that!" she broke In
fervently. "I couldn't havo stood it If It
had been another woman. I never knew
I was Jealous before!" She pressed his
arm, shook tha hair from her eyes, and
laughed happily.
Martin Arrol did not laugh. His lips
were tightly compressed, his brow was
wrinkled, "All tho same," he said, this
won't do. I should not havo given way
like that."
It waa I who told first. Are you going
to throvy my love back In my face? Kiss
me again, dear, and don't be stupid."
Ho looked away to resist tho appeal of
her lips, then drew her by the arm across
the threshold of the charthouse. Ho
pointed to tho only chair. 'Bit down
there? he said firmly, "and Jet us look
at this like eenslblo people."
Sho sat down, crossed her knees and
smiled at him whimsically, provoklngly.
Ho leaned against the locker and re
garded her with a troubled, perplexed
faco. "I wish this hadn't happened," ha
be-ran. "You see, It's imposslble-qulto
impossible that there should bo anything
K ou and me You are an ad.
mlral's daughter a rich girl.
How do ou know I am rich?" sha
ForT moment be had the air of a man
who had belriyed himself. "I told you
when you gave roe your name that I bad
heart It your father, that-tn the Vftgues
av of couree-I knew something of
y01 JaroUy," ho said. "Besides, jou
hava betrayed tho fact over and over
again to JW conversation. Ton ar. an
ffiriaa in a small way, a learned girl,
loo with depeeslnd heaven knows what,
Vou know yourOreek as well as I know
K,. charts Tou havo mixed and will
ml" with cultured people all your life.
r, i"v at me. I'm master of a crazy
Sd trading "Uamer. hawking fruit about
tha African coast, nosing tor cargoes In
ovwy port like a hungry dog. You have
Menymy crew These havo been by con
atant companions for 10 years past I
bav0 had no other society Except for a
-.Tn.,,1 hero and thero I haven't ex-
call fgentuman all that time. Aa for a
Sdyue imUed-weU. you an tho first
ttloS in that Una I have struck these
doa years X'm moro at homa with
MMrish gunrunners and Spanish smug
ri! Itr.JT with vour sort I'm an adven-
furi-ao outcast. Ma Plawy ?. man
rur T ". .,,,.. hn vou cscaoed sJ. Sa
"'":iM;.''7."':rr:-'-7"!'c.Cn.si'-
-r,Y-:y ,ofcv
$i&!!
'''' . , . "a.r-.S-WSffr&VirflU ...!:r T i! .!',
ir v. :.: v...'." ' i.-.t.-i rj r...ii.:-.,ji'.,uji,"i.'"i ;t"- j ..-.:. wy.i.ii'tiHUiHiMJMiiMiiuin m un tvi - :i
-. 1...1 .... iipr -:iri"')iiiiii in inn. . "in." n-c.i.f iiii.ri. NtntBiritnrniirnf I v mi -. . m -,.
.'iv:.rr. uV-"n.
... . us.' j.i..Mr:r.3.nM..r. !-. iLUi'ih.Hiii'fir. i":r.fi:!:r .:i.,r-.'rHtiWJ7r -v, iw.i :n., i
ttimmmmm n
..!!!; .ihMm.S S. HgB? UK MAgse
Zarlf would be as fit a mate for you
as I."
He glanced nt tho girl to seo what effect
he had produced. A quiet emilo flickered
about the corners of her mouth. "All the
same, I havo fallen In lovo with you,"
she said, "and I have never loved any
man before."
"The circumstances wero peculiar." ob
jected Caplaln Arrol doggedly. "I was
lucky enough to be of service to you at a
critical Juncture. You began with grati
tude. Then we havo been thrown to
gether for threo weeks. Thero was no
other man about you could possibly con
verso with. You have had no oppor
tunity of comparing mo with otlier men.
Aboard his own ship a skipper always
cuts an Important and dignified figure
On shore he's off his pedestal. What sort
of figure Rhould I cut In a London draw
ing room? Answer mo that."
"Oh," sho cried, "you would look a
sailor a hero among tailors' dummies."
"It's kind of you to say that, dear, but
I should moro likely appear a clumsy
savnge."
Sho leaned forward and touched his
hand. "I don't ask you any question
about your past," sho said, "but I may
as well tell you that you are as unmis
takably and obviously a gentleman as
when you took to this llfo 11 years ago,
as you tell mo you did. Don't flatter
yourself that your dlsgulso would deceive
any one. Your speech betrayeth you.
You and I are the eamo sort of peoplo,
Martin."
Ho shitted uneasily from ono foot to tho
other as sho said that. He raised his eye-
SHE HAD BEEN HURT. "I SEE.
THOUGH."
brows and lowered them again with an
air of resigned acquiescence. "I'm sorroy
It haBn't worn off yet," ho sold simply,
"I won't deny what you havo discovered.
But the inference is obvious, I have cut
myself off from England and ray own
people all these years and doomed myself
to this sort of life not that It's been a
bad one. There must havo been'a reason
for that, don't you think?"
Her eyes met his. "I don't ask the
reason," she said proudly, "I don't be
llevo It waa a disgraceful reason, but If
it was well. I don't care. You are tho
flnest man I ever know, I lovo you. I
want you."
Ho bent over, raised her willing lips to
his and kissed her. Then, smothering an
exclamation, ho turned his back upon
her and stood silent for a long minute,
looking out at tho charthouse door.
"Oh." ho made a desparlng gesture,
"you of all persona! You don't under
stand I can't explain. It's the
strangest, cruellest coincidence that this
should have happened. I must
never see you again, dear. Tomorrow you
must say good-by and forget me."
Maud Plessey clasped her knee and,
swaying slightly, sat staring blankly be
fore her. "You are brutal, Martin,' sho
said in a low voice, "but I know you lovo
me, so It doesn't hurt. It Is absurd to
let these considerations coma between us.
Will you promise me this at least? that
you will let ma see you for e, long tlmo
every day that you are ashore that you
will let me treat you during that tlmo as
my friend? You say that my lovo for
you is dependent on these surroundings.
You cannot refuse to submit It to that
trial?"
Ho hesitated, then turned and glanced
at her. Sha looked very beautiful, ho
thought. , ...... ,.
"Very well. I agree to that." ho said
reluctantly. . ,
A Negro in a red Jersey peeped in at the
oppoalto doorway. "Pilot would like to
seeyou Tp tha bridge, sahl" he an
nouBoed. "Utile bit ot fag ahead, saht"
Martin Arrol pressed the white hand
whleh reached out to his own and bur
riedly followed tho messenger toward tho
bridge.
CHAFTHItllt
m3B Sldl Is alSfWH afeBgatfe, madam,"
linoounced tho pwW. bowing re
spectfully You can her from th,
Window tt you turn a Uttle to the laft.
Xt'a few lytoS vary low 4wb lo the water
By EDMUND B. D'AUVERGNE
Author of "Her Husband's Widow," Etc.
with the red funnel her with the crates
of fruit aboard "
Mrs. Plessey made a peevish exclama
tion. Sho roso from the breakfast table
and looked through the window of the
Tilbury Hotel out over the river, lho
mist had cleared and she had no difficulty
In recognizing the veesel by the porter's
description. Hor maid rose at the same
time and followed tho direction of her
gaze. Tiles' exchanged glances of horror
and commiseration. Mrs. Plessey sank
back In her chair,
"What a shocking old tubl" sho ex
claimed, "Did you ever see such a boat,
Fellse? My poor, poor girl! What a
frightful time sho must havo had and
what a dreadful time of day to arrive!"
The mold glanced at the clock. It was
a few minutes past 7. "I think It is a
Httlo Inconsiderate," she remarked sym
pathetically. Her mistress sighed. "It was very fool
ish of mo to think of meeting her. I
don't know why I did," she added fret
fully. "It was very silly of me. Maud
Is ever so much better able to take care
of herself than I ami and she won't ex
pect mo, I'm sure. We(l," she rose with
a resigned air, "I suppose we had better
go out to meet her."
"The launch Is waiting for you,
madam," Intimated the porter.
Mrs. Plessey pouted and slipped her
arms through tho fur coat which her
maid held In readiness. Tho garment
seemed all too heavy for the frail girlish
Httlo figure. Seen from the other side of
tho room Maud's mother might havo
-wJ"'
r-.-i-'JV"-
ii.ii! IfJ-ri-
i&BP.HW'
I I THOUGHT YOU LIKED ME,
passed for twenty; from the other elds
of the table for thirty. Always exqui
sitely gowned, she seemed at first sight
a triumph of the fashion artist, a crea
tion of the Rue de la Palx; at a second
glance you perceived that she owed less
to art than to nature. The fair, fluffy
hair still fell In baby curls on her fore
head. The dazzling complexion which had
raised her from the front row of a
musical comedy chorus to the rank of an
admiral's wife had suffered Httlo from,
the ravages of time, and the beauty doo
tor had so far successfully kept at bay
tho crowsfeet which threatened her big
brown eyes.
Tho porter led the way to a motor
launch which lay alongside tha wharf.
It was a raw, windy morning, and tha
river looked very uninviting. Mrs.
Plessey shivered and made a grimace as
she stepped Into the boat followed by her
maid. She glanced toward the shore.
"You aro sure Mr, Huron has not ar
rived?" she asked tho servant.
"Yes, madam. I made very particular
Inquiries."
"How selfish of blml" murmured tha
dainty lady, eeating herself In the stern
of the launch. Her pretty face clouded.
Abjectedly dependent upon men's help
and company all her life, she deeply
resented her abandonment at this mo
ment "Sldl, ahoyl" yelled the man In tho
launch. A Negro's bead roso above the
bulwarks ot tha steamer, Mrs. Plessey
gave a little shriek and clutched her
maid. The swarthy mariner throw out a
rope, which was made fast to tha launch.
"Oh I" cried a voice from above, "It's
mother!"
Mrs. Plessey looked up and saw her
daughter looking down on bar. She
waved her hand and cried, "Hullo.
Maud!" without being able to put any
warmth Into her tone. A moment later
the two stood side by aide on tha Sldl'a
deck.
Maud stooped down and kissed her
mother. "It was awfully good of you Jo
come," sho said warmly. "Fanay adven
turing all this way I I wonder how you
managed to get here alone. Is Mr. Huron
with you?" sha asked, hor faca floudlar
"No," replied Mrs. Plessey In an In
jured tone. "Ha promised to eoma dowa
last night or first thing tils morclasv
but 1h hasn't kept his word. Mao are so
salftsb " She pushed bar daughter from
bar and eyad bar erUlesily "Xeu dew't
iu much tha w.oriw tor ittr 4vp
Ures."b remirkad, knl ym 1-
towed the sun to play havoo with your
complexion. My poor, liltlo girl, 1 sup.
pose you were left without face cream."
"Yes," said Maud, with mock ruefut
rtess, "and they had run out of It on
board 1"
No one would have suspected the rela
tionship of tho pretty little lady In gray
fur and the tall young goddess In white
serge. They stood, Indeed, for exactly
opposite lypes of womanhood. In these
rude surroundings. In the cruel morning
light, youth and vigor had on unfair ad
vantage. Perhaps the older woman felt
this, for she dropped Into a fretful tone.
"You are not a bit llko me when I
was a girl. And! 1 do hope you won't do
any more of this absurd exploring. You
spoilt the beilnntnr of h ihh, n.
me. Of course, when tho rumor came
that you wero lost I knew that you were
verv wall ihu in ii. ... . ........i
but with everybody taking It for granted
that you were killed or something I sim
ply dared not go anywhere People ara
so uncharitable." Mrs. Plessy looked
round her with disgust. "What a fright
ful ship It looks like a coal bargel"
Maud slipped her arm round her
"J.01".8.'.8 ,wa,8t "H" ho finest boat
afloat,' eho laughed. "Come down to
my cabin and then I'll Introduce you to
the man who saved my life."
"Who's that?"
"I told you in my letter from Las Pal
mas, said the girl, pushing her mother
toward the companion ladder "Cap
Si" .Aro1, ot course, tho master of this
SnlD. Aha lmirfhMn niAr.ii.. v... ,..
trapped him beautifully, boarding us
lltirjItfM fstai 111.-. ILL . .
shy. This Is my cabin." she drew the
curtain from the opening. "What do
you think of It?"
"What a l.onlble. poky IllUo den! You
poor dear! N'o, I won't go In." Mrs.
PlesseV fflnnrtvl lln nn.4 nM.n L. -It...
way. "Tell me," she said apprehensively.
lou haven't been alone with men only
In this boat, havo you? I suppose there
am ann... ...I... .. . ....
... bv.iiu uviicr ituwen on Doarai
"Not one."
"Oh. vnu Mlntl vl.lt it-i... !! . ..
ii n.c.XtT You know how PeoPl will
"I didn't Know you wero so easily
shocked, mother."
"But people will talk. dear. And Gilbert
will be so aunocd If ho hears this."
Maud Plcssev (lushed angrily. "Mr.
Huron? What has it got to do with
him?" she demanded Indignantly.
"You know what an Interest ho takes
In inn 1 ItitHlr ..... tt.. -i
... wu. . .iniiiv ;uu liiicuL oiiuw more
grntltude for It. Well, where Is this Cap
tain What's-hls-namo to whom ou aro
going tu Introduces me?"
"He Is on deck," Maud faced her mo
ther and her cheeks burned rod. "Ho Is
the best and Unest man In tho world you
get to know h man pretty well shut up
with him for threo weeks on shipboard.
I may as woll tell you at onco that I am
In lovo with him and I want him to marry
me."
"I see." Mrs. Plessey looked up and
down at the tail girl pityingly, "I al
ways said you were a fool," she remarked
with a sigh. "You haven't as much Bcnso
In jour whob body as I have In my llttlo
finger. Marry the skipper of a dirty llt
tlo tramp llko this! What arrant non
sense!" Mm. I'less'-y laugh.ed a thin,
flute-like laurrh. "Really, you have made
me quite curious to see him "
Maud bit her Up and clenched her
hinds. Her mother's laugh had nevor
sounded so Jarring. She controlled her
anger with an effort "Come with me
and vou shall see him .Ynd remember,"
she iald, almost sternly, "I mean what
I said I love Captain Arrol, and as soon
as I am of ago I shall marry him. You
hilijlit also remember that I owe him my
life "
"Oh, I promise (o bo quite nice to him,"
giggled Mrs Plessey She tripped up the
stairway after her daughter. Tho girl
took after her father, she reflected, Ad
miral Plessey had married a chorus girl
for her pretty face; hlfl daughter wa
prepared to waste herself, on some ro-m-intlc,
penniless adventurer.
The deck was Uttered with crates and
boxes brought up from the hold prepara
tory to tho unloading. The two women
had to pick their way carefully, Mrs.
Plossoy's dainty shoe and ankles looking
pathetically incongruous on such a rude
floor. She halted abrupt!)', for Maud had
seized the arm of a man who was mount
ing to the bridge with his back turned
towards them.
"This Is my mother, Just come aboard
to welcome me," cried the girl eagerly.
".Mother, this Is Captain Arrol."
ITt.. Ann..!.. ...... ..., ...hIh
A1IU bilJlUII OLUILCU, U11U tu,uii(a
saluted. Tor an Instant ho and Mrs.
Plessey etared blankly at each other.
Then the wpman went very palo and
grasped the rail of tho ladder for sup
port. She forced a sickly smile and ex
tended her hand,
"Er haven't I met you before, Captain
Arrol?" she asked nervously.
Captain Arrol stood stiffly,, staring at
Mrs. Plessey, Mechanically he took her
proffered hand.
Maud glanced, from one to the other,
amazed, delighted.
"Why, mother," sho exclaimed, "you
never told me that you had met Captain
Arrol! I wonder you didn't recognize the
name when I mentioned It. It Is rather
uncommon. And you." she said, address.
Ing the man. half reproachfully, "why
didn't you tell me all this tlmo that you
knew mother?"
"I did In fact tell you that I knew, or,
rather, had known your family very
slightly," he answered. "It Is very kind
of 'Mrs, Plessey to acknowledge the ac
quaintance." He was looking searchlngly, almost re
sentfully, at the older woman as ho spoke.
She stood a step lower down tha ladder,
toying nervously with the buttons of her
fur coat, and looking downward, evident
ly considering how to act.
She glanced at him swiftly and smiled.
"X cannot thank you too much, Captain
Arrol," she said, "for all you havo done
for my dear daughter. It Is a debt which
I can never repay."
Please understand, Mrs. Plessey." said
tha sailor coldly, "that you are under no
obligation whatever toward me In this
matter. Your daughter appealed to m?
as ono of my own countrywomen for pro
tection against great violence In a foreign
land. I acted simply as I was bound to
act and a any white man would have
acted In tho clrcumstances-at no risk W
myself, I should add."
Tho girl looked again at her mother.
Sha felt that In some way her appearance
at this Juncturo had strengthened Arrol s
reluctance to meet her again. Any want
of courtesy or cordiality on Mrs. Plesaej's
part would convert that reluctance Into a
resolve.
Sha resorted to a bold stratagem. "My
mother wants you to coma and breakfast
with u at the hotel," she said, laying her
hand on" he sallor-a arm. "Will you coma
now or shall wo wait on board till you aro
ready?"
Mrs. Plessey lifted hr fair eyebrows.
Her daughter's adroitness stirred her to
faint admiration.
Arrol shook his head. "I aw very sorry.
I am unable to leave the ship," bo said.
Maud save expression to a 1UU ory of
disappointment "Oh, but you must,"
Bleaded. "You promised to tea me as
shore, you know. Well. If you wo
come with us, wo-ll stay afieard snd
Uinch with you." She tuwwd. without
waiting for hta regJiy to Mrs. Var
"ook here, mother." she want on Ui das
nirate earnestness, In sptta of Captain
Arrol I must pafW Uwu " K hada't
been for hlw I should new b-eU.
where you would va tav haard W
again And I' Man Ms guaat r
thraa weaks, toe. It's atoura to jrt like
tlu, m U w wtro suaagar. It wouWrft
The story of a tnan and a fthi
and circumstances TfMch vere
altered through tha Intervention of
a kindly disposed fate.
b deeent. Besides, you two have known
" her in thepast, and that's an ad
dlllbnal reason You must want to talk
over old times together."
A smile flickered across ths older
woman's race Captain Arret smiled also,
but hl smile was somewhat grim "It's
quite impossible today." he repeated
firmly, "and tha ship Is not in A fit state
for the reception of visitors You must
really let me conduct you to jour boat"
aiaua stood frowning, her hand
clenched. She realised that his determina
tion for the moment was unshakable.
She rpread pen her hands with a gesture
of unwilling renunciation She looked at
Arrol. "Very well." she began coldly,
"since you refuse-" Then, moved by a
horrible fear' that she might never sea
him again, she changed her tone to one
of entreat "Remember your promise-
that you wruld see me again," sha
whispered, coming close to him and grip-
pins; nis nana tig ntiy
The seaman bowed his head. Mrs, Ples
sey flashed on him her sweetest smile and
held out her hand. "Yes, do come and
see us again, Maud has given you our
address, I suppose. It would be charming
to see you there. Coins along, Maud, 1
can see Captain Arrol Is longing to get
rid of us"
She smiled roguishly at the captain and
tripped down on to the deck. Maud, after
a moment's sulky hesitation, followed.
Arrol conducted them In silence to tha
head of the ladder. As they stepped Jnto
the launch another small boat came
alongside. A man stood Up In It and
hailed the ladles excitedly.
"Hurrah' Just In time! Wait a mo
ment, III eomo over to you."
And the speaker clambered on to tha
launch at tha moment it backed away
from tho steamer's side.
"Gilbert at last!" cried Mrs. Plessey
crosslj. "I d think you might have,
come down earlier!"
Tho new arrival was a short, thick-set
man In tho middle forties, with a rather
handaomo face, the poarseness of which
was relieved by his snow-whlta hair and
moustaches. He was ntatly, even smart
ly dressed. He paid no attention to tha
older lady, but Seising Maud by both
hands gaxod eagerly Into her face.
"This Is splendid to seo you again! Mr
dear, dear girl, what agonies we havo en
dured on you account! I was on tha
point ot storting for Morocco to And you
when your Migrant arrived! You bad
girl, you must nover go roving againl"
Ho held up a fat finger tn playful warn
ing. "And hero you are safe and sound."
Maud qulokly dlsengagod her hands.
She waa still etandlng up In the launch.
"For that you havo to thank my dear
friend Captain Arrol." sho said "Thero
ho Is." Bho looked upwards. "Oeod-bye.
Come and see me soon," she shouted,
waving her handkerchief. "Hemembef
your promise!"
The whlte-haiied man followed the di
rection of her gaze. Ills eyes met those
of Captain Arrol, who was leaning over
the vessel's side Immediately above them.
The two men looked hard nt. each other.
Maud saw tho captain's eyebrows lift
slightly as It In surprise or sudden rec-v
ognitlon.
Mr. Gilbert Huron turned to Mrs. Ples
sey and asked In a low tone. "Who Is
that man? He eeemed lo know me."
"I hopo he doesn't." sho replied almost
In a whisper. "It s Martin Arrol."
CHAPTEIt IV
AS WE do not choose our parents or
our brothers and sisters, So we aro
disposed, till absolutely our pwn masters,
to accept without demur the other rela
tionships forced on us tn our childhood.
Maud Pleesey could only vaguely recall
her first Introduction to Gilbert Huron.
Sho had a distinct recollection of wrig
gling off his knee and threatening to kick
him If he pulled her hair. As this wai
on her return from her first school andv
sho had not long ceased to wear mourn
ing for her father, she concluded that aha
must havo been then about 7 years old.
But her mother assured her that sha had
been nursed In Gilbert's arms when sha
was an Infant and that he had been an
old friend ot her father's.
As Sirs. PJessey had managed to cut
the acquaintance of almost all her Into
husband's asscolates, no one was In a po
sition to dispute this statement; and It
had not occurred to Maud to question It
Perhaps his alleged Intimacy with ner
father hod early disarmed the little girl's
hostility toward the man; at any rateN
she grew to tolerate him, and by tho tlmo"
she was U or 15 had come to accept him
, as one accepts n not particularly es
teemed uncle or aunt. That Is not to
say that sho saw very much ot him or
of her mother.
Maternity might or might not bo a la
modi at the moment, but Mrs. PIeseyi
was at the time of the opinion that her
charms were increased by the presence
of a daughter as tall as herself Shot
pjonounced Maud to be gawky and later
"positively huge!" So she had kept tho
young girl at school, mostly abroad, and
took care hat she spent a very smalt
fraction of her holidays under tha
maternal roof.
When Maud, whose skirts now reached
almost to her ankles, expressed the de-T
sire to go to a university, pretty llttls
Mrs. Plessey gave a delightful llttlo
scream of horror and at onco delightedly
acquiesced So Maud went to Bt An
drew's and piled up academic honors,
whllo her mother frisked and flirted and
devoutly hoped that her daughter would,
never discover any inclination for so
So Maud Plessey saw very little of her
mother and still less of her home; but
whenever she saw either she also saw
Gilbert Huron. Ho was her mother's
oldest friend-so much she had been told
when she was ; at IT she suspected that
some tender memory bound them and
wondered why they didn't marry She
was too shy to sk and at last decided
tn her own m!nd that Gilbert Huron ot
her mother waa too loyal to the memory
of her dead father to contemplate, msr.
rlage. Other people had Ions go mada
up their minds that under the dead ad.
mlral's frill the widow waa forbidden t
TerhYp'a It was his ambiguous footing;
In her Immediate circle that Anally In
spired the girl with soma gUmmerlBW
ot dislike and suspicion for tha man.
These he strove to dispel by assiduous at
tentlons, by tha constant display of a
most paternal solicitude. Ho correspond
regularly with her, till her mother kept
up commnplcaUon with her u.hur, u
Urely through him. Ha affected, perhaps
felt a keen Interest In her acadeaa
career, and earned tha youwr graduate
reluetant gratitude by tha promptnasa
with whleh ha executed any commlpsioa
for books, instruments, and p4wm
with whleh sha intrusted him. JVhm
Tha was homa Jt waa ha bo Ud
her eseort, who rode and mowed wua
her, and performed most or ta Jl
ierviees wMth she might bars ewweta
"Srtafy lT deTerawM. as M lote
remarked, to bar aupaHw bat art tt
itSwfy ot her salwlarsWB. b tad -Srtia
ratbw pslstfadly from ! wJ
T attltud of former year. tyt
: of tfeeBHlva as "good pal, a m
friend. Tfc , a U 1 !
iKf new WArtSS
spparoatty ritrofi !
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