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Show "Jack, 1 Have Waited So Long, So Long, So Long, Now All I Can Say Is, I Love You." ?c . "Of the stiff battle ahead of us, dear; the fight for life and love across these leagues of ocean." "For life and love! Do you mean you dream of reaching eafety?" "I mean to struggle for it; to do all a man and sailor may. If we die, now, sweetheart, it will be to lo3e more than ever before was possible." Her cheeks flushed instantly, her lashes drooping. "No, no; if we win safety it will only be to lose all else. But the thought is impossible; no skill, no courage, no strength of arm or heart could ever work such a miracle of deliverance. de-liverance. I will not dream It, for how could I go back, go back to that old life again with my heart full of love for you? That would be a fate worse than death; it would be dishonor." I did not answer, did not even look into her face. "Surely you do not mean it, Jack?" almost pleadingly, her hand reaching blindly out for mine. "You can not bring me to such shame, such trial?" "It is not shame," I answered earnestly, earn-estly, all my soul revolting against the word, "it may be trial, but It is not shame. In the face of death you have confessed you love me, and in the face of death I shall endeavor to retain that love. I should be no man if I did less. Shame! Do not use that term between us. What was there holy or divine in the selling of you to that English peer? Why should that act of mere barter hold us apart? The law of God is paramount to the law of man. Doris, you are mine, although al-though you yet withhold the pledge of the lips; mine everywhere and forever; for-ever; mine here in this desolate reach of sea, and mine yonder in the great world, if we ever again attain it. I never will yield you up to another; never relinquish my claim. Against nature and man I "shall endeavor to hold what.is my own." One moment I gazed down into her eyes, penetrating to the gray depths, and perceiving there a, sudden outburst out-burst of passion which she did not even seek to conceal. It was a revelation revela-tion absolute and complete, a revelation revela-tion never to be forgotten. Yet she did not touch me, did. not answer in words, and in another instant her glance turned away out over the grim I desolation of waters. I was still looking look-ing at her, intoxicated by what I had seen, when she pointed excitedly forward. for-ward. "In heaven's name, what is that?" Hardly had my glance shifted when Kelly leaped to his feet, his voice raised in a wild yell. "Mither of God, sorr, there's a ship!" CHAPTER XXIII. In Which We Board a Derelict. I saw the sleepers cast off their coverings cov-erings and rise up startled and staring, but I could only gaze dumbly at the apparition before us, doubting the evidence evi-dence of my own eyes and unable to utter a sound. At that first glance 1 believed the thing illusion, a mirage of the deep, a shadow-ship mocking us with semblance of reality. The cold silvery light played along her, glistening glisten-ing side, causing the whole extent of the vessel to gleam back into our eyes like a great mirror, while the very shape' and form of the silently gliding specter appeared a survival from out the dead past, a ghastly relic of centuries cen-turies gone uplifted from those somber som-ber depths below. The silence, gloom, the dim outline of the great hull, the strange glimmer of it from bow to j stern; all combined to make it seem a ghost-ship, sported with by the waves. It moved slowly under tho impelling power of I lie wiud beating against the broad high stern, the blunt bows scarcely rippling the water, wa-ter, passing almbat directly across our track, appearing more like a painted picture than anything constructed of wood and iron. Out of the night, dim, visionary, it swam before us, a weird, uncanny thing, chilling the blood with its ghostliness. I rubbed my eyes, staring at the silvery reflection, my heart pulsing Willi a horror which set ire trembling. (To nu eoNTi.Ni'Kn.) SYNOPSIS. The story opens with tho Introduction of John Stephens, adventurer, a Massachusetts Massa-chusetts man marooned hy authorities at Valparaiso, Chile. Being interested in mining operations in Bolivia, he was denounced de-nounced by Chile as an insurrectionist and as a consequence was hiding. At his hotel his attention was attracted by an Englishman and a young woman. Stephens rescued the young woman from a drunken officer. He was thanked by her. Admiral of the Peruvian navy confronted con-fronted Stephens, told him that war had been declared between Chile and Peru and offered1 him the office of captain, tie desired that that night the Esmeralda, a Chilean vessel, should be captured. Stephens accepted the commission. Stephens met a motley crew, to which he was assigned. He gave them iinal in-, structions. They boarded the vessel. They successfully captured the vessel supposed, to be the Esmeralda, through strategy. Capt. Stephens gave directions for the departure de-parture of the craft. He entered the cabin cab-in and discovered the English woman and her maid. Stephens quickly learned the wrong vessel had been captured. It was Lord Darlington's private yacht, the lord's wife and maid being aboard. He explained the situation to her ladyship. lady-ship. Then First Mate Tuttle laid bave the plot, saying that the Sea Queen had been taken in order to go to the Antarctic Antarc-tic circle. Tuttle explained that on a former voyage he had learned that the Donna Isabel was lost In 1753. He had found it frozen in a huge case of ice on an Island and contained much gold. Stephens consented to be the captain of the expedition. He told Lady Darlington. She was greatly alarmed, but expressed confidence in him. The Sea Queen encountered a vessel In the fog. Stephens attempted to communicate. This caused a fierce struggle and he was overcome. Tuttle finally squaring the situation. sit-uation. Then the Sea Queen headed south again. Under Tuttle's guidance the vessel ves-sel made progress toward its goal. De Nova, the mate, 'ld Stephens that he believed .Tuttle, now acting as skipper, insane because of his queer actions. Stephens was awakened hy crashing of glass. He saw Tuttle in the grip of a spasm of religious mania and overcame him. The sailor upon regaining his senseB was taken ill. Tuttle committed suicide by shooting. Upon' vote of the crew Stephens assumed the leadership and the men decided to continue the treasure hunt, the islands being supposed to be only 200 miles distant. Tuttle was buried in the sea, Ladv Darlington pronouncing the service. Stephens awaking from sleep saw the ghost, supposed to have formed the basis for Tuttle's religious mania. Upon advice of Lady Darlington, Stephens started to prohe the ghost. He came upon Lieut. Sanchez, the drunken drunk-en officer he had humbled in Chile. He found that at Sanchez' inspiration, Engineer En-gineer McKnight played "ghost" to scare the men into giving up the quest. Stephens Steph-ens announced that the Sea Queen was at the spot where Tuttle's quest was supposed sup-posed to be. The crew was anxious to go on In further search. De Nova and Stephens Steph-ens conquered them in a fist fight. Lady Darlington thanked him. The Sea Queen started northward. She was wrecked in a fog. Stephens. De Nova., Lady Darlington and her maid being among those to set out In a life boat.' Ten were rescued. Stephens saw only one chance in a thousand thou-sand for life. Ladv Darlington confessed heT -Jove to Stephens and he did likewise. Lady iJ&rlington told her life story; how CHAPTER XXII. Continued. "Oh, I know you do. It is because I know you do that I wish to tell you my story. It is my love which makes me so anxious that you should understand, under-stand, so when the end comes we can go together, loving each other, and not afraid. Do you recognize me? Have' you ever realized who I am?" I could only shake my head, wondering wonder-ing at the strange question. "No? And yet I have known you ever since that first long talk we had together in the cabin. It seemed so odd, such a strange freak of destiny, that you should have been associated in any way with my old life, and yet the very fact that you were, first created cre-ated the bond that has since drawn us together. You were no longer a mere sea-adventurer, but an old-time friend and equal. From that day all was different. I could fight It back, but could never conquer what that discovery discov-ery meant. Oh, how small this world Is! Did you ever hear of Doris Wins-low?" Wins-low?" A moment the vague, clouded memory mem-ory eluded me, tantalized me. Then in a Hash the revelation came. "My sister's chum at Wellesley?" The tears sprang glistening Into her eyes, her handclasp tightening. "Yes; does it seem possible? You never knew me, except by that name. My father died during the second year of my attendance there; then mother and I went abroad, and my education was completed on the continent. I am not finding fault, but but it was all most unfortunate; it brought nie into real life with a false understanding of everything wrong ideals, wrong standards. We were known to be wealthy, many considered me beautiful; beauti-ful; my mother's one ambition was to achieve recognized social standing in Europe, and from the first 1 was destined to be a means to that end. My education, surroundings, social environment, en-vironment, were all shaped with this purpose in view. In spile of myself the result was accomplished. "I was merely a girl of 17, desiring little but a good time, and accustomed all my life to the guidance of others. Lord Darlington joined our party In Italy, and we journeyed together for a week through the Italian Alps, finally going on board his yacht as Invited guest for a cruise in the Mediterranean, Mediter-ranean, lie was most attentive to me, yet I gave it scarcely a t honli t. I hardly realized what was taking place what it all meant, but' but one day we W'Tit ashore, and it it ci we were married at the liiilish legation In Athens. That day I was a careless lrl; I In- t : ' x t moniin;; found me a woman, : -in I fn 1. aroused from a dream, yet yielding to the inevitable. Whatever I suffered was borne alone; not even my mother ever heard me complain." She sat looking forth over the crests of the sea, the moonlight reflecting back into her face. The sail swung in and shadowed her. "Within a month we went to England, Eng-land, to Darlington hall, where everything every-thing was at my command, and later to London, during the social season. I had all that the world seems to value at my feet and at first I managed to be happy after a fashion. The excitement and exhilaration kept me alive and interested, in-terested, but in time the glitter and Artificiality of it all wearied me; more and more deeply I realized the sordid manner in which I had been sold, and I grew to hate those things which had purchased me. It vfas not Lord Darlington Dar-lington he was mre father than husband, hus-band, humoring me in every way, and secretly regretful for his part in the transaction. I became ill, begged for the sea, and we went aboard In his yacht. He was not unwilling, but to my mother it proved a constant hardship. hard-ship. Only her anxiety to prevent any rupture between us caused her to go on board. Yet even when I had recovered re-covered health I would not go back; that life would have killed me. Out in the open I could breathe and live; it yielded me courage to continue as I was." She bent forward, bringing her face once again into the revealing moonlight, moon-light, her eyes frankly open to mine. "I only wish I could make you realize re-alize how drearily lonely that life became. be-came. There was no knowledge of love to complicate the situation, and at first I even felt a sense of gratitude toward Lord Darlington for many acts of kindness and the consideration shown me. This changed, however, as I began slowly to comprehend the selfishness self-ishness of his motives that his actions ac-tions arose merely from a certain pride in my youthful appearance and the advantages to be derived from my wealth. My mother soon alienated my affections by always allying herself with him. Finally I had no one to whom I could turn for comfort or advice. ad-vice. 1 felt entirely alone, and grew silent, suspicious, and adverse to all social pleasures. The vows of marriage mar-riage rested lightly on Lord Darlington, Darling-ton, but for that I (I'd not greatly care, except that the knowledge snapped the lust weak bond between us. Almost Al-most wild to cscaiefrom Europe and its torturing memories I finally planned an extensive yachting trip around the world. I was impulsive,, headstrong, even hopeful that I might he permitted to inv-tc a few congenial friends and sail alone. To my surprise Lord Darlington expressed pleasure in the idea, and even persuaded my mother to accompany us." Her face sank suddenly Into her hands, her body trembling. "I bore it all smilingly, and enjoyed the sea. But I was a woman now, bitterly bit-terly resenting the manner In which 1 had been bartered in the matrimonial matri-monial market. I knew nothing of love, except as I perceived It In the lives of others, but I was hungry, starving for it We arrived at Valparaiso; Val-paraiso; this strange adventure occurred oc-curred to me, and then I met you." Her hands went out again to me, and I caught them eagerly. "That that day in the cabin, I I knew you for one of my own class; I knew you for a true man, a gentleman; gentle-man; I I read the love in your eyes, and I should have been an angel not to have welcomed it. Oh, God knows I tried not to do so! I prayed for help to resist my own heart, but the help was not given me. Now I comprehend com-prehend it was not meant that I should resist. The end was in sight even from the beginning. Love is more than ceremony, and can make even death sweet. I have no sense of evil as I look into your eyes; I have come into my inheritance, the rightful inheritance inheri-tance of every woman love. Even if it Is only for a day, it is mine mine by the gift of God. Oh, Jack, Jack, I have waited so long, so long, and now-all now-all I can say, all I desire to say, is, I love you!" Oh, that scene! that desolate, dreary, God-forsaken, hopeless scene the heaving waters, the cold sky, the ice-gleam, the awful expanse of barrenness bar-renness all about. Did ever love come to mortal before or since in such a spot, or amid such utter helplessness? But I forgot all, though even as I bent to her lips she begged me, falter-ingly, falter-ingly, not to touch her yet. There, in the heart, of that Antarctic sea, castaways, cast-aways, drifting to what seemed certain cer-tain death, we found in this confession a happiness that the world without would have sternly denied us. Ay! and we were stronger for it, braver for it; our eyes aglow, our hearts pulsing puls-ing to the one great, music of the universe. "Tell it to me," she whispered smilingly. smil-ingly. "I love you." "And 1 am happier than In all my life before." We spoke but briefly as we sat thus, my hand firm upon the tiller, my eyes never forgetful of those great surges smiting us. Indeed, there was little to say, for we had no future to discuss, dis-cuss, no plaits lo formulate. We could only live om the night, with the morrow a blank before us. Yet there was nothing of all this in the girl's face upturned and happy, nor did I permit my eyes to mar her happiness. We were together, understanding each oilier, and for the moment that was enough. Yet in some way my pulse heat stronger, my will to conquer this demon sea became mighty. God helping help-ing me, this love-life should not end here end in mystery and oblivion; those restless waters should not overcome over-come us forever. I would fight them for her sake and my own! The stars and waves defied such determination, yet I only stiffened In my seat, a new strength animating my body, a new faith stimulating my soul. Fifteen hundred miles! Father of Mercy, guide us! Yet It had been done, and It might be done again. "What is It, Jack?" she questioned softly. "Of what were you thinking?" |