CHAPTER XXIV.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 171, 25 September 1886, Page 7

CHAPTER XXIV.

AN IMmOMPTtJ YACHTING 35XCURSTON. Grace DKL/,&MARbad noticed Mrs Herbert's change* of lountenaace when she, read! Vance'a note, She w»a still avsalting tb© explanation which that lady had promised her with an anxiety, which made her indifferent to her breakfast' ; now she wondered if this written message had anything U> d<* ■with the'converfiation which Vance had ju.tevrupted the previous evening "How about, that yachting excursion !\ aefced Lillie. ""I trust our handsome brother ia , not too indolent to leave hi^ bed." \ , 4< It would f.eem that he s ha^ already 'leffe, it," replied 'Maudo'with^fteeumeii careleasness. lll 'fle ha^'left Newport, altio, aft fomo sudden^ vvKitrf" gone'bacU to New-York^ posaibly.^ . ' ' vV '' . ; 'MVaat can be 1 -find in the city at thia seaaoh to Interest hi^aV lb' rt » horrid bof^» Two 1 eufferiit^ 1 young ladieS 1 ia thte" houao,, a v n^i not a brother to wait upon them.' ' V«?£y ( p;allflht>to^race, ! Gra,c€» don't you feel like 'catting 1 his acquaintance?" :•' • <• do.'' " ' " « ' - ' " Mtee Del&dtiiai'smi'tad as she s&id it. and hec '• questio'ri'er 11 never dreamed Koiv ;inu'ch ! ift elrnesti'fhe'wa'a, 1 but/ari ideii odcalrVc^ t<i liiUi«wKich\kept' f her rather quiet the, Pmt, \tm meat.' l '-iNot' J 'dteatoin« how' 7 fttKny hkd' W&dy l r Wfueed v h^ 1 /aui£, : ' '•tfy thought that V'anc'a'g^iabrujJt^arna^ "'tu^eitbuiirb^'frwih^th'the fact tfi'at »^'bM Inade^fll^totioii-atia Ve^W fef«?9cl. f " '^ia,.' i would 'Acdtfunt^o^'Graefe'a •'ftetfjffement sWtikC' but skying g^^eiit;, W atoy!d*tfceiar?< mik

Wiived that she b»\v through the whole performance, and she felt very indignant At Miss Delzemar, for 'she waB a zealous little partisan, and Vance was her idol, ' , As it would not do to show her resentment toward an invited gueat, she exerted herself to be pleasant ; but the sparkle was jrope ; and aa all the others, excepting Mr Herbert, were intensely preoccupied, that gentleman came to the conclusion ti>at the warm weather had, made the ladies decidedly "dull," and he would get out of the house as soon as possible, -which he did. The ladies accompanied him as far as the piazza ; hia wife kissed her' hand to him, Xollie fluttered her little handkerchief, as lie »vent off for an hour or two's exercise in a neighbour's billiard-room. " 3uch a splendid {morning on the water T sighed Lillie, sinking into one of the red chairs which enlivenedthe gayly decorated verandah, and looking reproachfully at Grace. "I am really ashamed Miss Delzemar, to have invited you here, and then to have so little to offer you in the way tof amusement. I depended so much upon Vance and bis yacht, What shall Ido for you? Send for Misses Bulbul and their brother to come and play croquet, and stay to lunch with us? You know the Bulbuls?" "Yea, but I beg of you not to send for them. You can't imagine how glad I am to have a nice, quiet day with you two. The greatest favour you can do for me, liillie, is to let me enjoy it undisturbed. It is delightful out here. With a book or * bit of needle-work one could easily pass a Your gardener must have good taste and judgment, Mrs Herbert : I have seldom seen grounds** of this size more handsomely laid out. What a delicious air blows from the ocean !" "That's just it!" pouted Lillie; "we ought to be out on the water." "Burning our faces and getting seasick." laughed Mrs Herbert. "Indeed, Miss Averill, I would rather be tere," repeated Grace. "The odour from that bed of heliotropes is heavenly. I prefer it to eea-weed." So the three ladies seated themselves in the cool of the verandah, with a pretence of zephry worsteds and embroidery to fill in the time. Lillie soon became tired of this, and went off, like a butterfly, among the flowers, asking, the gardener to cut her this and that blossom, until she had enough for a wreath, when she sat down in the summer-house to make and put it on her pretty head before " What were you going to tell me when ire were interrupttd last evening ?" asked Miss Delzemar, the moment the opportunity occurred. •* Don't imagine I can tell you without shame and distress," replied Mrs Herbert, drawing her chair close to her visitor's and speaking in low tones. "What I have to say will be hard for me. It is not pleasant to denounce the crimes of a member of one's own family. But in my brother Oscar's defence I must, and will tell you all that I iknoio and all that I suspect, leaving you to judge for yourself." She then rapidly stated the case of Oscar's business failure as he had represented it, and not as it had be9n publicly misstated. She said that Oscar had told her that he Tcnciv that Vance was at the bottom of his ruin— that Vance had forged the order for Bennies money, and had stolen the bonds, probably the Jay before Black Friday, when the two went down together to the safe, Vance offering to hold a light while Oscar looked for some papers ; but he could not ptovcit. She then related how she had found the bonds under Vance's carpet, only a few days ago, and had accused him of the theft, which he could not deny. She Also added that it was her belief that Oscar never knew of Grace's coming to New York— that Vance had intercepted the note, and taken on himself to prevent its destination. 'If ever a man loved a woman, Miss Averill," said Maude, in conclueion, "my brother loved*you, You hare done him a great wrong." " If ever a woman loved a man I loved him," sobbed Grace. " An 3 do love him yet. Oh, Maude, san't you see that it is breaking my heart ? Maude, Maude, tell me where he is I" Before Mrs Herbert could restain her, the proud girl was on her knees before her, her lace buried in the other's dress. " Tell me where he is, won't you ? I want to write to him— to beg his pardon — to tell him how I love him— to beg him to come back to me— to assure him that I never cared for his loss of fortune. If he had not m penny I would be glad of it, that I might give him all my possessions. I shall never marry any other man, whether he forgives me or not. I shall never be happy again a day or an hour unless we can be friends. Maude, you write and tell him this— tell bim I shall die if he does not come back." Maude softly caressed the bright hair flowing over her knee. 11 1 will gladly write, and t«ll you where to write. But I must tell you that your letters will be long in reaching him— that it is & question whether he ever receives them. He has gone to a wild region in the northern part of Mexico, and does pot expect to* return from there for some months at least. I feel very unhappy about him, Grace— very uneasy. That wild border-life is beset with danger. I wish— l wish he had leceived my last letter before starting." " It was I who diove him off there !" ex-, claimed Grace, weeping still more violently. •* Ob, dear, I cannot bear it !" " Bat you will have to bear it now, my dear. Rise and compose youreelf. Perbaps it will all be right some day ; though certainly, we shall have vto' have patience and wait a long time. " " " Oh, lam so wretched \* " Lillie is coming, Grace. Don't; feel bo badly, child." . -„ , " I don't care who sees my trouble !" exclaimed Grace, rising, and throwing back her, disheveled hair from her tear- wet face. •'I love Oscar, and I have wronged him. I am willing the whole world shoilld hear me say so. It is all I can do now," , Lillie came up the walk, singiDg, crowned with her garland of flowers. " Why Grace, dear, what is l£e matter?" " We have been talking about Oscar," "was the frank reply. " Are you sorry you broke the* engage' ment." "I am, Lillie, heartily Bony." "It was one of his sensitive freaks, flying off as he did," said Lillie, half .pettishly. *' No one else would have done avon a thing: Better console yourself |wich Vance, Grace, dear; he is your most devoted „ slave. He is Tery unhappy, Grace; I think you ought tobave,compassion on him. Two victims are. one tot? snany,^ „,. „ „,-,* „ „ "What a silly cMid," said Mra Herbert, reprovingly ; at the. game time^he looked warningly at Grace not to ,«ay > what she Icnew about Mr - Stay vesant*. but toj conceal ber indignation fore the present. ■, " When "water ceases to run it may .be iaa woman's power, to break Vanca's heart* As ''things are, I'am^not > at all concerned about it* . fie* 1% one,9f thoßa'peraons well adapted to tak© " care of their own interests.^ *, *,<, -.* -. "!fr n PJSyA»^re l aU,agdMtMm,?'critd Lillfe, warmly. _ -. f\ Bufr Ml gpt at least one «Umpion. u « Because .Wb qquietk t and bot- f jbetdad Vm^gqlna, to Maqaeihlnr. „H« f « Ine bandfomoec, wittfoet, bait dreuod, most graceful, most penerona, warmest-hearted' «rothar ever a girl had, there ! He'i too fan-

petuouß, I acknowledge j but I admire him even for that ! Ycu are a great belle, Miss Delsemar, a great beauty and heiress you can have any man in the United States you may choose, I am sure bat you'll never find Vance's superior. I advise you to take Mm!" . , Even Grace coul i not help smiling at tUig outburst, at whicl J.illie herself laughed as Eoon as it was over, , ••He has gone,' } said Mrs Herbert, "ao there's no use in discussing him, Suppose we change the subject." •fWell, then, I'll change it to Mies Delzemar's hair," said Lillie, recovering her temper. " It'a very much out of order. If ahe will allow uae I will replace a stray hair-pin or two. Here, Maude, did you ever Bee Grace look so utterly bewitching? If she could step on the stage, just aa shs is this minute, she would win fame by a look." Mrs Herbert turned to see what had caused this eulogy. Lillie had taken down trace's long golden hair and shaken it out into a hundred rippling strands, and had crowned the fair head with the wreath which she had took from her own. If Grace's beauty ever .had a fault it was that it was too coldly fair. But now, the storm of passion which Bad. just shaken her had brought the flush to her cheeks, the light to her eyes ; the quiver of feeling playing about her sweet mouth, the shadow of pain on the brow, the droop of the still wet eyelashes added an exquisite touch to that fairness. " I wish Oscar could ccc her,'' thought Maude ; but refrained from saying so, since the subject had been tabooed. Presently a party of morning-callers were seen coming in at the gate; and Miss Delzemar retired to re-arrange her hair, begging the hostess not to mention her presence in the house unless she was asked for, aa she felt in no spirits to meet strangers. The visitoia made quite a call, giving Grace a chance to recover herself a little in the quiet of her own room, aa they did not a»k for Iher. Lillie received invitations to two or three informal parties— a boating picnic, a croquet-and tea party, and a small evening sociable ; so that she grew to miss Vance less. The day slipped away ; the three-o'clock dinner, the drive in the afternoon, and the sociable in the evening, filling it up. Mips Delzemar wad too obliging to refuse tillies entreaties that ahe should go out with her ; she went, but her heart and her thoughts were far away, and because she could not entirely conceal her sadness, some persons called her cold and proud, If to be thought cold and proud would free her from attentions which ahe no longer coveted, she would have been willing to gain that reputation. As soon as they reached home, which they did a little after eleven, she retired. Lillie also went to her own room, and was startled, just after entering it, by something strikiug against the glass of the window. "One of those ugly bugs !" she Baid to herself. But the signal was r-peated two or three times, until she began to realise that some person was throwing gravel up at her window? * At first she was tempted to scream, girlfashion ; but having resisted that impulse, she calmed herself, and turning down the light, approached the window, and leaned over the sill and looked down into the garden, which was flooded with moonlight. Some one was leaning in the shadow of a trellis. ,$ "Sister Liliie !" was whispered. "Vance, upon my word !" ahe breathed to herself. 11 Come down I want to speak to you." •• Quite mysterious, I declare !" murmured Lillie, looking about for a shawl. Stealing down stairs, she opened a sidedoor and went out. " I thought you wore in New York," she said, running forward so her brother. "I have been there, and returned to day. Hush ! Coma along a little farther and ait here in the shadow. 1 don't care about their knowing I am around. I quarreled with Maude last night." "What about?" " Miss Delzemar, of course. She wants to prevent the ma'ch." "Why should sho?" "On Oscar'a account. Oacar is always to have the first choice, you know." "He doaen't seem to have much choice now, poor fellow !" "Oh, you're going to mope about him, too, are you, sis ?" " Don't be ao quick, Vance. I can love both of you— can't I?" ■'No — that is, you Ye got to love me best, sis.^ For instance, if the question arose which you should favour, 1 should want you to say ' Vance,' without any hesitation or discussion. Those are the friends I like —none of your half-in-half, milk-and-water, never-know-where to-find- em people 1" Well, Vance, you know I have always stood by you. Still, if you were to do any* thing really wrong " hesitating. "Oh, I am not going to do anything wrong, my pretty. Set your soul at ease. Do you think I am such a bad boy ?" ,» " Now, brother, I did not know anything of the kind. You were always a little jealous of Qscar, and a little hasty. But, as I told them to day, I liked you al^the better, for your faults." " You're, a nice little thing, Lillie dear. So they discussed me, did they ?" " No ; only I was enumerating your good qualities to Grace;' and saying that she would never have another husband like y° u -" ' " , i , "Thank You. That's what I want to talk about. You Bee, Maude will do all she can tq prevent ray speaking, to* Grace. I ' want tfou to bring about a meeting between Grace ans myself." J \ '" "Maude hao not' forbidden you the house?"' " A "_ ", ( , : •'No, 1 I've forbidden myself. She insulted | me, and I will not enter her door again. She is glad of that, because it prevents my > attentions to Mies Delzemar. Now, you-^ know, she is only going to be with you three or four days,' and I want to see her before she goes. I want to explain some things to her which Maude has. misrepresented." " , "Weii?" ''!',- ' ',' ;,'\ " And 1 want Maude to think' tiiat 1 am out of Newport," ' ", u . "I.shall say nothing of your being- here."* " I'm going to sleep on board the Undine to-night. Ypu know there are two ntate* rooms ' *nd cabin, .beautifully furnished. I can live on i shipboard i as long aal please; for that matter. I waqt ' you to be down . at her docls, to-morrow afternoon abot^t five o'clock, and bring Misa Delzemar Withydu. 1 You cancome on boaVd for an h,oUrer two, and I can have my talk 'with' hetf r " "'" ' * ■ 1 " B^t,s^pppße,sue'iTpiil not come V* ; , ri . j_V , " lib'a very quiet and deserted where tho Undine ' i»<mdbred,f TtovL- can walk there, without any impropriety', < She need 'notf jpiow where < you aW going until y6u n&ai the dook.wT shall he walking Jabot! V&nd* Invite you both to visit my little erif *;''*« you hatra n'dt eeen her sine© hor ropilra. If you consent, she could haVdlyrafnga withY out be|oa *q£ft. to y?u., Onoe o^ boards I catfcontrfre, to lf haTe a fowrwordtwith her. • t l^i j-« ■;,-*■ ;-; t, U i*\<fai>iUH'"-'t*jftilt'4f<t} " Somehow, it makes me feel like • bonipirator. I never did anything of the Mind before." - Jj£.

— ; — « ww i » -i < * < fj^v v/ ■•—> v7T< r "Goosie ! can't you see there's no harm it? no" even deception; You simply rekin from telling, the , whole- truth .to youriend when you Uek' her to walk. Ofte rould think I meant to kidnap you both," soughing a little peculiar rough. . , " I would lot give niuch for your championship, if jovt cannot do that much tor me," " Oh, I shall do it, Vance:'' "Thantt you, my' pet.'' NW, Lillie, font fail. It will be my last chance, for Miss JL»e)zemar goes abroad soon, and I leave here as soon as possible after seeing tier I must apeak with her, and I depend on my own true' 'little sister to bring it about," kissing her, " And so, goodnight, lou'll take cojd, if you, stay hero, longer. About half-past live I shall be looking for you— from that to six. Don't fail me." " I will not. Good night, brother Vance," and Lillie slipped back into the house, fastened the door, and crept *up to bed, feeling, as she had said, like a conspirator , Yet it was a h aimless piece of Btrategy which Vance asked of her. She could not explain to herself why she felt so reluctant to cake part in it. Foolish little thing as she was in »ome respects, Lillie was the soul of truth and strictly conscientious. All of Mr Averills children had been trained to a high standard of integrity. That the half-brother had not kept u up to the mark " was owing to a taint of other blood in his veins, perhaps, as well as to Mb over-indulged boyhood. The n&ct day the promises she had made weighed upon her, She was more silent than usual, and blushed so deeply once or twice when rallied on it, that Maude began to -wonder it young Bulbul were really making the impression he was anxious to make on Mies Lillie's mind. ' It waa a sultry day— one' of those hot languid, interminable July days, when the world begins to droop before seven in the morning, and when it seems as if the ball of fire in the heavens neverwould roll round tothe northern' horizon. However, while the family were idling with the ice-cream and such other trifles as formed a light dessert after dinner, a tremour ran through the window vinqs, and a welcome shadow fell on the room. «• Good !" said Mr Herbert. "We shall have rain before many hours." Lillie thought of Vance, hardly knowing whether or not to wish that the storm would keep off until after night. By the time they had withdrawn from the table it was hotter than ever. The cloud had disappeared, and every leaf hung down motionless. There was nothing to do but lounge and complain of the heat. In about an hour there came another rustle of the vines and window draperies. It was now approaching five o'clock. *• I believe it ia cooler on the verandah," remarked Lillie. " Let us try it, Grace." And they stepped through the French windows. There was a dash of moisture and refreshing coolness in the breeze which greeted their fair, flushed foreheads. Over in the west lay a heavy bank of black olquds, threatening rain sometime before midnight. The scorching sun was travelling toward it, and would soon be obscured by it. "It is like drinking water* when one is thirsty, to feel this breeze,", said Grace. " Shall we walk about the grounds ?" They rambled about the flower-bordered paths for half an hour. " Oh, look at the wesi !" oried Lillie. The edge of the dark bank of clouds was "fringed with fire." The dazzling blue, the more dazzling'gold, black underneath, were magnificent. The wind was rising a little all the time. "The view down on the beach must be fine," continuedjLillie, colouring asahespoke. " I propose that we go down for a walk." "How shall we reach it without getting dusty and warm ¥' asked Grace, quite willing to go. "We can pass ' through the grounds ol our next neighbour, and by a private gateway, out upon the ledge, and down a path to the beach. They own down to the water's edge; their yacht is moored just below. We have permission to use the path as muoh as we please." Returning tothe house for hats and gloves, they reported to its mistress that they were going for a stroll on the beach. " Very well. I feel too indolent for such an exertion." In a few moments the two girls Btood on the edge of a rocky ledge which overlooked the bay. A million dark ripples scuddded over the face of the water ; the bank of clouds lsy torpid and thick in the west, edged with ajbem of gold ; little 000 l flurries of wind broke through currents of hot air ; there wasno prospect of an immediate storm, and they descended the rocky path to the hard, smooth beach which banded the bay. There were several pretty little vessels moored to aa many little dockß owned by the masters of the elegant villas on the ledge above* Some of these were making ready for a sail, taking advantage of the breeze. springing up fora little run before the breeze should change to a storm. Grace noticed the fancy; 'names of these vessels as, she .passed. "♦The Wave,', .'The Mermaid,' 'The Undine'— is not that the, names of Mr Stuyvesant's yaoht?" > "Yes,',' answered Lillie, keeping her conscious face turned away ; " and there is Vance himself on the dock." " I thought he was in Newj York,',' spoke up Grace, quickly, making a movement to retreat, ',',.• ' ( 'He has .see: nus and is coming to. meet us. 1 1 " I don't care to meet him, Lillie, Let us turn." , t >•!•<• . i. " Why ? Has any thing occurred between you ?," , • i ; < , t -n, . ;. Miss Delzemar remembered -Maude's reiqmsc that nothing should be said about Vance's sins until the time came, and hesitated., ' ' '' ' "\ '" j "If you wish to speak' with yourbrotherj we will go on. But please do not let him detain us long," ' ' \' \ •'< \' ' r " They continued along 7 the beach' until Vance met them. Grafcefelthemust; know that M^B Herbert had betrayed hiuvbut* no sign ' of it appeared in his face or manner ;',_ his smiling eyes' met Hers jwithout wavering, ' rand his "usual:" easy grace"was ! HOt dashed by 'any embarrassment. (V \\ , ' ' " h She .gave him" a just' perceptible bow ;' aWintended that lie shouldaea that, had U not been ftir MiSa AveVill'a presence, she w«uld have cut him decidedly. , , , *' Will you honour the Undine, ladies, by a , r crlticism ! of>ei;ne^d'resB^' \ \ ! '[ " t< ii•' I should like 'to' ga oh 'board a few mm-; utes.'if Miss DelzemM is willing." " ' • • Lilli^^fafcyw^s^rimgoWas^Bhe said it V Vance's eyes'dSneed tb'eiee hBif poorly she could play a part ; ,',it wills ito Effort for' Awn.', ' M Mre Herbert did Hot jsxpect 'us'to're'.', l maiii'kya^l6nM" Grace^esponded^ooldly., " ' '• But I hare not seen the cabin since it wals^erurnißnea-'^^leiaed Lta.' ' " 'V : ; ;3; 3 t'lt^ou Htitofiml w gB'V/bba^a, t 4f euld n^'be ■ dt ''diaappdinting 'you;»'^id'Gr4Wpoliiielyi"» ' ' #* '? ;I ' " ' r V»ncewaa prof use in hi« thariW, 1 to 1 she ▼ouchased no antwar, leaving Ulli© 1 Ho dodo kli the talking) and compolUng him tofeeliherdiipleasurej^'l ttst ; .i ,Miiu.!« >iJ Tho Undine w Ail a trim little 'baauty^ Miss DelMmftr could nytwdiider^h»tTft»ce w*j pro^d Of -her: ;l; l bu*' whon » §hb rocalJed how he obtftined the mon«y f or tuch extrayag»BO(w her fMturM Mt in » chilling oalm. ', - ~" r >, * "^ - f

The crew of f6ur sailors, in tlieir neat uniforms, were on board/ idty Waiting the maeter'i pleasure,' U8 they'watrihecPthe coming * and going *of similafcr*ft ln r the Stuy veeant led the way' ifato the curining ittle cabin, furnished with the costliest garniture possible £o crowd into so small a jpace. A coup'o of blue velvet easychairs, embroidered with nautical designs in gold thread, stood on either tide a email table, on which was a basketr of fruit and plate of lowers. ( • l " * ) ' r He insisted onthe ladies trying both the chairs and th 6 fruit. 1 '" ■ As Lillie at once'complied, Miss Delzemar wad forced ; to await her pleasure. She refused to 'partake of anything, however, causing Vance to remark : " You scorn my hospitality, I see, Miss Delzemar. I dare say that »kind sister Maude of mine has been telling 1 you some stories about me." " . < j He had no intention of trying to persuade her that the "pretty st6ries"'were not true ; he knew that it', was' tog late for that ; he said it simply to deceive Lillie into thinking that he wanted a talk with Grace, and to make time in which. ■to execute a bolder move. . „ , , , . "We will not talk about that, if yoa pleaB6| Mr Stuyvesant." "How awfully sharp she is with poor Vance," thought Lillie. (i "The vessel is in motion," suddenly exclaimed Grace, rising to her feet. ' , Lillie also arpsro, looking , inquiringly toward her brother.' ' " 1 gave the men orders to move out a little way into the bay," said he carelessly. " I thought a sail of half an hour or so Rvould refresh you after the intense heat, and the sky ie beautiful. Shall we go on deck and enjoy the view ?" 41 You should have asked our consent," said Miss Delzemar. " Yes ; I'm afraid Maude will be troubled about us." "I never dreamed of your ref uFJnp short sail on an afternoon like this," wasa Vance's easy reply ; and, indeed, when they got out on deck, even Grace could hardly desire him to turn back, though she would have chosen different company from his had it been in her power. A rising breeze made the little vessel fairly fly. The cloud had spread until about a third of the heavens was covered with its inky darkness ; as the sun was now behind it, a shadow had settled over land and water, delicious after the glare of the day ; the golden edges of the storm were more dazzling than before. Vance did not talk much with his visitors ; he was busy sailing his yacht, learing them to snjoy the hour, which would have been thoroughly delightful had not not Grace continued angry at having been inveigled into an excursion without her consent having been asked. However, for Lillie's sake, she tried to appear at her ease. On flewtbe Undine, swiftly andgayly as a bird, nearly all her canvas spread, and making out toward the ocean. Meantime the breeze strengthened, the cloud darkened, little white caps began to roll in."We Jiave continued far enough. It is going to storm soon," said Lillie, uneasily. " Don't go any farther, Vance." '* I wanted to turn the point, give you a glimpse of old ocean fretting in anticipation of a storm, and then scud home before the wind. Don't you think we will have plenty of time, Thompson ?" addressing the oldea sailor of his little crew. The saiHng-mapter eyed the prospect, and shook his head. "As far as my wishes are concerned, if they have any weight with you, Mr Stuyvesant, I desire to return to shore immediately," said Grace. — " Ladies are allj cowards on the water, I believe," he said, carelessly. Just then they passed within hailing distance of another yacht, on which was quite a party ladies and ' gentlemen of their acquaintance. " What are you thinking iabout, Captain Stuyvesant,?" shouted the master of the other; "making away from home in such weather as this ! I'm afraid we shall catch it, as it is. There is an awful thundergust coming up. It. will strike the bay in less than twenty minutes, I think." Lillie turned pale ' "Do - do turn about," sbe pleaded. "That's a jolly sailor-phrase," jeered Vance. "You should take a few lessons from Thompson, Lillie dear, in sea-talk." The other vessel dashed by, the waves already running high about her sides; passing so close to the Undine that the' people on each distinctly recognised their friends on the other. ' ■ ■ ■ "I shall go out a mile or two farther," shouted Vance as they rushed by. "If you see Mrs Herbert before we do, tell her we're bound for Europe, all right." " Their friends smiled and waved their handkerchiefs. "That Stuyvesant i* a reeklesa aailor," remarked the captain of the homeward bound yacht. " I don't feel eady to se«v the Undine moving out in such a storm as that. It's these sudden summer gusts that play the mischief wtfh* a vessel. Ladies on board too.", , , , , , jV , Before he had finished speaking, , a loud roll of thunder shook the air, which, darkened suddenly ; ip> ten minutes rain „was falling, lightning darting, the wind howling. ■His lady friends crowded ,into the, cabin; sails were reefed, and even ip ,his comparatively sheltered position he, had some difficulty in bringing the Sea-Shell to her dock. ,• , . ,•< - » „ « ,>, > There they were detained for- over an 'hour by oue of the most furious of ,au turner storms; rain, hail, wind, thunder inado a roar thai: was frightful. It was as dark as night,, and althqugh feeling themselves safe, all on board the Sea-Shell trembled for other, craft which might not have been . so' fortunate. - . „ , -„ • • j. About half-past seven the storm .cleared off, as suddenly as it had begun, and the Imprisoned pleasure-seekers stepped out of the Sea-Shell on to the dock, glad to be on terra firnia. Tbe white caps ran high, a brazen band belted the west, the water was , a dull yellow. „ All strained their eyes to catch some" glimpse of the Undine ; but nothrng was to be seen resembling her, far or near. ■ „ „ * " I hope to Heaven she's safo !" ejaculated the captain^ ; "but I feel more uneasy than I like to confess. *We had*bettw- stop and leave word 'with the Herberts as v>& paiss." ' One of the sailors had been sent off. for a couple of carriages, which now arrived, and into which the ladies entered." The captain was riot quite ready to leave his vessel, but he charged one of the carriages to be sure and- stop at Mr Herbert's in passings - 1 A'a it droyeup in front of^h'e^ouse' Maude herself <?ame outl' She imagined' tbeYtw,o^' girla had taken refuge, from the .Btprm^fn, the house J of sp^e acquaintance I ' >hp- was' now kindly bringing, tWerir h&jne'.V \ W(uta s she saw they" were not:m t thp^'p^rria^ she \ i Ji' .'"' y ,, A ~\r * .. ; \'; n Ll. 1 « Welcome togive you'V 'ti&a^'l&ptf; Mr Stuyvesant/^saidZ^one,_o£.J;ha ladies^' hardly knowing ho *f to communicate her «f»cts 1 "withbtiti (t6osi f grektly^klii^Minff'^]fifips^ Herbert; "We have been 1 out on- the bky' — jusfc come-froni the Sea-Shell/ ! We were f bought In the storm ; but wero id near Irt that we escaped dunger ; Kay* been cooped up in the cabin an hour or two, that's all, Tovr brother ventured farther out than wt,

and we have not aeon the -Undine come in yet. , Still, we hope nothing haa happened „ to he*.'' He shouted to us as we' ! passed r< him* fTell Mrs Herbert we are bound for Europe.' He always hio fun out of, everything." *" My brother," exclaimed Maude. ' '"' Supposing Vance to be in New "York, o she aid, not comprehend what was eaid; r while, they put down her extreme Burprise '<■ to the .natural, fear of -the effects of the storm on, the Undine. »■}',, „ [ " Yea. W© tried to persuade him not ta venture too far, ; but the storm struck very soon afterward.*' , • " Hp waa.out pn the Undine ?'\ ' . "He was. You know ife promised finely 'for a short sail.", , x "Who was with him? any one?" asked Maude, growing white. "Your sister and Mies Delzemar." "I cannot, believe it," cried Mrd Herbert. " Th,e girls did not tell me they were going. , on board the yacht. They started for a walk. Are you ctrtain it was they, Miss Pomeroy ?" , ■ i " Perfectly certain. They probably met Mr Stuyvesantand concluded, * on the spur of the moment, to have a sail." Maude looked so pale and bewildered that. . her friends felt very compassionate. They Were far from easy as to the fate of the Undine, and their alarm betrayed • itself, despite of their- efforts to hide it. " I am afraid something has happened. What shall I do?", , . „ VV "Send Mr Herbert down to her dock. She may be in by this time; and her passengers laughing at our fright. I will stay with you until your husband rdturns," and Miss Pomeroy left the, carriage. > * Mr Herbert was informed that there was some alarm about the Undine ; he hurried down to the beach, while Maude waited his return, which was delayed over an 'hour. When he came back he reported that the Undine had not oome in, and was not in sight. He did not tell his wife that it was the opinion of the oldest sailors that ahe had gone down in the sudden gust • but he had heard many such opinions stated ; and thia theory was accepted. When the long hour* wore away, and telegrams to Narraganset pier, and other pointa near at hand, were answered by, •♦ No news of the Undine." (T9 be Conikiutd, )