THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10461, 27 October 1911, Page 2

THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

CHAPTER X.—Continued

Now this was not at all in clear words. But the meaning seemed ite hold some solution in, the captain s gaze. Thelma suddenly lowered her eyes, and Douglas felt the hand resting on his arm tremble. At this juncture M. Bruian, who had sent Sarkis out for an evening paper, looked up from its columns as the company were seating themselves around, the table, in order to find <his own chair.

I "A dispatch from Fire Island states that the Balearic has broken down," he announced. "Tugs have been sent to bring her back."

I "Hurrah!" exclaimed Sidney, at once enthused. "Marsovian, that will give us another deal. We may overhaul your neice on this side after all!"

CHAPTER XI

| A BRIDE ON THE BALEARIC \ __

When Alma Burian, or as she considered herself, Madam Rotan, left Washington for New York, she felt that certain ambitious dreams of hers were about to be realised. Many foolish, ambitious American girls have nourished similar dreams; yet few realise the dark alternative until the dream has vanished under sombre fact. Fact that must be lived out —

or worse. , When she threw 1 into the fire ithe letter given her by her old lover, Greer, after brief reflection, she practically crossed >heiv Rubicon. V But, fortunately, our Rubicons are not always as fateful as Caesar's. j "Sidney is a gooil man," she reflected. "Hecredits"this., idle gossip, j for he wants me, and tincle wants me to marry him. I might have married ■ liim if I had not met Rotan Pasha. What a man. he was! Handsome, noble,*passionate, rich, and such a passionate wooer! Other American girls marry counts, dukes, baronets, even, princes. But I .have a genuine pasha,' a favourite of the sultan, who will take me baok in state to my native country, of which he is governor, and from which. I fled, a fugitive, when a child. I will return a princess; and at my entreaty, my sister, iand other relatives and friends, will be welltreated and grow into favour. I will •be a kind of queen among them, looked to as the source of power and honour, through my husband. ; "Mustafa has often assured me of i this. IS he not a bey, high in the con-

fidenco of my husband?" Now, a girl, from the West, lovely, unsophisticated, confident, is not apt to arbour such thoughts long before she believes in them; and, through them, believ£ in herself, quite as strongly as the fool who looks on liis folly as wisdom.

Twinges of conscience concerning her indulgent uncle, or the singular wedding ceremony right under the

dome of the Capitol, were stifled by misty longings'concerning her hus-band's-state and dignity, all the more arbitrary because of their remoteness and glamour. .

The thing being done, departure was (the easiest, swiftest way. out of a perplexing domestic situation. Having crossed her Rubioon, she must go forward—and believe I Being a very self-reliant young woman, it was for a time an easy thing to fling doubt /Out of the.window, as fast' as credulity cam© in at the door. So she managed to keep herself glowingly convinced in her own opinions; so that, once comfortably esoonced at a family hotel near Broadway/ Alma was feeling I quite content.

[ In accord prior arrangements, j she called at the Turkish consulate, where the ladv whom she was to accompany would leave her address. Instead of the lady, or the address, she met Mustafa Bey, who had told her this, but whom she supposed to be still in Washington. Mustafa was profuse in apologies and explanation. The lady bad been ; she was in delicate (health, and would go direct .to the Balearic from her train (when it arrived. Madam Rotari need only to .allow him to procure see ,to her baggage, put her on the steamer, where she | would meet Madam limirlian, and all would bo well.

"Mackin wrote to me at the legation," he continued. "She supposed you would hardly have started. Of course I could only follow yoii here to ' let you know of this change, and to see

OUR SERIAL,

BY WILLIAM PERRY BROWN,

that her highness, Rotan Pasha's wife, ia as little inconvenienced as possible." Thus spoke the tool of Rotan Pasha, with much expressive play of eye and feature. Such was the glamour of her far-away husband that his unworthy tool here at hand was still uppermost in the credulity of the girl he was de-

cemng. Unsuspicious still, she made ready to accompany Mustafa, and hiad her trunks forwarded from 'the hotel to the steamer. But when, leaving the consulate, they met Greer as we know. Alma, though naturally astonished, was as yet uninfluenced by Sidney's words, deeming his presence here more of <an intrusion than at the wedding in Washington. Truly, this overbearing Westerner was going a trifle too far—with another man's wife. The expressive glances passing between Mustafa and Murahki puzzled •her a litle, but not seriously. Nor did die notice that Mustafa was going with her only to the Balearic, his own luggage reposed in the rumble behind. It would join her own from the hotel at the steamship dock. Elated at the tliought of getting off, she perhaps, 'thought more upon the trousseau she intended to purchase in Paris —who knows? —with her, noble husband at her side, resplendent with Oriental medals and decorations. "Remember me to His Highness," whispered Murahki to Mustafa at the carriage steps. "I have stood his friend and yours in this affair,that will cause some talk in America. Rotan has great iufluence 'with the Porte and His Majesty. I would like the London consulship exceedingly. That will be a promotion. Do you comprehend?" "Most assuredly. I think I can; say that your wishes will receive prompt consideration, considering your efforts to further Rotan's wishes in—er —this matter. I-"hardly thought it best to i-eturn to Stamboul so soon, but it is the safest plan for all." "Yes, yes. A handsome girl to travel with:" Here Murahki poked a fat i finger into Mustafa's lean ribs, and i chuckled quietly. j "Hush!" whispered- the attache. "She-does not suspect; she thinks that noble lady will meet us on the steamer. Suoh innocence; such assurance! She will probably miake a scene, but I hojge we will be at sea. Allah be praised. •What can she do? Rotan cares not, | so long as I bring Her safe and her A- j merican dot." "Farewell," exclaimed the consul aloud. "I salute the lady; I kiss Her Highness's hands." * ® Her Highness! To Alma's ears how nice that sounded, coming from an official of the empire in which the am'bitious girl already felt that she had an imposing part to sustain. "Women are fools," muttered the consul, as he returned to Greer, fuming inside the office. "It is good to have for them the harem. < I wonder what the Princess Aydoul will say wlien Rotan introduces this young spitfire into his palace!"' Mustafa 'had' shrewdly timefl his,arrival at the pier so that the waiting interval would lie short. He escorted Alma on hoard placed her. at the rail where she might watcl* the' scene below, then withdrew, ostensibly to I notify Madam lzmirlian, but really to look after Alma'-s luggage and his own. This attended .to, he returned with a yarn that the noble lady was too fatigued from her journey by rail from Chicago to see anyone until after a. few hours' rest. She would then be most happy to receive Madam Rotan, etc. 1 ' ■;

Still Alma suspected nothing. She was happy and hopeful. Mustafa then withdrew, after a pretence at farewell. He stated that a.steward would show her to her state-room later on,; tlien the roar of escaping steam cub short further lying on the part of Mustafa for the present. When her uncle and Pavl'dis arrived n't the last moment, Marsovian didn't shake her confidence. The roar of steam cut off explanations, for the Balearic was leaving. She did not witness the encounter of Pavlidis with Mustafa at the gangway, and as the great ship drew out into the river she waved her handkerchief at her uncle with a light heart, though her eyes were moist. (To be Continued.) .