THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10465, 1 November 1911, Page 2

THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

CHAPTER XIII —Continued

The sun's retiring glow on the huge bulk of the disabled Iricr. Pate had unexpectedly intervened to cut her off from the distrusted and hateful Mustafa, just at the trcmerit when his further company would have been roost unendurable. She begi'i to feel that her new career had at -ast begtm. The Western world, with its«'i> tangling ties, was finally severe-l; and before her lay—what? Mustafa had been proved fake! There was no doubt of that. Was it possible that her far-away husband had deceived her? He—a favourite of the all-powerful sultan? What would be more natural than for him to follow'the established matrimonial customs of his country? Thirprincess whom he had espoused—but the thought quickly grew insupportable. Seeing that the others were engaged, she 'began to pace the deck. She clasped her hands rigidly. "Once in his# house—that should also be my house—such a discovery would lie intolerable." Her hands clenched themselves -furtively. "I would kill him —kill him." A.pause, then a deep sigh'. "What else could Ido ? After that, the bowstring—the sack. Oh, Heaven, what a situation!" For a brief instant she caught herself desiring to be at her uncle's house, uri wedded and fancy free ; but-in the next moment her truly self-reliant-nature asserted itself.

\ - "If I had' to kill my htlsljahd, little' would I cairo for the means wherewitir I followed 'him to the next world. Better to be slain than to slay oneself. But these are idle fancies. My nerves are unstrung." Sho forth a small miniature of Rotan Pasha, given her by Mustafa Bey on the evening of lier marriage. She strove, by gazing on hia r 'handsome features to strengthen her 1 confidence in the man she believed she had married.

"That villain Mustafa is tile only false one," she concluded. "Why permit my faith in my husband to falter now? As for Sidney, with his Douglas letter—they both wished to marry me. It is but human of them to think ill of the man who succeeded where they failed. Rotan, husband —I believe in you. I have faith in you. I am coming to you, for—l—love —you —dearly!" /

Her back being toward the others, she furtively kissed the miniature, her face flushed guiltily, though her back was to the West and face was to the glooming East.

CHAPTER XIV.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MUSTAFA , BEY.

When Mustafa found out liow lie had been circumvented by Alma, he made a tremendous noise. He pounded on the stateroom door, yelled for help and otherwise behaved himself in a, half-demented manner.. But the stewards were leaning over

the rail, watching the transfer of mails ,and certain passengers to the Sardin-

ia. . , , Thus it happened that, by the time Mustafa was released the Cunarder had resumed her course. He flew from steward to stewardess, inquiring what I liad become of the lady he claimed was lin Lis charge. At last the purser, along, was appealed to by the Turk. "I suppose you mean Madam Rotan," asked the official, coldly. "Well 'she is 011 the Sardinia. She was assisted by a clergyman whom she knew, ■ who also went with her. That is alt I I know, my good sir. Excuse me. We i are very busy." While Mustafa stood swallowing Jiis disappointment, a stewardess who had unlocked the stateroom with another key, returned with a satchel. "I found this in the lady's room," said she. "Perhaps you will take care of it, sir." It was Alma's handbag, left with him when the girl iled. Mustafa took' : it, sat down disconsolately, and felt that he was in very hard luck indeed. :The Balearic, he had already learned, I must be towed back to New York. ! "I am a monumental ass J" he dej dared to himself. "I have lost a igood place at our legation, and have "probably ruined myself with my pat's ron, Rotan Pasha, and all for the sake of a pretty face, the owner of which scorns me. Verily, she would spit on

OUR SERIAL,

BY WHJJAM PERRY BROWN

me, and put her foot upon my neck What is to be -done?"

He lighted -ia. cigarette, went on deck and watched the dwindling smoko of the Sardinia- At first he had tried to have himself transferred to the Cunarder by a second boat, but th-3 Balearic's captain told him it was impossible. The Sardinia would wait no longer. The only chance Mustafa saw to rehabilitate himself was to overtake Alm& before she reached Constantinople, and by threats or persuasion prevail on her not to expose his derelictions to Rotan.

"Soul of Mahound," he exclaimed, "I cannot overtake her now. That girl surely bewitched me! Mad was I to think that the possession, of one fair face and the chance at her dowry was worth the risk I was taking. Mule that I am! But oh! she was fair—fairer than anyone I ever 'beheld! and spirited. Can Rotan.tame her? When she finds out the truth what will she (do? Armenian is only in part. Hev Frankish blood and training may lead her to prefer/resistance and even death; for she will be helpless, her I head already in the lion's mouth. If I could see her in time and let her see what is in store for her, might I not still rescue lier flx>m Rotan's power ? Stealth, artifice, money!" he laughed. "Her money can accomplish more on the Bosphorous than open force." "Yet here I sit, tied fast-. I cannot overtake her. Before I can reach New York and get another steamer and reach Europe, she will be safely immured in one of Rotan's palaces. - I myself, discredited, what will become of me?"

I After much cogitation he had near}ly made up his mind to return to Washington and try to secure his reinstatement as legation interpreter; yet lie was compelled to admit that his chance was very remote. Dinner that night was unusually dull, people being in a bad humour over the detention. The captain, worried by his own difficulties, was curt and almost gruff in manner, nor Fere other officers much more affable. The tugs would arrive about midnight. Many remained up, determined to see and hear all that was going on. From the engine rooms a constant hammering was heard, but ,as the night wore fin, numbers withdrew disgusted and went to bed. '

Mustafa, wrapped in a rug, took ■possession of a steamer chair, and smoked, worried and finally fell asleep on deck. When he awoke, the first glimmer' of daylight was breaking. Rows of lights on the starboard indicated that the Balearic was moving to-ward-New lork. Two large tugs with heavy hawsers were slowly pulling the tig liner at about a three-knot gait. Mustafia .watched them listlessly. " Vef y slow he thought. I guess Washington is about my only chance now." And he swore a string !of expletives in a languid fashion. "I doubt if the first secretary will take me back. The minister does not like me, and Hullo! What is that low, grey, phantom creeping toward us through the morning fog?" Mustafa, on the forward upper deck/ saw the faint outlines of a steamer rapidly approaching. Thos eon the Balearic could see that the newcomer was long, low, filmy, and swift. She passed, a gray ghost, within half a cable's length, and when nearly : abreast a hail was megnaphoned from the stranger.

"Ahoy! Is that the Balearic, making back to New. York?" "Aye, aye. What ship are you?" came from the Balearic's bridge. The reply to this was so indistinct that Mustafa caught only the concluding words, "bound to Liverpool."; In an instant he had made up his mind to do something. Running to the captain, who happened to be near, Mustafa held earnest whispered coni verse with this worried functionary! At first dubious, the captain' gradually acquiescent, then appeared to assent, for the gray vessel was lowering a boat, which was presently pulling towards the disabled liner. (To be Continued.)