CHAPTER III.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 24, 12 October 1883, Page 7

CHAPTER 111.

Ten days passed, during which the island of Orrawas still bound round with a ring of foam and fury, clashed with rain and darkened by storm clouds. Within the thick, low walls of the Lodge, life went on cheerfully. The two strangers felt themselves at home, and as a departure from under the roof of their entertainers was impossible, they both made the best of the situation. In truth, Priscilla, having recovered her strength and youthful spirits, was as happy as a bird tripping about the old bouse and making herself useful to her friends. Her little fingurs had a knack of beautifying all they touched, and, encouraged by the old- lady, they touched a good deal in the very simple establishment. The .shabby old drawing-room began to have a bright and less shabby appearance ; dull objects shone, the nicest things came to the front, and the least lovely retired into the shade. Even at cooking Priscilla proved an adept and introduced some tempting American dishes into the menage. With Mr. Dalrymple doubtless the time hung more heavily, upon his hands ; bat he was anxious to make himself agreeable, and was to be seen holding Mrs. Craig's skeins of wool while she wound thenr into balls, and playing at backgammon with the old lady when, .being tired of knitting, she put away her work-basket. In Dr. Kenneth's study there "was always an open book upon the book-s*and, and sometimes the young doctor sat opposite to the book ; but the truth was Dr. Craig's mind was not with study during those days of_ the three weeks' storm. His thoughts were occupied chiefly by Priscilla and her fortunes, and by the humble pair whoselives had been cast under a cloud by suspicion concerning the jewels. He fonnd it very hard to associate Duncan in his mind with a robbery, and it was much easier to believe thatrthe gems had gone down into the deep. % As the days went on, and Priscilla became dearer and dearer to him, Dr. Craig felt less and less inclined to see Duncan proved a thief and the jewels restored to Miss Emerson. Priscilla a rich woman, must be allowed to go her way out into the world and forget Orra Island. He, Kenneth, would not seek to withhold her from the brilliant fate that might await her. But Priscilla, penniless, destitute as' she was, might be freely wooed and perhaps won to stay among those who had already learned to love her dearly. In the old, storm-girt house she was gay and full of life ; and she " took to " his mother as if she had been a child of her own. Neither did the girl seem unhappy when Kenneth would at times linger by her longer than was necessary, though she must, he thought, often see his soul in his eyes. No, repeated Kenneth Craig to his inmost thoughts, while he stared at the pages of bis medical book ; he could not bring himself, try as be would, to wish that Priscilla's jewels could be found. And yet all the more must he exert himself to search out the truth. When this interminable storm should come to an end (it muat surely soon abate), then steps would have to be taken to put crooked things straight. In the meantime, life with Priscilla in the house was sweet ; sweeter than it ever could be again in the future without her. "* . To his other guest Dr. Kenneth had taken an unreasoning dislike, which, he was bound to confess to himself , had its origin chiefly in jealousy. Here was a man of some charm of manner, of considerable culture, intelligence, and experience, a man of the world , who had seen and could talk of many strange places, such a man as often fascinates a woman ; a person of property besides, with power to confer advantages on his wife, and he had nothing to do all day but make himself agreeable to Priscilla. "Well, why should any one object to such a state of things ? Priscilla, destitute, should be a rich man's wife, if she chose ; let the man who could make her happiest win her. Meantime, Priscilla had thoughts of her own, which were new to her, and which she did not share with anyone. She fancied that she perceived (it was not hard to perceive) that Kenneth loved her, and with her woman's instinct she had divined that he was worthy of her love. The thought that he could take her into his heart, destitute as she was, owing the very clothing she wore to his mother s bounty, made her own heart swell and her eyes fill with' tears ; and lying awake at night, listening to the roar of the wind and waves, sometimes having to remind herself that she was not still in the cabin of the doomed vessel, but safe under the roof of the man who bad rescned her, she vowed within herself that if it should be proved that Kenneth wanted her in his life, no other man should ever take her from him! . . ... «' With these thoughts strengthening in her mind, PiiscUla suddenly became anxious for the return of her jewels. That Kenneth should love her in her poverty, and afterward be obliged to receive good fortnne from her hands, seemed to her a most beautiful and desirable arrangement, and with all the ardor of a generous nature, she hoped and prayed that these things might come to pass. She began to listen with interest to Dalrymple's theory of the improbability of the loss of all her gems in the sea, and looked more and more sadly on Mary, as she thought of the possibility of Duncans having possession of her property. There was a little room at the back of the honse, where Mary spent a good deal of her time ironing linens and muslins for the household—a small room with a tiled floor and stove and ironing-table. Here Priscilla often passed some hours helping Mary with her tasks. It was useful work such as she liked, and pleasant too, when she felt weary and stiffened from sitting in the drawing-room reading or sewing with Mrs. Craig, or talking to Mr. Dalrymple. One afternoon, she had put on one of Mary's white aprons, and tucked up her sleeves, showing a pair of round white arms, whiter than Mary's and more dimpled at the elbows. The two girls had I worked some time in silence, and Prhcilla had noticed with sorrow I how pale Mary looked and how dark about the eyes. " Mary," she said, softly, " I wish you wouldn't grieve so much." "How can I help it, Miss Emerson?" said Mary, Utterly. " Whatever wav things gang wi' us there's a pain and a care. When 1 the storm over^ and the boats get out, the police will be here lookup after Duncan. An' if he canna clear himsel' his character is gone. (Tole Continued J)