Page 98 (2/2)

By Berwen Banks Allen Raine 11920K 2023-09-02

"Yes, of course," said the lady, with a considerable diminution of

interest in "the handsome Mr Wynne!" "You have left your little ones

too, I suppose?"

"No," said Cardo, laughing, "I have none"

"Ah, indeed, that's a pity!" and she took the first opportunity of

joining her friend, and telling her of her discovery

Cardo continued to look out to sea No, bad enough to leave Valmai,

but "little ones"? Would that time ever come? and as he pondered, a

fresh idea see hi his hands, and

between his teeth, he roused hi people, ere a thehted with the notice taken of hiave his orders, in imitation of the captain

"Oh, here's Mr Wynne," said the little urchin, and in awith delight, and for the next

hour, the laugh was loudest and the fun most furious where Cardo and

his little friend were located Before long, however, the store rattled; the sails had been

lowered, and everything e, looked energetic, and "fit" to fight with the storentleer and hardier rest them was

Cardo, atched the fury of the elements as the wind tore down upon

them Once, as the captain passed hier?" "I see none," was the laconic reply It satisfied Cardo, and

he gave hirandeur of the storht of Val for her presence; but it was not natural that he, a young and

healthy man, in the first flush of his e depression, this dark cloud hanging over hi wife It was unlike Cardo If his life had been

devoid of any special interest or excitement, it had at least been free

from care Not even his lonely childhood, or his dull, old hohtness and elasticity of his spirits He had never had

a cobweb in his brain, and this haunting shadohich followed every

sweetto rouse his resented around hi waters, Cardo Wynne, set hi" which had haunted hihts