Chapter 52512235

CHAPTER III.-THE FINGER OF FATE FOISTS

SEAWARDS.

All nicht Ann walked about ber room, first stupefied, then weeping.

She bad long ago torn off her veil and wedding finery and flung them on the bed, in a frenzy of rage with her faithless friend, and then she flung herself on the hearthrug, by way of contrast. Towards four o'clock, feeling chilled and aching in eve: y bouc of her body, she roused up wearicùly, ashamed of herself, with a dull thought that Anita, in such a situation, would have done just the contrary, end been sleeping soundly between her sheets by this time. So for her Blinnie's Bake, not to let the hotel servants guess her ridiculous plight, Ann got into bed, to lie wide awake for some hours more. Then she dropped asleep, or so she firmly believed, just as the housemaid appeared.

The latter unlocked the door from without, and now demurely expressed hopes that Ann had not been nervous through the night, as Mrs. Finn, her friend, said iu going away the young lady wished to bo locked in.

Now, it had come to Nannie's mind, during the small hours, that she would confess all to Captain Goodman, and ask his fatherly advice. Hastily dressing herself, eke scribbled a note which she sent downstairs, for he was staying in the same hotel. Then white-faced and red eyed, she waited the commodore's prompt appearance in the adjacent sitting-room, feeling wheo hie step sounded heavily outside, as if soe were about to receive sentence from a judge.

" Bless my soul I How white you look ! What it all this about?" said the usually

cheery sailor- with a terribly quiet manner and grave voioe. A* Ann roscholding by the table, unable to apeak, he gave a swift glance at her face, and seemed more satisfied. Then giving the culprit time lo collect herself, he re-read her shakily written note, with a puzzled air.

" Guilty of a deception. Must tell me all. Am not Anna MacTague, hut a very unhappy girl, Ann Mon tagua."

Captain Goodman was large of build, of middling height, . and much greater weight, He had a kindly,- resolute face, which now gazed earnestly at the criminal before him, searching to read into her soul, while a ponderous forefinger tapped the letter he

held.

" Well, if you are not Anita MacTague, you aro aB like her as two pees. Still, of conree, I eec-I do see thc more English type which makes the difference. Kow, drawing a chair up to tho table, and sitting down heavily, "why did you play us this trick ?"

(Tobe continued.) j