CHAPTER XXXIII
_APPARITIONS_
The _Winnetka_ passed Corregidor Island and dropped anchor in Manilaharbor on the morning of June 1st. On the forward deck stood HughRidgeway and Tennys Huntingford. They went ashore with CaptainHildebrand, Ensign Carruthers, the paymaster and several others. Anotherlaunch landed their nondescript luggage--their wedding possessions--andthe faithful handmaidens. The captain and his passengers went at once toshipping quarters, where the man in charge was asked if he could producea list of those on board the _Tempest Queen_ at the time she went down.
"I have a list of those who left Aden and of those who were rescued. Didyou have friends on board?"
"Yes, we had friends," answered Hugh, in a choking voice. "First, let mesee a list of the lost." The clerk found the book containing the list,alphabetically arranged, and placed it on the desk before the tremblingman and woman. Both had an insane desire to rush from the office andback to the _Winnetka_, where they could hide from the very knowledgethey were seeking. In their hearts they were wishing for the solitudeand happiness of the Island of Nedra. The clerk, observing theiranxiety, considerately offered to read the names to them.
"No, I thank you; I'll look," said Hugh, resolutely turning to thepages. Lady Tennys leaned weakly against the counter and looked throughblurred eyes at the racing lines of ink. Hugh rapidly ran his fingersthrough the list, passing dozens of passengers they had known. As thefinger approached the "R's" it moved more slowly, more tremblingly."Reed--Reyer--Ridge!" "Hugh Ridge, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A." He grewsick when he saw his own name among those who were dead.
"She was saved," he murmured, for there was but one Ridge there.
"Look for Vernon," whispered his companion.
"Van Camp--Valentine--Wilson." It was not there--nor was Veath's!
"Are they on the list?" asked the clerk.
"Let me see the names of those who were saved," said Hugh bravely, joyand anxiety welling to the surface like twin bubbles.
"Two pages over, sir."
Over went the pages so ruthlessly that the scribe was in trepidationlest they should be crumpled beyond redemption. Hugh read aloud in anunnatural voice:
"Costello--Hamilton--Ridge--Shadburn--Veath."
His hand fell upon the page and his head dropped forward till his lipstouched the name that danced before his eyes.
"Here it is! Here it is!" he shouted, hugging the book.
"Thank God!" cried she, tears rushing to her eyes. Together they readand re-read the name, scarcely able to believe that she was truly one ofthe few to escape. "And Henry Veath, too. Oh, Hugh, it is a miracle--areal miracle!"
"Old Veath saved her! I knew he would if he had a ghost of a chance.Tennys, Tennys, I can't believe it is true." He was beside himself inhis excitement. Captain Hildebrand, the clerk, and the other attacheslooked on with happy smiles. In this moment of relief they forgotcompletely that, in leaving the island, they had been filled with a sortof dread lest they should find her who might come between them.
"We must find Veath," went on Hugh rapidly. "Is he in Manila?"
"He is in the Government Building, sir," answered the clerk. AlreadyHugh was edging toward the door, holding Lady Tennys by the arm. "Is Mr.Veath a relative?"
"No; he's more than that. He's a friend. We were on the _Tempest Queen_together when she went down."
"You were--on--the--what did you say, sir?" gasped the clerk.
"He doesn't know who we are, Hugh."
"That's so. Add two more names to the list of saved and scratch 'em offthe other. Put down Lady Huntingford and Hugh Ridge."
The clerk's eyes bulged. Every man in the office came forward inamazement.
"It's the truth," volunteered the _Winnetka's_ captain. "I picked themup last week."
"Where's the cable office? I must send a message to Miss Ridge. When didshe sail for the United States?"
"She hasn't sailed, sir. Her name is Vernon, and she's been waiting inManila for news of you ever since. Get some water there, Cleary! He'sgoing to faint." Ridgeway collapsed against the counter, his face goingdeadly pale. Lady Tennys sank into her chair, huddling limply as if towithstand a shock, while from her stricken face two wide blue eyescentred themselves hopelessly on her lover.
"Needn't mind the water. I'm all right," stammered Hugh, moving awaywith legs as stiff as rods. "Where is she now?"
"At the home of her uncle, Mr. Coleman. There were seven of them saved,after being buffeted about by the sea for three days in the boat inwhich they left the wreck. When they were picked up by the _Sea Gull_,they were almost dead with hunger, thirst and madness. It seems MissVernon had written her uncle before sailing; and the letter, coming byway of San Francisco, got here two or three weeks before she wasexpected. Afterward, Mr. Coleman got the government to send ships out tofind the wreck. It was many weeks before Miss Vernon was fullyrecovered."
"Thank you," muttered he. "Come, Lady Huntingford, we will go to ahotel." She arose and silently followed him to the door. The men in theoffice glanced at each other, completely mystified, Captain Hildebrandas much so as any one.
For a long time the occupants of a certain carriage looked straightbefore them as if bereft of the power of speech or comprehension. Agreat abyss of thought confronted them; they were apparently strugglingon the edge, utterly unable to grasp a single inspiration or idea.
"She's been waiting a year, Tennys. Do you know what that means?"
"Yes, Hugh; I know too well. She has prayed and hoped and loved, and nowyou are come to her. It means that she will be happy--oh, so happy!"murmured his white-lipped companion, cold as ice.
"But I can't go to her and tell her what we know. It would kill her. Ican't go to her--it is impossible! I'd die if she looked at me,"he groaned.
"You must go to her," she said intensely. "She will know you have beenrescued. She will thank God and wait for you to come to her. Think ofthat poor girl waiting, waiting, waiting for you, filled with a joy thatwe can never know. Oh, I will not have you break her heart. You shallgo to her!"
"I cannot, I tell you! I cannot tell her that I love you! That would beworse than any cruelty I can imagine."
"You are not to tell her that you love me. I release you, Hugh. You werehers first; you are hers now. I would kill myself rather than lake youfrom her. Go to her--go to her at once. You must!" She was nervous,half-crazed, yet true nobility shone above all like a gem of purest ray.
"Don't force me to go, Tennys," he pleaded, as she left him to go to herroom.
"Go now, Hugh--go if you love me," she said, turning her miserable facefrom him.
"But what is to become of you--of me?" he protested.
"We must think only of her. Go! and bring her to see me here! I want totell her how happy I am that she has found you again;" and then shewas gone.
The dominant impulse was to rush after her, grasp her and carry her backto the waves from which he had unwittingly saved her. Then the stronginfluence that she had exerted over him, together with the spark offair-mindedness that remained, forced him to obey the dictates of honor.He slowly, determinedly, dejectedly re-entered the carriage and startedtoward the end.
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