and dark. They would haunt
him many a night on the deck.

"It's best that I am going so soon," he began in a rather tremulous
voice. "Do you remember what your uncle was reading the other day about
the man who wanted to be lashed to the mast when they passed the Syrens?
It would be that way with me if I staid much longer. I--I wouldn't be
able to help loving you, and I doubt whether it would be a good thing
for either of us. I've tried all along to keep it to a plain, honest
like, but I know now it is more than that. I shall take away with me the
remembrance of the sweetest girl in all the world, and I have no right
to spoil her life. But sometimes maybe you'll think of a far-away lad,
who sends you his love and the best wishes for your happiness with the
man you will love best of all."

Then he pressed her hand to his lips and went slowly down the stairs.
She heard the door shut. And, foolish girl, she sat down and cried, and
there Cousin Chilian found her, and had to listen and absolve.

"No," he said, "it would not do for you to have a sailor lad. Your
tender heart would break with the anxiety. He's a nice, upright fellow,
and he will never shirk a duty. But you----" What should he say to her?

"I want to stay here. Oh, I wonder if you will like me when I get as old
as Cousin Eunice, and the world will change and improve and I shall be
queer and old-fashioned?"

He held her in his arms, but he was shocked to find what was in his own
heart.

CHAPTER XVI

PERILOUS PATHS

Avis Manning's "Company" was one of the events of the season. She was a
full-fledged young lady, and knowing she could have her choice of the
young men of Salem, was rather difficult to capture. She and her
brother-in-law were very good friends, but not lovers. And Laura, who
knew where his fancy lay, counselled him to go slowly, though she was
quite sure he would win in the end.

"You see, she is like a child to Mr. Chilian Leverett, and he is loath
to part with her. But all girls do marry sooner or later, and he isn't
selfish enough to want her to stay single. If he was not so much older
he might marry her--they are not own cousins, you know."

"He marry her! Why, he's getting to be quite an old man," and there was
a touch of disdain in his tone. "But there's half a dozen others----"

"It's queer, but she isn't a flirt. She's one of the sweetest of
girls--she was, at school. And with her fortune she might hold herself
high. The