The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-09-17
A FAIR BLOCKADE BREAKER.
ByT. @. De Leon.


his bolt with deliberate aim, >and
waited for his quarry to tumble, fut-
tering. But the girl lifted to his her
great eyes, filed only with wonder:
ssWilse Mckee, of whom arc You talk
ing?"
sYou will acquit me Of selfishness-
will understand that it is not on my oscn
account at,all" He posed with effort
full dignity. 'It is wholly on your own.
But when young lady volunteers}her
dislike and contempt for a man, and
then see her smiling and whispering
with him in public places, it does
seem"
''Stop, Willie!" The little form before
him rose erect, commandful "You are
my stepfather's cousin; You have
known me since childhood; we have
been-friends; but even you shall not
accuse me of improprietyl"
The girls flush was now only Of In
dignation; and her black eyes met his
defantly.
every well, Miss Bessie. You asked
me to speak. did not volunteer my
reason"
It was not reason-only absurdityl"
Her eyes did not drop; and the good old
blood Of the Westchesters, whose men
had ever replied to calumny by blow,
glowed upon either check. II am ig-
norant Of all cause for your allusion,
but It is untrue and absurd"
'sIs it untrue II repeat that I saw
him, busy as you were, whisper over
your shoulder? Is 1t absurd that you
paused to whisper back and smile at
Peyton Fitzhugh?"
The girls lips quivered, but no longer
with anger, the flush ON her face took
softerglow, and the Hghtof battle in her
eyes quickly changed to merriment; as
little laugh gurgled softly out.
willie McKee," she said, with mont
tory voice, but advancing softly to him,
ST would not have believed any other
living man had he told me that you
were-a goossi No, sirl You shall not
stop me until you hear. See, Willie,
how much further trust you than you
trust me! The man who has 50 cause-
1casly excited your" she paused an in
stant-"your anger gave me coat for
q naked prisoner-Caros brave boy
cousinI More; he risled his life. per-
haps, to whisper to me that 1t had a
reasonable paper sewed in it's lining
The young mans eyes fell, and flush
Of shame swept his face. Next instant
he raised both brave1y, looking into
hers as he wlrispeced:
.TBeesie, my darlinGl Can you forgive
me?"
IT have nothing 10 forgive" she an:
swered. frankly holding out her ittle
hand. ssYou were right to speak ous,
Willie, n-h you suspected me. But,
dear, Peyton Fitzhugh may not be sol,
der, but he is gentleman and a.
MANI
"I was almost as unjust to him as I
was to you," the youth said, gently, as
he took the little hand in his. "And,
Bess, dear, Willie Mckee may not be a,
gentleman and man, but he certainly
is grand donkey!"
ssHush, sir! No ono shall speak SO
about anyone I-Rkef"
They were very close TO the parlor.
door and to each other. He bent over;
her bright face, it's eyes glowing softly
through suspicious moisture, and
Well, it was perhaps fortunate that
Miss Bessie had been correct In her
statement: ssThe coast Is clear"
Carolyn Clay was pacing her self-im-
posed prison very restlessly when the
peir entered.
81 thought you would newer come"
she cried, impatiently, to the man.
swell. are we ready at last? Can / go
;;to-night?"
"Yes,"N he replied, promptly; ITO
night
''Then you have heard from-him?"
She dropped her eyes and her color
heightened at the question, but she
eagerly grasped the paper he held out
for answer.
Swiftly her eye ran over 1t once and
again. Then she seized the large
shovel, thrusting it between the CRATE
BAGS far into the glowing GOALS. And
once more she fell to studying the let.
ter, her companions looking on in some
,wonderment.
abruptly. "You see what he meansq"
Vaguely, only. Carroll and I are
both at sea for the full meaning-for
the reason of writing to him"
For answer Miss Clay drew the shovel
from the cocks, striking the dust from
itand folding newspaper smoothly over
it. Then she pressed the letter firmly
down upon the hot surface.
"Come," she said, briefly. "Read be-
tween the lines"
And all three watched eagerly as the
wide blank spaces began to I'LL with
faint red characters, rapidly changing
to dark brown as they read:
s"The river is patrolled, but both
banks are clear. Lose no time. A freeze
might delay you for days. Pete win re-
cross Friday night. Your escort Is
watched half suspected. Too many
passes asked. Get another drfver-one
less familiar. God.speed andguarta your
There was dead silence as Miss Clay
slowly removed the paper, the mystic
characters gradually fading out as it
cooled. Then she said, calmly:
"If you are suspected, the risk is too
great. Who else, that you trust, knows