Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-04-28
down with me-" he repeated.

speaking IN low voice as ne le'
adjusted the wrap that had slip
ped from her shoulders. "But
you didn't suppose l would obey,
did your He smiled as he spoke.
at was horrid of you," she re-
Piled giving her shoulders a sbTug
so that the wrap loOsened again
and fell to the deck, where it lay
unheeded, "peTfectly borrid."
He made no reply to the charge.
"YOu knew we couldn't keep OIL
this way" she continued III a
grieved voice. alt was misunder-
standing, all the lime, and OF course
that wasG't-wasn't loye." Sac
hesitated aud glanced quickly a
the figure beside her. His eyes
were on The passing landscape.
"And | didn't want any scene
She swallowed hastily. "And so L
wrote the note and ended it all,
and jnst came away, so as to get
rid of all this. And now yOu'Yel
followed me.D She 81 oke in
dlgDantly and beat tattoo on the
deck with her foot,
lie looked at her gravely for al
instant, then turued again to the
darkness outside. "I don't think
you can realize what it is" he sad,
his eyes on a distant revolving
beacon, 'tO ask a man to give up
what Is mOle than life 10 him."
The light from the powerful lens
blazed full upon them, rested for
moment, and then left them III
darkness once more.
81 couldn't give you mp that
way he went on, his haud I'm
pulsiveiy stealing out and taking
hers. "For If did 1t would he for
all time, and 80 was bound to
make one more fight. When |
found that YOU were gone just
risked the chance of 1t being this
way, because you had always It,
sisted on never going by this line,
and so, being a woman, thought
you'd take 1t nOw.'
The hand iu his made teeble
attempt 10 withdraw, but he held
it close.
"It wasn't nice of you,' she said
suddenly, as if new tbOught had
struck her, "because I'm alone.
you know, and If any one we KNOW
should see us together
The darkness covered his smile
"Nice women can travel alone" ne
replied, "but then, | thought thai
perhaps we might tnrn this into
sort of an anteweddlng journey,
YOU know. We can get of al New
port the boat touches at 4-aud
be married early and lhen keep on
to the mountains. In fact, wired
to your aunt to meet us-aud
Bennett too"
There was a moments pause.
~ thought this looked like you"
woman's gay voice broke in
Dear me, how nice and secluded
you are. Pve been trying to con.
vince Richard that 1t was you"
She turned aud beckOned 20 her
husband on the other side OF the
deck.
lawfully jolly TO find you two,
don't you kLow," MI. Clifford re-
Joined as he drew mp seat for his
ife and handed Miss Wen weItb
her fallen wrap. "Tbe Browns are
) back there aud the FOlsOmes ~ the
saloon. Lots OF people We kuow.f
Your vacation. Etonl'
Mrs. CDffOrd's next question
precluded All answer. "Your aunt
is inside, l suppOseG' she Qoelie'
ut Is damp out here, and | sup
pose che likes to prove leD!enl
. chaperon." She smiled teaslugll
Miss " entwOrth's face famed 4
vivid scarlet, and she half turned
to her lover.
EYES," he responded quick y t"i
her. We-that is IN tact, Ms
Ashley is not with u.s."
;. His eyes dropped, and peculiar
j smile pla, ed about the cOrn'rs q
s his mOntb. Miss Wentworth moved
uneasay and gave little gasp uD-
} der cover of the darkness.
: Mrs. Clifford broke inro a shari
n little laugh. "Of COURSE" sb,
u said. How lovely, and how dread
II fully stupid OF me not to think! /
J. is your wedding journey, and yO'
didn't want any of us to know
?. Yes replied Elton, with a sup
f. D essed thrill IN bis voice AZ h
', boldly took again the white han
= that he had dropped in confusion
ls "Only if you'd as Ilet not say any
10 fhin0 ahOnt If va didr,f maa