Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-11-26

IL We aren't-oh, Bobby. Bobby, how
shall we escape?"
The tremor in her voice spurred Bob
by with an intolerable pang. He was
full of fury with himself, the boat, the
universe; it was unbearable to him that
Mignon should have to suffer for his
carelessness. There was a deep ten
derness under his cousinly familiarity,
and here, in the face of misfortune, he
felt himself no longer bon camarade,
but man and protector. His sense of
helplessness dashed him to sarcasm.
IF could tell you that we wouldn't
stay here long"
Il wish I hadn't come" said Mig
non. Il wish 1 had taken Mr.. Cotter' S
advice. 1t is very strange that when
ever I go against his Judgment some
thing always goes wrong"
.sThat is, whenever you trust to me,
l suppose?' snapped Bobby. why don't
you say what you mean? If Cotter
had had any spunk he would have
come with US and taken the helm, and
then this wouldn't have happened"
HE was right and we were wrong.
"Oh, of counsel He always is right.
He growls and scowls and prophesies,
and he's awfully clever; ! wear my
soul-case thin sweatin' round for you,
and 1 get all the blame for every
thing"
I'm not blaming you"
eyes. you are" Bobby's conscious
ness of guilt made him ready to anti
cipate condemnation you think it is
all my fault, and I'm beastly fool for
getting you into the hole, and l don
care rap what happens to you. BUT
it's not true-about my not caring. It's
because | love you
He broke off The excitement of the
catastrophe, of which the actual
thought was momentarily thrust out OF
mind by his emotions, the evaporation
of his impotency, and the sight OF the
downcast Mignon, had brought about a
premature revelation. He caught MS
| breath at the words and then jerked
| out a defiant iteration.
Eyes, l love you! I didn't mean 10
say that, but you see it's come.
meant to wait-to walt until | was
| older, and a better fellow, and-and-
till l could do something to show.
And this'-he looked round him
bitterly-''this is what I've done!'
Mignon jumped UP and caught him
by the arm.
81 am very sorry"
Sorry? Sorry for what?It's / that
should be sorry. Don't touch me,
Mignon. Why do you look like that?
BY God, it's hard!"
He strobe from point to point of the
sandspit and then came pack and faced
her
'Mignon, tell me truth! If l hadn't
| been a double-dyed ass, IL I'd really
taken. care of you. if I had waited for
ages, could you have
ooh, Bobby. don't! Haven't we
something else to think of now?"
Tell me truth"
| He looked at her with strained, eager
eyes, and searched in the depths OF hers
for his answr. But it was only COM
miseration, certain Impotence, and
| odd in the man compelling Mignon-
fear that he found. She shook her
head and turned her face away.
is it Cotter?"
The soft mood fared into anger.
And this was the Bobby who had
scrutinized her bushes with schoolboy
curiosity an hour before!
"How dare you, Bobby! You are
mad. think. Go away and try to for
get. as l shall, the wild things you
have been saying. ;. >. No, |
am not going to speak to you again;
|
YOU have gone too far. Go away!"
at is Cotter." muttered Bobby, and
with that he dropped his head and
walked to the further end Of the sand
bank. A chilling conviction that he
! had once more dashed himself head
long into mischief stole over him. He
threw himself down on the sand and
began to run the grain through his
fingers, his eyes searching the fore
shore. He was not inactive from want
of will; it was because he saw, with
Mignon, that no effort Of theirs could
bring about their escape. He did not
signal, for his eye could sweep the de-
sert to it's outer rim, and see no sign
of human life to which he could APP
peal. The sail continued to flap in de-
rision a hundred yards away. There
was nothing to do but wait, wait wait,
until-until what? Bobby dropped the
sand and gnawed his nails. There was
| despair at his heart. To
think that, in this hour Of desolation
and peril, he had made himself impos-
sible to Mignon.
The object of his concern sat. mean
while, at the other end Of the sandpit