Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-06-16
TRIED TO ESCAPE.

watching the last OF the baggage bun
died on to the boat by the burly freight
handlers, and now she gave little sigh
of intermixed relief and suppressed ex-
citement as the big hawsers that held
the boat to the wharf were loosened and
flung into the water. She waited until
the men drew in the wet rope; then she
turned to the scenes about her. What a
labyrinth they seemed to be passing
through! Tugs pilotboats, ferries, all
seemed to be crossing and recrossing in
most reckless manner as the Priscilla
plowcd along independently, as if the
whole river were clear Of distractions
The sun was Just setting, and New
York's tall buildings shot skyward,
black against the pink glow. There
were familiar domes and spires, but she
turned hastily from them and cast a
glance at Liberty, silent and impassive
with her upstretched arm.
A slight frown rose to her face as she
recalled that day they had landed there
from the yacht, and she bit her lips in
vexation at the reflection. "At any
rate, it is all right now, " she said to
herself, while peculiar light stole into
her eyes. This is the end of it all.
couldn't do better than to 20 at once
and not let him know where II will
save all fruitless discussion. And-and
| hate a scene.
She stared steadily at the buildings
on Blackwell's island They were very
misty and indistinct, and she passed her
hand rapidly over her eyes.
The deck was filing with passengers,
and she moved to more retired spot,
where she sat back and watched the
shore grow dark and the lights come
ont one by one. She pushed up the veil
she had worn and looked about her 1t
was curious crowd it seemed to her
She had never travelled this way before
What a mixture of refinement and vul-
garityl There were a man and a WON.
an eating ont of some brown paper
bags, and just beyond them a man and
wife apparently Of her own set.
Well, she could go to her stateroom
early and so be by herself. She would
go down to dinner now. Alone2 1t gave
her peculiar sensation to think of it.
Well it was part of the penalty of rum
ming away, as it were.
She rose to go.
Gam l just in time to take you
down." familiar voice said close be-
side her.
Her hand grasped the back of the
camp chair. The motion, together with
a swaysng of the boat, made her stag
ger for a moment but strong hand
hely her firmly. al shall be very glad
if you will go down with me, he re-
peated.
She sat down again suddenly Ibid
You get my noter'' she demanded.
"Of course, drawing a chair and
speaking in a low voice as he readiust-
ed the wrap that had slipped from her
shoulders. But you didn't suppose /
would obey, did your" He smiled as
he spoke.
at was horrid of you" she replied,
giving her shoulders a shrug so that the
wrap loosened again and fell to the
deck, where ii lay unheeded, perfect
ly horrid.
He made no reply to the charge.
You knew we couldn keep on this
way, " she continued in a grieved voice.
at was misunderstanding, misunder-
standing, all the time, and of course
that WASH wasn't love" She hest
tated and glanced quickly at the figure
beside her. His eyes were on the pass
ing landscape.
And didn't want any scene It's
horrid and common to make scene. "
She swallowed hastily. "And so wrote
the note and ended it all, and Just came
away, so as to get rid of all this. And
now you've followed me-" She spoke
Indignantly and beat tattoo on the
deck with her foot.
He looked at her gravely for an in
slant, then turned again to the darkness
outside. 81 don't think you can realize
what it is, he said, his eyes on a dis
tant revolving beacon, "to ask man to
give up what is more than life to him."
The light from the powerful lens
blazed full upon them, rested for a
moment, and then left them in darkness
once more.
81 couldn't give you up that way"
he went on, his hand impulsively steal
ing out and taking hers. "For if did
1t would be for all time, and so l was
bound to make one more fight. When |
found that you were gone just risked
the chance of it being this way, because
you had always insisted on never going
by this line, and so, being a woman, l
thought you'd take it now"
The hand in his made feeble at
tempt to withdraw, but he held it close.
at wasn't nice of you" she said
suddenly, as if new thought 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, he replied.
"but then, | thought that perhaps we
might turn this into sort of an antewed-
ding journey, you know. We can get
off at Newport-the boat touches at A.
and be married early and then keep on
to the mountains. In fact wired to
your aunt to meet us-and Bennett
too"
There was moments pause.
II thought this looked like ycu,"