Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-04-27
Tried To Escape.

some moments she had been listlessly
watching the last of the baggage bun
died on the boat by the burly freight
handlers and now she gave little sigh
of intermixed relief and suppressede x-
element as the big hawsers that held
the boat To the wharf we're 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, pilot boats, ferries, all
seemed to be crossing and recrossing IN
"a most reckless manner as the Priscilla
plowed along independently, as II the
whole river were clear of distractions.
The sun was just setting, and New
Yorks tall buildings shot skyward,
black against the pink glow. There
were familiar domes and spires, but she
turned hastily from them and cast
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. sat any
rate, it is all right now" she said TO
herself, while apeculiar light stole into
her eyes. "This is the end of it all. |
couldn't do better than to go at once
and not let him know where. 1t 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 filled with passengers,
and she moved to a more retired spot,
where she sat back and watched the
shore grow dark and the lights come
out 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 mixture of refinement and vul-
garity! There were a man and a woman
eating out of some brown paper bags,
and just beyond them 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. Alone? 1t gave
her peculiar sensation to think of it.
Well, it was part of the penalty of run
ming away, as It were.
She rose to 90.
Gam just in time TO take you down."
a familiar voice said close beside her.
Her hand grasped the back of the
camp chair. The motion, together with
a swaying of the boat, made her stag
ger for moment, but strong hand
held her firmly. 81 shall be very glad
if you will go down with me" he re-
peated.
She sat down again suddenly. "Did
you get my note?" she demanded.
I" OF course" drawing a chair and
speaking in low voice as he readjust-
ed the wrap that had slipped from her
shoulders. "But you didn't suppose l
would obey, did you?" He smiled as
he spoke.
at was horrid of you" she replied,
giving her shoulders shrug so that the
wrap loosened again and fell to the
deck, where it lay unheeded, ''perfect-
ly horrid "
He made no reply to the charge.
"You knew we couldn't keep on this
way" she continued in grieved voice.
at was misunderstanding, misunder-
standing, all the time, and of course
that wasn't wasn't love" She hesi-
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 a tattoo on the
deck with her foot.
He looked at her gravely for an in
slant, then turned again to the dark
ness outside 81 don't think you can
realize what it is, he said, his eyes on
distant revolving beacon, ''to ask a
man to give up what is more than life
| to him"
4
The light from the powerful lens
blazed full upon them, rested for
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
it would be for all time, and so | 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 woman,
thought you'd take it now. "
The hand in his made a feeble at.
tempt to withdraw, but he held it close
at wasn't nice of YOU" she said sud
denly, as if new thought had struck