The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-03-31
TRIED TO ESCAPE.

She stood leaning against the dec]
railing of the steamer Priscilla. Fo
some moments she had been listlessly
watching the last of the baggage bun
died on to the boat by the burly freigh'
handlers, and now she gave a little sigl
of intermixed relief and suppressed ex
element as the big hawsers that helt
flung into the water. She waited unit
the men drew in the wet rope then she
turned to the scene about her. What 8
labyrinth they seemed to be passing
through Tugs, p%ilotboats, ferries, ali
seemed to be crossing and recrossing in
q most reckless manner as the Priscilla
plowed 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 tc
herself. while a peculiar light stole into
her eyes. "This is the end of it all. I
couldn't do better than to go at once
and not let him know where. It will
ave all fruitless discussion. And-and
I 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 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. It
was a curious crowd, it seemed to her.
She had never travelled this way before.
What a mixture of refinement and vul-
garity! There were a man and a WON.
an eating out 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. Alone? 1t gave
her a peculiar sensation to think of it.
Well. it was part of the penalty of run.
ming away. as it were.
She rose to go.
IAN I just in time to take you
DOWN. a familiar voice said close be-
side her.
Her hand grasped the back of the
camp chair. The motion, together with
a swaying of the boat, made her stag
ger for a moment, but a strong hand
hely her firmly. II shall be very glad
if you will 80 down with me-, he re-
peated.
She sat down again suddenly. Ibid
you get my noteY' she demanded.
"Of course, " drawing a chair and
speaking in a low voice as he readiust-
the wrap that had slipped from her
shoulders. "But you didn't suppose I
would obey. did your" He smiled as
he spoke.
1T was horrid Of you," she replied,
her shoulders a shrug SO that the
wrap loosened again and fell to the
deck, where it lay unheeded, ''perfect-
" horrid.'
He made no reply to the charge.
"You knew we couldn't keep on this
way she continued in a grieved voice.
ut was misunderstanding, misunder-
standing, all the time, and of course
chat wasn't-wasn't love-" She hest
and glanced quickly at the figure
beside her. His eyes were on the pass
ng landscape.
"And I didn't want any scene. It's
lorrid and common to make a scene"
She swallowed hastily. "And so l wrote
The note and ended it all, and just came
way, sc as to get rid of all this. And
low you've followed me- She spoke
and beat a tattoo on the
leck with her foot. /,
he looked at her gravely for an in
tant, then turned again to the darkness
outside IT don't think you can realize
what it is he said, his eyes on a dis ,
revolving beacon, Ito ask a man to
i've up what is more than life to him" I
Inc agnr from h powerful lens
full upon them, rested for a /
moment, and then left them in darkness !
nee more. ,
Il couldn't give you up that way" /
'e went on, his hand impulsively steal =
ng out and taking hers. "For if did :
t would be for all time, and so I was
ound to make n more fight. When I
ound that You were gone I just risked
he chance of it being this way, because
had always insisted on never going t
= this line, and SO. being a woman. l |
you'd take it now"
The hand in his made a feeble at
smpt to withdraw. but he held it close.
ut wasn't nice of you," she said t
,ddenly, as if a new thought had struck t
81, ''because I'm alone, you know, '
nd il any n we know should see us c
OokhorJ- r,