The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-02-01

10 hiuceu' sue Sdld, putting out one
hand toward him and drawing as close
as she could Il have depended on YOU
and trusted you all my life, ever since I
was quite little girl, when you told me
that you were my guardian and would
take care of me- And you have taken
care of me. haven't you-very good care.
l should say?"
Until now," said Winford gloomily.
But now | am absolutely useless. |
don't feel more useless against the winds
and waves than | have felt the whole OF
the past fortnight, Molly. in knowing
that you were giving me up for the sake
or a newcomer who wants to take Won
out OF my care and make you part of
ms life. 1t is George Vivian whom YOU
choose for your protector, is il not?"
lie is not much of protector now"
said Molly.
w hat can You cXpect?" Winford ask
ed her bitterly. He is young and hand
some. lie has all his life before him. and
he Is not likely to want to throw it away.
! lie will make Il brave fight for his own
life; but, Molly, he won't give his life for
yours-as | would do"
Molly was silent, but her hand closed
Il am old, know" continued Winford
and ugly and unintercsting, and l can
not expect you to care for me so much
as Tor younger man. But do want to
say word about Vivian, Molly, because
1t Is possible, you know-just possible
that you may be saved from the wreck.
and that | may not, and then YOU will
have nobody to advise you as your old
guardian used to do"
on are not old" said Molly quickly.
And there is no particular need for YOU
to warn me against Vivian"
Perhaps not, but one is tempted to
do unnecessary things sometimes" said
Nlnford grimy. IF you are saved.
Molly, you will be prize, you know, be-
cause have left you all my money, and
there is good deal of it-more than any
body knows-so | want you to be care
full"
Il won't live if you die" she cried with
a sudden note of passion in her voice.
Don't say that, my child. The matter
is probably not in our hands. 1t is more
than likely that none of us will ever see
land again. but there is just this, that if
you do escape you must be on your
guard against men who want to marry
you for your money. Do you under
stand?'
Il shall marry nobody" said Molly.
But the winds and the waves roared so
loudly that the words did not reach Win
ford's ear.
This is my warning if you escape"
SAID the man. But | am more CON
cerned about what | want to say if
neither of us escapes. If we meet in
another world, you know, | think it
would be more satisfactory if had told
you the truth now, for suppose you
would know it then. Your father and
were friends, as you have always heard.
and that was why | took charge of his
child when he died out there in Austria
lia Every one thought that | was a
most devoted friend to him. but there
was something which nobody knows,
Molly, and which never intended even
you to know. cheated your father, |
robbed him; practically | killed him. for
l broke his heart, and that is what it
seems to me you ought to know"
Her eyes were fixed upon his face and
the gentleness in them did not waver in
the very least. He felt compelled to 60
on, TO say even more cutting and con
demnatory things about himself
Il cannot explain everything just now,
dear. but you must take my word about
it. 1t was something about a mine.
knew the worth of it, and he did not.
bought ii from him for an old song and
made my fortune, while he lived and died
destitute. He never rcproachcd me. but
saw he knew the truth before he died,
and never told him. Molly | never
asked him to forgive me-"
But he would have forgiven you"
said Molly
Perhaps he would. He was a good
man. 1t was for his sake that | took
you and did my best for you, but | have
always felt that every penny of what |
made belonged to you by rights, although
he had died of want, heartbreak and fe-
yer, away in the scrub, with nobody to
give him a helping hand. That was my
fault, you know"
And you have sorrowed for that all
these years?" said Molly. at was not
worth while. Don't you know he forgives
you now?'
IF you forgive me-" the man said, ~
think can believe that your father
hOtIu' AHu llle NOISl ol IL WAS, he
went on that | was not content to make
the child happy and to give her as many
OF the good things of this world as
could but | was idiot enough to grow
fond of her-to love her--to feel that my
only chance of happiness in this LIE was
lost because she could not care for me.
never meant you to know, Molly
should have given You to another. if he
had been man worthy Of you, without a
protest, but here, in these last few mo.
ments of our lives, it seems TO HE that |
must tell you all"
Then she turned to him with a cry of
JOY and hid her face upon his breast
Roger, Roger" she said, 81 shall die
happy now. for no one in all the world
could be to me what you have been, and
in life or death we belong to each other,
you and !"
The quartermastcr passed them five
minutes afterward, holding on to ropes
and climbing over shattered buIwarks
with the agility of cat, but with "A curl
Gus expression of satisfaction upon his
weather beaten face.
There you are, sir, and the young
lady. too" he said. And. thank God,
we're saved. The tides going DOWN.
St. Louis Star.
ZangwIII ana the Reporter.
Israel Xangwil once said: My expert.
ence of the American reporter leads me