The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-05-08
by WILLIAM f. BROWN

in her Stateroom door. Secure from IN
terruption, she produced a packet o.
letters, tied tightly with a russell shoe
lace. For a moment she hesitated
Then quickly, lest her resolution fail
she tossed the package through tn,
open portfolio.
ut is the safer way" she thought, I'm
locking the door, land Hilda will thanh
me for 1t when she's the Countess Vol
Grundmann. 1t was sheer luck tina
his paper sent Dick Forbes west for si1
weeks. l fancy 1t was simply my adroi
management of the situation that pre-
vented his proposing to Hilda tina
night in Mrs. Schuyler's conservatory
And | am certain that II he had Hildi
would have thrown away her chance OF
being a countess and accepted him"
A brisk northeast wind, with JUS
enough power In its elbow to send thu
long Atlantic swells in a creamy smoth
er against the Lucania's bow, greeted
Mrs. Ware as she came on deck.
What a perfect morning!" she sait
to herself, taking a deep breath. "Sei
and sky look as If they had been scrub
| bed Ii Eilda- has particle &c se.asse
she'll pick up some spirits on such
morning"
Mrs. Wares eyes searched diligently
among the scattered knots of peopl,
along the rail, and presently she dis
covered the slim, ulster clad form oil
her niece standing by one of the life
boats, staring steadily over the heavinG
brightness astern.
Something in the pensive droop OF
the small head intruded a sudden un
comfortable qualm into Harriet Wares
inner consciousness. The firm. mascu
line penmanship tracing her niece'I
name and address on every one of The
eye accusingly, like veritable writ
ing on the wall" She took her con
science resolutely by the throat.
1--WE made Hilda believe Mr.. Forbes
Tilted her because of that absurd ru
NOR about the loss of her fortune. II
take care she continues to think so IN
til it is too late to make any difference
Mrs. Ware found her steamer chair.
There's Won Grundmann speaking
to Hilda now" she meditated. 81 i'm.
agine | can expedite matters much
better If l flock by myself for awhile,
Six days of shipboard companionship
and maybe moonlight evening or
two ought to bring about a satisfacto.
ry conclusion and effectually dispose
of Mr. Richard Forbes. wouldn't
like to meet him, though" with a little
SILVER. when he reads that note per.
suaded Hilda to leave for him."
She opened her magazine and dis
missed from her thoughts the hapless
Forbes. No prophetic vision was
vouchsafed her of luckess wild eyed
young man who the evening previous
had thrown himself bodily on the plat.
form Of the moving Pullman at the
Boston terminal. to the terror of the
porter, and, with wrath. dismay and
outraged love seething in his heart,
had spent the hours of his journey in
alternately gazing at his watch and
reading over and over again a stray
paragraph half way down the first
page of the Boston Mercury
If any thought of this same Richard
Forbes crossed Carl Won Grundmann's
mind as he stepped to Hilda Wares
side 1t was only such as one bestows
on an adversary. worthy doubtless. but
hopelessly beaten.
Miss Ware turned at Won Grund-
mann's greeting. "Oh, good morning.
captain" she said gravely. with a sub
tie touch of WEAKNESS in her voice.
"Do you know how far we have Gomez
Pm not sure" replied the captain,
"but recollect hearing one of the of
flcers say something about the Shoals
as | passed him. That means some
thing like 300 miles nearer England.
doesn't il? 2"
81 dare say" replied the girl indif-
ferently. putting up her hand to push
back a lock of rebellious dead gold
hair that had blown across her fore
head
The unconscious grace of the action
famed the passion in Won Grund-
mann's breast into fame.
"Hilda" he said abruptly and vehe-
mently. there is something | must say
to you. hadn't meant it to be so
soon. but can wait no longer. love
you. Hilda. Surely you must have
guessed my secret, must have realized
what it would mean when you agreed
to your aunt's hasty plan for us to
cross together VIII you be my wife|'
Miss Ware leaned family against the
davit
81 am very sorry you. have said this
to me- Captain Won Grundmann," she
said presently. land | ask you to for
give me If my answer is no. | ought
to have foreseen. When auntie plan
ned this trip, was in sore trouble. My
only thought was to get away from
Boston and familiar places. didn't
consider that you might thing A
prolonged repeated cheer from the
handful of people grouped about the
mast broke in on her falterng speech.
Involuntarily the captain turned
One of the boats officers was coming
along the deck. a scrap of paper tlut-
tering in his hand He stopped here
and there as if inquirinR for some one.
Hllda caught the echo of her name
IL am Miss Ware" she called What
is wanted2"
The officer advanced.
Here is a message by wireless teleg-
raphy This has come over almost q
hundred miles of Atlantic ocean"
ua aytandad tho manor with n how