The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-03-21
60, please, until have something
must tell YOU before we land.

must tell you before we land
1t was coming. The guilty chaperon
closed her eyes fguratively and prepared to
take the plunge. She would pledge her
aid and give it.
Leslie -
She started Five years had passed
since she had heard that name from his
lips. Vaguely she wished he had COM
menced some other way.
'Do you remember when father sent
me abroad? | was fresh from college, not
much more than a boy. | knew little of
lite-women least of all My experiences
abroad with fellows liked first bewildered
and then fascinated me, and when father
wrote | might make another year of it |
was wild with delight
But you remember | wrote to you
regularly. | supposed you understood.
When read Of your coming out, was
tremendously proud. think | ordered
lilies of the valley for you by cable. re-
member, too, thinking that when you d
had season of that sort of thing and I'd
finished my jaunt we'd settle down and
be-very happy, | never dreamed that
YOU were waiting for me to say so. |
thought so clever girl as you could read
between the lines of my letters, and some
how | wanted to hear certain little word
trom your own lips.
The woman at his side started to speak.
but he waved her aside The crimson
glow of his cigar had turned to gray ashes,
but he still clutched it between his fingers.
The letter announcing your engage
ment reached me in Madrid. I've never
been in the God forsaken hole since.
When | reached America, YOU and your
husband had gone abroad. For year |
tired life on the street, but could not
stand for IT, Then | tried shooting lions
in Africa and tigers in India That went
better than fleeing lambs in Wall street
| was visiting with mighty good fellow
on Curxon' staff when | heard quite BY
aecident-that you were-tree Two days
later | turned my face westward | did
not intend to stop in Paris--but you were
there. | thought-great heavens, how |
hoped--you' d be glad to see me, but you
were not. And, Leslie, his tone was
actually commanding. II want to know
Why.
The woman had been listening with
bowed head, but with a strangely happy
light cleaning in her eyes. Hesitatingly.
inooherently, she explained her conduct in
Paris, in London aud aboard ship. Be
fore she finished Hackett, possessing him
self Of both her hands, exclaimed
And you really thought it was that
child Oh, Leslie, Leslie couldn't you
read the truth in my eyes?
Mr. Burns suddenly recalled her duties
as chaperon. She withdrew her hands
from his mas,erful grasp.
How could look you in the eye when
knew was unfaithful to the trust i'm
posed on me by Mrs. Cuseadden p
The old piquant humor rang in her
voice She had risen. From the saloon
came the naturalization of light music.
The deck was free from promenaders
They were alone for the first time in FIVE
years.
.'Oh, what will Mrs. Cuscadden say p
Haekett bent over her to gather up her
wraps.
Il really dom see that she has any
thing to do with our little affair, provided
you return her daughter heart whole aud
free from international entanglements, -
he answered joyOusiy,
\ shadow fell across the bar of light,
then another, aud the figure of girl was
silhouetted against the brilliant interior of
the ship
Mrs. Burns, where are yoa?' We re
to have a good old fashioned Virginia reel
to celebrate our last night ON board Do
hurry up We have a partner waiting
for you
Then as Hackett's dark figure suddenly
doomed up behind Mrs. Burns he glanced
mischievously at Ruth and exclaimed, with
happy ring of ownership in his voice
Won | do for her partner? Irather