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


closed her eyes hguratively and prepared to
take the plunge. Size 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 boy. knew little of
life-women least of all. My experiences
abroad with fellows I liked first bewildered
and then fascinated me, and when father
wrote l might make another year of it I
was wild with delight.
"But you remember 1 wrote to you
regularly. I supposed you understood.
When I read of your coming out, was
tremendously proud. | think 1 ordered
lilies of the valley for you by cable. Ire
member, too, thinking that when you d
had season of that sort of thing and L d
finished my jaunt we'd settle down and
be-very happy. [ never dreamed that
you were waiting for me to say so. l
thought so clever girl as you could read
between the lines of my letters, and some
how [ wanted to hear a certain little word
from your own lips.
The woman at his side started t. 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 a year l
tried 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 Curzon's staff when heard quite by
accident-that you were-free. Two days
later [ turned my face westward. I did
not intend to stop in Paris-but you were
there. thought-great heavens, how I
hoped-you' be glad to see me, but you
were not And, Leslie" his tone was
actually commanding. "I want to know
why"
The woman had been listening with
bowed head, but with strangely happy
light cleaning in her eyes. Hesitatingly,
incoherently, she explained her conduct in
Paris, in London and aboard ship. Be
fore she finished Hackett, possessing him
self of both her hands, exclaimed
"And you really thought it was thai
child Oh, Leslie, Leslie, couldn't 20,
read the truth in my eyes?'
Mrs Burns suddenly recalled her dutie
as chaperon. She withdrew her hand
from his masterful grasp.
Chow could l look you in the eye wher
| knew | was unfaithful to the trust i'm
posed on me by Mrs. Cuscadden p
The old piquant humor rang in he
voice. She had risen. From the saloor
came the Naturalization of light music
The deck was free from promenaders
They were alone for the first time in five
years.
x x x x
ssOh, what will Mrs. Cuscadden say y?''
Hackett bent over her to gather up hel
wraps.
II really don't see that she has any
thing to do with our little affair, provided
you return her daughter heart whole and
free from international entanglements, -
he answered joyously.
A shadow fell across the bar of light,
then another, and the figure of girl was
silhouetted against the brilliant interior of
the ship.
"Mrs. Burns, where are you?' We're
to have 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
loomed up behind Mrs. Burns he glanced
mischievously at Ruth and exclaimed, with
happy ring of ownership in his voice :
won't do for her partner? Irather
think this dance is mine.