The Press., 1904-05-04

Aren't you going to answer my
question? Won't you take me with
you"
Clifford Vane turned with surprise
as he heard the voice. A girl with
deep brown eyes and hair in which
there was q tint of gold was standing
beside the boat, her skirts blown out
against her slender figure. The tiutter-
ing sail had made SO much noise that
Vane had not heard the girl before.
He frowned unconsciously, for he was
in no humor for company.
Its too rough today. There's a
nasty sea running, and you'll get wet
through" he answered.
LAS If l cared for that! And if it's
SO rough why do you venture outY
Because want to. Because it suits
my mood"
The words sounded rude, but Mar
jorie Winthrop knew from the intent
expression on Vane's face as he gazed
out on the black clouds, the sullen
green water of the bay and the wind
blown whitecaps that he was speak
ing more to himself than to her. !.
"And if it suits my mOodY'
You with moods, childY Vane said
wonderingly. What can you know Of
thoughts black enough to suit with
such a day. Go back to your dolls or
read your pretty fairy love stories and
believe in their truth as long as you
can" he added bitterly.
You think because I'm only seven
teen I'm not to feel and think"
Think only Of pleasant things
But If the day suits me it is pleas
ant. Please take me-"
What will your mother sayY'
"She won't care. She only thinks Of
be different. but Pm not such valu-
able cargo. No one will bother about
me-"
There was Quaver in the girls voice
that made Vane look at her. She was
looking out over the yeasty water with
misty eyes and set mouth.
"All right" said Vane after a mo-
ment's hesitation. I'm in reckless
mood. Let fate take care Of us. What
will be will be. Jump in"
1t was a gusty day, and the Dot, too
light for such weather, her lee rail al
most under water, staggered under the
flaws, every now and then burying her
nose into the rollers and sending a
shower Of spray into the boat. Vane
had all he could do to manage her and
for time forgot his companion and al
most his gloomy thoughts in the grim
MI Of in nd
storm dashed sea. 1t was Edith Win
throp he was thinking of, the woman
who had led him ON to love her and
then thrown him over for another man.
Edith did not care. Every one must
be sacrificed for her amusement-yes,
even this child, her sister. At the
thought he glanced at the girl where
she sat poised out to windward, like
some spirit of the sea, her hair blowing
In the wind, her cheeks aglow with eX-
element, her eyes fixed with far
away look on the horizon. Vane had
never noticed how pretty she was be-
fore. He had always thought of her
as a mere child, and, 10, she was wo-
man. What was she thinking of? he
wondered.
AS if in answer to the question, Mar
jorie turned and met his eyes for an
instant and then looked away.
you've heard of Edith's engage
ment?' she said.
EYES," answered Vane, setting his
teeth hard. Il only found it out to-
day"
II knew it weeks ago. You thought
she cared for you?
Eyes"
"You might have known she didn't.
Van Allstyne is richer man than you
in money. It's wealth and power she
wants, and attention and admiration.
Love! She doesn't know what it
means. And you thought she had a
hearth" cried the girl. "This sea has
more"
81 know it now" said Vane, "when
It's too late"
"And you-can you care for her still?"
asked Marjorie after a silence.
"Yes-at least l care for the ideal /
thought her."
"What did you think herY'
"Brave, courageous, noble hearted.
comrade for a man, to face with him
the storms of life, a woman tender and
true, to fight for and dare for. l would
have tried to give her everything she
wanted. No man can love her as l
do-and now Vane laughed bitterly
as an ending to his sentence.
"Why did you come out today in this
gale" said Marjorie. us your life
SO worthless to you that you would risk
wounded your"
"My life! What does it matter? !
don't care"
II thought you didn't" returned the
girl gravely. Il knew you didn't. That's
why came. couldn't let you come
alone"
"And you came because you
thought
"You would be reckless? Yes"
"And you were not afraid?''
mo. Why should be? knew you
would take care of me-if not of your
SELF" The girl smiled at him con-
fidently. Il am perfectly safe with
you," she added.
So Marjorie had risked her life for
him. SO that in his desperate humor he
should not go alone. But how came
she, mere child, to understand? She,
ut least, had a heart to make some man
happy. And here he was putting her
life at the mercy Of the sea to crafty
his selfish mood Of bitterness. Well,
tie must get her home 1T o44>> -th,.n
Van thought he did not much care
what happened afterward.
1t was blowing Harder as Vane came
about and Stacked the sheet for the
run to the far distant boathouse and
the hotel on the hill. They were go
Ing before the wind now, the boat roll
Ing dangerously in the clutch of the
sea, the waves behind following With
hungry jaws and threatening every
moment to englIIf them