Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16

then / didn't realize 1t fully. I thought I
could pull back to responsibility again
You certainly were optimistic" said the
consul grimly.
Optimism is chronic disease in this
God-forsaken country said Brant you
drift straight into hell, wreaming great
dreams and hoping great hopes"
He thrust his hand into the pocket of his
ragged trousers and drew out letter.
This" he said. came by the last fruit
steamer-the one that goes on further
can't leave my work-imagine my work.
to come to her. she is coming down here to
marry me. She is coming on the Southern
Cross" due here tomorrow"
you've written her not to come of
course" said the consul with conviction.
Brant smiled wearily.
You forget the steamer this letter came
on two months ago doesn't stop on it's way
north There Is no mail north until the
Southern Cross goes back. She is coming
tomorrow
Good Lord!" said the consul excitedly,
as the truth dawned upon him.
Now" said Brant, with more determi-
nation than the consul dreamed he could
muster, Il want your help. First. l want
you to lend me razor and some clothes IL
you will. III meet her tomorrow in fairly
respectable guise; but l don't dare trust
myself after l see her. ] want to bring
her here to the consulate, and 1 want you
to tell her-here, before me-what manner
of man 1 am"
He opened the soiled shirt, and from the
inside unpinned a few bills.
Il made this working with the niggers on
one of the plantations. It's the passage
money back. l want You to send her back
to the states. Will your
The consul was lost in thought for some
time. The other waited patiently.
See here said the consul at length II
stand in pretty well. with Toro and his
cabinet. / think / can get you place on
the railroad the government is building
Rran nj 10 a i'm no
Rum and the coast have played merry
game with me-" he said meaningly. You'd
better send her back first. Then I'd like
to try again
The consul suddenly seized Brant's hand
III do my best for YOU he promised.
Antigua behaved herself the following
day. AT sunset, Brant and the consul stood
on the beach, watching the great hulk of
the Southern Cross glide to her moorings
through the CLASSY water. The palms stood
out sharply against a sky of red and gold,
and far to the east dim little stars were be-
ginning to peep out of the pale blue sky
Both men stood silently the shore;
Brant calm and straight, his eyes on the
unruffied bay; the consul, with one hand
holding his hat, the other nervously pulling
his mustache
Presently the gig was lowered from the
steamers side with much screaming of the
daVit blocks. Without a WORD the consul
walked back TO his little shack and entered
the room that served him office
Some moments later he heard the tread
of footsteps on the veranda and a girls
light laughter. The consul rose and in
voluntarily squared his shoulders
Brant entered, and with him was dark
eyed, laughing girl. The consul expert
enced sudden overwhelming sense of help
lessness.
He was vaguely aware that Brant was
speaking words of Introduction; vaguely
aware that he had taken a soft little hand
in his own, and that he was looking into a
pair of happy, unclouded eyes. Then there
was strained silence until Brant coughed
neryoHsly. The consul cleared his throat
redeemed to the roots of his hair, and be-
gan:
Miss Kent, / want to say a few words
to you about Mr. Brant and-and-er-this
coast. l fear you have been deceived or at
least that matters have been more or less
overdrawn to you"
The girls eyes grew wide with troubled
questioning look. Grayson set his teeth.
HE has deceived you brutally,'' the con-
sui hlurted out. You must go back to the
states"
II don't understand you We are TO be
married here l Shall stay said the girl
bravely
Il tell you he has deceived YOU" said the
consul sayagely. You must go back"
The big eyes grew frightened Her lip
quivered. Then she caught one of Brants
hands in both her own.
Robert" she cried. what does it mean?
No matter what has happened. shall stay
with you. He doesn't speak the. TRUTH
The consul felt himself weakening He
devoutly wished the earth might open and
swallow him.