The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-09-17

is this a CHASTITY joke, Dick? | never
heard anything 50 absurd in my life. -
''You are going to stay here, he re-
peated, steadily. ''You will find the bun
galow fairly comfortable, and Peters and
his wife are very civil people. am land
ing your friends this afternoon at Port
Newton on account of your sudden indis-
position. They will believe you to be in
your cabin. As matter of fact, you will
be here.
She burst into fit of uncomfortable
yet not altogether natural laughter. She
was, in reality, in state bordering on
Mysteries.
"A delightful schemer' she cried
"Gou and | alone in a paradise-such g
paradiser' with a little wave of her white
hand Dick, you must be mad.
You mistake me, he answered, quiet
ly, Il am not proposing to infict my
company upon you.
'Aloner' she shrieked. Il am to be
left here alone?'
Exactly he agreed, rising to his
feet. Now listen to me, Louise
He stood over her, and the lines about
his mouth were hard and merciless. He
was tall, well over six feet, and she sud
denly remembered that she had always
admired tall men.
you will be dull here, he said, sin
certain way. So far as the capacity lies
in you, you will suffer Yet l would have
you remember this: All your little pains
and WEAKNESS will never amount to any
thing compared with the torture with which
you have blackened my days. | married
YOU for love. The misfortune is that |
must love you for all time have done
what | could to make you happy. 1t is
obvious that | have failed 4 couple of
days alone with me is sufficient to make you
miserable. Wherever we move you are
surrounded with admirers find myself
continually in position which no self-re-
Specting man could endure.
II have played the complaisant husband
long enough, Lousie; God knows that for
two pins | would have run the yacht on
ForneSs rocks last night and ended the
whole thing. You see, | am frank with
You hate the sight of the men who
accept my hospitality and think it sport to
make love to my wife before my eyes. |
choose to end it in this fashion. After a
time shall come or send for you. For
the present goodby.'
He turned away to escape the outburst
which he regarded as inevitable To his
surprise she did not speak.
Her silence unnerved him He fingered
aud looked behind. She was still sitting
on the rock, and her face was inscrutable
Il think YOU have said goodby, she
remarked
Your luggage is there upon the
beach, he said, and Peters and his wife
are waiting on the balcony They will
come down directly We have all gone You
viii find them very decent people hope
that you will be comfortable -
Ii was very larme, but the unexpected
ness of her manner confused him alto
gether. suddenly she held out her hand
and raised those wonderful eyes to his.
There was the ghost of a smile upon her
lips, but her manner was quite serious.
DO You mind shaking hands ? she
said.
He set his teeth hard and slowly re-
traced his steps For the storm of tears
ahd passionate anger which he had expect
ed he was prepared. This was different
far worse. He took the little hand in his,
and then, suddenly bending over her, he
kissed her passionately on the lips Then
he hurried away, steeling himself all the
while against the appeal which never came.
He looked back from the boat. She was
still sitting upon the rock, strange and
somewhat desolate looking object, her face
still turned Stewards She waived her
hand to HIM He bent over his oars and
gIoaned.
Louise as she rose to her feet and shook
out her skirts, was in a curious mood She
had expected to be furiously angry-she
was intensely surprised to find herself on
the brink Of tears. She watched the two
boats until they were out of sight, and then
she walked aimlessly along the beach to-
wards her trunks
\ tall, stalwart man had already taken
possession of them. He touched his cap
awkwardly.
m taking your thing up right along,
ma am, he said MY missus is waiting
to see to them for you She was lady's
maid before we were married, and I'm
sure we Il do our best TO make you com
Portable, though it's a roughish sort of
place for them as aren used to it.
Thank YOU very much, she said,
You can tell your wife to unpack all she
can and ge; me some breakfast | shall
be up presently, -
She sat upon the rock and watched the
boats. She was not quite sure
that it was not all dream.
Presently she saw that they were get
ting up steam, and with curious little
pang at the heart, she saw the long, grace
ful vessel glide round and face the open
sea- She watched it until it was out of
sight
From the deck man with great tele-
scope glued to his eye kept her in sight
lntil the last moment. Then he went down
o his cabin and locked the door.
* * !; \ X
Like good many other people who have
never known what solitude means, Louise
ound the first few days almost refreshing
n their complete novelty. She read and
lept and walked-and finally yawned At
he end of a week she was bored.
Then the wonderful thing happened.
'he was awakened one morning by the
ound of guns. She jumped out of bed,
nd, throwing on dressing gown, stepped
N to the piazza
A strange yacht was in the bay; below,
n a sheltered spot near the beach, some
nen were busy erecting couple of tents
.ouise dressed hastily and went outside.
'eters was there, looking at the yacht in
mazement
What does this mean, Peters p she
sked. "Who are these people who have
lnded here p
Il have no idea, ma am, he answered.
i was just going down to see. -
We will 90 together, Louise said.
On the beach, two or three sailors were
usy erecting a tent. Another man was
ending over an oil cooking stove. There
Il