The Somerset reporter., 1904-02-18


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 Nane after a mo-
ment's hesitation. I'm in a 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. Nane
had all he could do to manage her and
for time forgot his companion and al
most his gloomy thoughts in the grim
pleasure of his contest with wind and
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 amuscment-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 a 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
yes" answered Vane, setting his
teeth hard. Il only found it out to-
day"
81 knew 1t weeks ago You thought
she cared for you?"
YES"
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 1t
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 sillY'
asked Marjorie after silence
"Yes-at least | care for the ideal l
thought her"
what did you think herr
Grave, courageous. noble hearted,
with soul as beautiful as her body, a
comrade for q man, to face with him
the storms of life, woman tender and
true to fight for and dare for. | would
have tried to give her everything she
wanted No man can love her as
do-and now Yane laughed bitterly
as an ending to his sentence.
"Why did you come out today in this
gale?" said Marjorie. is your life
so worthless to you that you would risk
it because thoughtless woman has
wounded you?"
MY life! What does it matter? !
don't care"
'I thought you didn't" returned the
girl grayely II 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 l be? l knew you
would take care OF me-if not Of your
self" The girl smiled at him con
ndently. 81 am perfectly safe with
YOU" she added
So Marjorie had risked her life for
him, so that in his desperate humor be
should not go alone. But how came
she, a mere child, to understand? She,
at least, had 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
he must get her home at once then
Van thought he did not much care
what happened afterward.
1t was blowing harder as Nane 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 engulf them.
With braced body and strained mus
cles, every sense alert, Nane gripped
the tiller, striving to hold the boat
against the swirling Bullets of the
waves, his one thought to get her safe