The Washington herald., 1906-11-02
CHAPTER XvII-Continued.

the DDdt Was STOCKED Win Il iEAhti bA
water and a fair quantity OF food; tt was
also furnished with sculls and small
lug sail.
He got everything prepared for his de-
parture with all possible dispatch. and
then turned to the girl Don't let us
part bad friends Desire he pleaded.
You had better start she returned
coidly. 1t must be after 10. and II |
don't soon make my appearance search
boat will be sent out after ms.
You appear To have taken Il sudden
dislike to me; ] don't know why. Won't
you at least tell me why?
You had better go
Please tell me, Desire.
Go. go quickly
Very well. dear. since you wish il.
But our bargain holds l shall soon re-
turn. Desire"
Yes, return quickly, as quickly as pos
sible."
Perhaps you will be liking me again
before then An Desire. let me tell you
how grateful / am TO you for all YOU
have done; what a sweet. noble girl
think you"
That is not true cut in the girl.
You don't think me noble, you don't
think me even good"
My dear girl. you dream cried Cress-
ingham in amaze. Il think yOu are the
best and noblest girl I know Of
Then why did you kiss me-? very
angrily.
The man gasped. "Why-why-what's
the natter"
All cried the girl of a sudden. going
very close 10 him and Missing the words in
his ear; Il know why: YOU have no re-
spect for me. that was IT, You knew Il
was wrong thing TO do. but you didn't
respect me. SO you didn't care
Who told you ali this?' he demanded
in his turn. growing annoyed.
Miss Elliott"
What, You told her that / kissed
you?" he cried.
Why not? Why should J not tell her?
She knows that I am a girl told her
you kissed ne. / did not know * was a
wrong thing TO DO. I did not do Il; t
was you.
"Phew. what did she sayg-
she told me it was wrong and mean
OF you: she told me that I should never
alicw any man 90 kiss me except the
man whom I wished 10 marry. and not
HIM. even. until he had asked me To
marry him. She said that men only take
liberties like that with girls whom they
don't respect
must have taken it badly 10 dose this baby
with such rubbish" Aloud he said grave
ly: MY dear Desire, sou must pardon
me. but you sec have all along regarded
YOU as q child, and us not wrong 90 kiss
children You ask Miss Elliott II IL is
never thought OF you as a woman: had
! done so I would never have dared at
tempt 10 kiss YOU
I'm not "a child; I'm eighteen, said
Desire.
Really. so Old
Yes. Very shortly and much offended
It's those Internal boys clothes" 3"
sighed CTessingham: they make YOU
look so young; and then your short hair" 9"
Desire seemed q IItic Modified. III you
really thought So, she murmured
"Of course. I did Miss er-er-Jibaloff. -
said CressiRgham You sea. II I'd known
you were SO old Ia never even have called
you by your first name.
Wouldn't YOU really2 Then ] forgive
you,' said the girl with magnificent con-
descension. But please, that name you
said now Is not mine; my name IS Desire
Gracci"
"Oh, ah-thanks. Miss Graeci, I'm so
glad you've forgiven me-
No, 7 don't Ike that; you may call me
/ Desire"
Thank you 50 very much; but, De
/ sire. Miss Elliott Is better. them"
"Shc was. but she took d bad turn
while we were talking; the doctor was
very angry with ne"
Is the doctor 4 good-looking man, De-
sire2"
why, he's a negro
'Oh, indeedr' Cressingham felt much
| relieved. You VIII look after Miss Elliott
Z %.
/ you. Desirc?'
"of course L shall; love her ever so
much"
Wen. goodbye. Desire" lie held out
his hand She took It and pressed it
warmly.
Goodbye, my lord. God keep you.'
/ she said. and the earnestness In her low,
sweet voice touched him deeply
Stepping into the boat he shipped the
mast, but when just about to cast of he
/ leaned over the gunwale and said: De-
( sire. tell Miss Elliott everything as soon
as she RECEIVERS, but your mother nothing
mind, nothing
/ Very well, my lord
And. DesireT"
Yes"
Give Miss Elliott n message from me -
Yes, what is it,
Three words in the English language
do YOU know English
mo, nay lord"
Well, repeat them after me Love
you" Cressingham blushed IN the dark.
" I love YOU. I love you. love you.
"That is right va won't forget them,
viii your
No, my lord; I shall learn them by
heart. I love you. I love you"
/ Cressingham plucked up the little an
chor and pushed on from the sand, Good
/ bye. Desire"' he called out.
! Goodbye. my lord. I love you.
/ love you, " and Desire vanished into the
| darkness, muttering the words over and
/ over TO herself, like refrain
! Cressingham did not put up his sail at
| once. fearing IL he did that the boat
/ might be capsized on departing from
/ the shelter of the island under whose lee
he was. Taking the sculis out, he lost no
time in pulling from the shore, and was
/ luckily assisted by both wind and tide.
Very soon he found himself in the open,
and then shaking loose the tiny sail, he
steered a course as far as he could judge
1 northeast. The wind was fairly strong
but steady, and gusts were few and far
between. The sea was chOppy rather than
] rough, running in small foam-crested
waves that made the boat dance and
| jump horribly.
But Cressingham was d skillful yachts
man, although poor stomach sailor, and
| he managed his frail craft with great dex-
/ teTity, little over Tashly, perhaps. in his
anxiety TO put as great distance. as pos
| sible between the island and himself. But
! he had Of late run SO many risks that he
found himself quite obiiviOus OF the perlls
| of the ocean. and his only fear was that
| morning might discover him within the
| course of one or ether Of the yachts that
lav af anchor in the tiny harhnr of Affala