Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-01-23
SAINT
BY ROSE X. E

v hltNy INV ~
Very" assented Wentworth.
Both glanced at ~Alessandra, leaning
~languidly in her deck chair under the
deep green shade of the palms. Before
her stretched the snow-white sands.
beyond them the blue sunlit sea.
Looks good, too; don't she?" the
trader resumed. Brought up in the
convent way over at Apia, and hasn't
lost the trick of it yet. | give her three
months. My own brothers girl, and
you'd say l ought to talk different; but
| never see any good come out of island
blood yet, and Sandra ainL better than
the rest. l tell you, I'd sell her as I'd
sell a puppy. l won't have her knocked
about; but I'd take any reasonable Of
fer from a man as would treat her rea-
Wentworth. Say, are you on?"
Thrice Wentworth drew at his cigar
before he answered. Yes" he said at
last. I'll buy Alessandra of you"
Night had fallen upon the sea-
night richly dark and thick with stars,
which shone again more dimly in the
glossy heaving blackness of the lagoon.
Patrick Wentworth, coming up from
below, saw her sitting there, and
stopped. He laid his hand on the back
OF her chair.
"Sandra," he said, in a low voice.
The girl looked up and smiled. She
was fairer than most ~half-castes, hav-
ing gray eyes; indeed, Wentworth was
more like a native than she, with his
hazel eyes and brown skin, tanned yet
browner by the sun. She was also less
~precocious than her peers; at 16 the
island girl is a woman, whereas Sandra
looked no more than a sleepy child.
"Is my uncle going?" she said.
"He's gone"
Il suppose he has forgotten; he does
forget me often" said Sandra. Would
you a;ind letting two of the men row
nue. back?"
mo, he has not forgotten; he left
you here on purpose" Wentworth bent
his dark head close to hers. He left
you behind because l want you, San
dra."
Sandra looked distressed and per-
picked. To Wentworth the trouble in
her eyes was a temptation beyond re-
sistance. AS he knelt at her side his
arm stole round her waist: he drew
her face toward him and kissed her
once, with fire.
"Mr. Wentworth"
Sandra's cry was an appeal, but he
only held her the closer. "Sandra, do
you care for me-do you care at all?
l want you for my wife. I'll make you
happy"
Sandra wrung her hands; she did
not try to struggle. But her submission
shamed him into releasing her; he
stood up, folding his arms and leaned
against the side. I'm sorry l startled
you. But you must listen. Your uncle
has left you here with me; do you I'M
derstand?"
MY uncle left me here? And he
did not forget me?"
HE didn't forget you"
Then he has sold me-" said Sandra.
Il never thought he would do that; no,
I never thought it,"
She sat silent and still. ~ did not
mean you to know" said Wentworth
after a pause.
Il am sure you meant to be kind
said the girl, without resentment.
IF it had not been l, it would have
been some other man, Sandra. And,
you see, l are for you"
But l don't are for you at ALL
said Sandra, with unexpected decision
you'll learn to-"
81 don't think so. I'm sure | never
shall"
you must. I'm not quite such 6
cad as you make out. l only want yor
to marry me as soon as we get tc
Apia." Wentworth knelt down beside
her and laid his hand upon hers.
How much did you pay for me?'
asked Sandra.
Seven hundred"
What! all your savings? The money
you meant to invest?"
Wentworth nodded. at was worth
IT," he said, dryly.
Sandra folded her hands lightly to.
gether. We'll l am your property;
don't dispute it," she said. do what
you like. l don't assent, but l can't
resist"
Il can't let you CO."
"As you will"
But, short Of that, I'll do anything
you like"
Sandra looked up quickly. How long
shall we take to reach Apia?"
1--WE shall get there tomorrow, l
hope"
you'll leave me free till then?"
"Free?"
"As though we were not to be mar
ried. AS though | were simply a pas
senger on board the Medic"
"Iegave you my word, didn't II" said
Wentworth, after a pause.
Sandra slept like a child all night,
and woke at sunrise.
Living in her sunlit berth with her