Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12

kEzfEkAl was wrong thing 10 90. Uu no
do it. it was you"
''Phew, what did she say?"
"She told me it was wrong and mean Of you
she told me that l should never allow any mar
TO kiss me except the man whom wished Il
marry, and not him even until he had asked m'
to marry him. She said that men only take liber
ties like that with girls whom they don't respect.
''WeTl" reflected Cressingham; "she must have
taken il badly to dose this baby with such rub
bish." Aloud he said gravely: MY dear Desire
YOU must pardon me, but you see have all alont
REGARDED you as a child, and it's not wrong tc
kiss children. You ask Miss Elliott II It is.
never thought of you as woman; had l done SC
1 would never have dared attempt to kiss you.
'Tm not a child; I'm eighteen salo Desre'
"Really, so oldH'
dyes . verv shortly and much offended.
"Its those internal boys clothes" sighed Cres
singham; "they make you look so young, ana tnen
your short hair" m
Desire seemed a little notified eff you really
thought so," she murmured. =,
"of course, 1 did, Miss er-er-Jibaloff, salo
c,reqsnpham. seYou see if I'd known you were
M old I'd never even have called you by yorr
first name"
"Wouldn't YOU really? Then I forgive you
.a;d the girl with magnificent condescenslon'
"But please that name you said now is not mine;
my name is Desire Gracci."
"Oh ah-thanks, Miss Graccl' I'm 50 gAo
you've forgiven me- =, >,
mo don't like that; you may call me Deslre.
"Thank YOU so very much; but, Desire, Miss
Elliott is better, then?" 80,
NShe was. but she took bad turn while we
were talking, the doctor was very angry Win
me-" n..u.9.
'FWhy he's a negro!"
~Oh ;ndeedi'' Cressingham felt much relieved.
ssYou win look after Miss Elliott all you can until
return for you, won't you, DesireT
ssOf course / shall; love her ever so much;
"Well. goodbye, Desire" He held out his
hand She took it and pressed it warmly, -,
"Cood.bve nv Lord. God keep you'll she said,
and the earnestness in her low sweet voice Voucn-
ed him deeply.
stenninr into the boat he shipped the mast,
hut when inst about to cast off he leaned over the
cunwhale and said: "Desire, tell Miss Elliott
Everything as soon as she RECEIVERS, but your
mother nothing-mind, nothing"
every well, my Lord!"
"And Desire?"
eyes"
"Give Miss Elliott message from me-"
Eyes. what is it?"
eThree words in the English language; DO you
know English? p
sNo, my Lord"
''Well, repeat them after me: 'I-love-you.
Cressingham blushed in the dark.
az love you. love you. love your said
Desire. -,
1'That is right You won't forget them, will
you?"
"No. my Lord shall learn them by heart.
Il love you. love you
Cressngham plucked up the little anchor and
pushed off from the sand. Goodbye, Desire?
he called out.
Goodbye, my Lord. Il love you. love
you'" and Desire vanished into the darkness
muttering the words over and over to herself like
a refrain.
Cressngham did not put up his sail at once,
fearing if he did that the boat might be capsized
on departing from the shelter of the island under
whose lee he was. Taking the sculls out he lost
no time in pulling from the shore, and was lucki-
ly 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 northeast.