The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-25

| harm to tell you," Jack heSitated,
though we never speak of it when
he is present. His leg was crushed
in railway accident, trying to save
the girl to whom he was engaged"
did he save herr"
"Yes."
'Then why were they not married?' p
"Oh, she threw him over for man
twice his age, and the trifling adjunct
of $3,OOO,OOO."
Gertrude Woodford drew her breath
sharply.
"She tried to stuff 1t down Stephens
throat that she was sacrificing herself
to save her father from financial ruin,
and / think he believed her," Jack went
on. "Then she attempted platonic
correspondence with him after her mar
riage, but he would have none Of 1t.
All the same, l don't believe he has
ever quite forgotten her. Anyway, he
could not do so now, even If he would"
what do you mean?"
"'For she is come, she Is here as
Jean Ingelow says in The Letter L. I"
"HereY
I "Yes at the Ocean View. / saw her
on the piazza tonight as l came up
from the train. Handsomer than ever,
by Jove! Tall woman, with bronze
hair"
"Bronzed, you mean. l saw her ar
rive this morning." Gertrude said cold
! ly.
'The old man very considerably
'shufiied off this mortal COLI two years
ago, leaving her complete mistress Of
his Millions" Jack rambled on. MY
own opinion Is that this alighting next
door to where she knew Stephen was
staying, In the subdued attractiveness
of second mourning, is the beginning
of the end. You should have seen him
start when he saw her on the hotel
piazza tonight"
Gertrude rose quickly.
How cold 1t is up here" she said,
with a shiver. "Let us get back to
| the house."
A group from the summer hotels and
cottages was standing near Mrs. Wood.
| ford's house, watching the sunset, when
they descended. Gertrude would have
| passed on, but Jack Clifford detained
her. Unwilling as she was, she had to
submit to an introduction to Mrs. Arm
itage, Stephen Garst's former fancee.
The latter turned to her at once with
a scrutinizing look. The girl was too
| pretty not to be dangerous.
1T is beautiful here In these late
summer weeks" she drawled.
II think it beautiful at all times. The
cape is my home," Gertrude answered
quietly.
Indeed! Then you are a--native
should hardly have thought it"
A faint color rose under the girls
skin at the supercilious tone.
Miss Woodford's forefathers set
tied here over two hundred years ago."
Garst broke in quietly. Il believe her
ancestors for six generations back are
buried in the little cemetery at Plum
Cove. Not many of us can go as far
back as that"
Mrs. Armitage looked quickly from
Garst to the girl beyond him. But Ger
trude had left the group with her head
held high. She wanted none of Garst's
vindication for her family. She had al
most reached the house when he over
took her.
"One moment" he pleaded. II want
so much to speak to you tonight"
II am afraid must ask you to ex-
cuse me-" she said, icily.
Had Garst know that the cold, d.
| rect look which she sent into his eyes
was really the outcome of burning jeal-
ously, he would not have turned away
with so heavy heart.
Jack Clifford had hard work to per-
suade her to accompany them on the
yachting party arranged for the next
morning
"You forget that am native The
summer people might object" she said,
with bitter little smile, and Garst set
his heel into the ground as he lis
| tened.
When they reached the wharf Ger
trude turned to Jack Clifford.
"Old Capt. Lufkin is sick and can't
go, the boy tells me-" she said quickly.
81 think we had better give up the
trip"
Miss Woodford"-Jack looked at
her with mock reproach-"I am panied
that you should thus undervalue my
workmanship. Nothing but patriotic
feeling prevented my offering my ex-
pert services to Sir Thomas for Sham
rock III. Step on board the Widgeon,
ladies', and fear nothing"
But fear entered Gertrude's heart
more than once when they had left the
little harbor and she noted the darken-
ing horizon,
Mrs. Armitage was sitting near
Garst, beautiful In her soft white fan
mel yachting suit. After half an hours
sailing Gertrude crossed to where Jack
Clifford sat at the helm, thus bringing
herself on Garsts other side.
DO put back" she whispered tC
Clifford 1--WE are going to have q
squall, and a bad one"