The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-07-03
CHAPTER Y.


they would sight Sandy Hook,
and Shirley would know the
worst She had caught the North Ger
man Lloyd boat at Cherbourg two days
after receiving the cablegram from
New York. Mrs. Blake had insisted
on coming along in spite of her niece's
protests Shirley argued that she had
crossed alone when coming; she could
go back the same way. Besides, was
not Mr.. Ryder returning home on the
same shlp2 He would be company and
protection both. But Mrs. Blake was
bent on making the voyage. She had
not seen her sister for many years and,
moreover, this sudden summons from
America had upset her own plans.
The alarming summons home and the
terrible shock she had experienced the
following morning when jefferson
showed her the newspaper article with
Its astounding and heartrending news
about her father had almost Frustrated
Shirley. The blow was all the greater
Or being so entirely unlocked for.
shat the story was true she could not
cabled except under the gravest cir
cumstances. What alarmed Shirley
still more was that she had no direct
news Of her father For moment her
heart stood still Suppose the shock Of
this shameful accusation had killed
him? Her blood froze i'm her veins, she
clinched her fists and dug her nails into
a. II. ID. La % q h.. .Urs4.5 a
possibility that she had looked upon
him i'm life for the last time. She re
q membered his last kind words when
he came to the steamer to see her off
and his kiss when he said gOodby, and
she had noticed a tear Of which he APP
peared to be ashamed. The hot tears
welled up in her own eyes and coursed
unhindered down her cheeks.
Suddenly she heard a familiar step
behind her, and jefferson joined her at
the rail- The wind was due west and
blowing half gale, so where they
were standing-one of the most expos
ed parts of the shp-it was difficult to
keep ones feet, to say nothing of hear
Ing any one speak.
ITS pretty windy here, Shirley"
shouted jefferson. steadying himself
against a stanchion Don't you want
to walk a littleT
He had begun to call her by her first
name quite naturally, as if it were a
matter of course. Indeed, their rela-
tons had come to be more like those Of
brother and sister than anything else
Shirley was too much troubled over
the news from home to have a mind
for other things. and i'm her distress
she had turned TO Jefferson for advice
and help as she would have looked to
an elder brother
He was sorry for Judge ROssmore. OF
course, and there was nothing he would
not do on his return to secure n with
drawal Of the charges That his IA
Their would use his influence he had no
doubt, but meantime he was selfish
enough to be glad for the opportunity
1t gave him to be a whole week alone
with Shirley.
Thus events combined with the
weather. conspirel to bring Shirley
and Jefferson more closely together
The sea had been rough ever since
they sailed, keeping Mrs. Blake confined
10 her statcrOom almost continuously
They were therefore constantly i'm one
auother's company. ana slowly. I'M
consciously. there was taking root in
their hearts the germ of the only real
and lasting love-the love born of
something higher than mere physical
attraction. the nObler, more enduring
affection that is born of mutual sym
pathy. association and cOmplniOnship.
Jefferson had been casting furtive
glances at his companion, and as he
noted her serious, pensive face he
thought how pretty she was. He won
dered what she was thinking Of and
suddenly inspired no doubt by the mys.
FERROUS power that enables some people
to read the thoughts Of others. he said
abruptly:
shirley, l can read your thoughts
You were thinking Of me-"
She was startled for a moment, but
Immediately recovered her self posses
sion. 1t never occurred to her to deny
IT. She pOndered for a moment and
then replied:
"You are right, JEFF, l was thinking
OF you. How did you guess?"
He leaned over her and took her
hand. She made no resistance Her
delicate, slender hand lay passively In.
his big brown one and met his grasp
frankly, cordially. He whispered:
What were you thinking Of me
good or bad2"
Good, Of course. How could think
anything bad of your
She turned her eyes on him in won
derment; then she went on:
81 was wondering how a girl could
distinguish between the feeling she
has for man she merely likes and the
feeling she has for a man she loves"
Jefferson bent eagerly forward so as
to lose no word that might fall from
those coveted lips.
'Tn what category would 1 be
placed?" he asked.
1T don't quite know" she answered