Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-08-06

every eligible Omcer, Doth military anu
naval, within a days journey of THE
Harbor," II was observed that the
heretofore impenetrable fortress of
Miss Mapleson's heart showed sings of
weakening.
But. alas! every man cannot win,
and IT was finally reluctantly conced-
ed that Miss Mapleson's favor shone
On two men only-young Commander
Gay and Captain Henderson. So the
other forces, commanded by officers
of greater or less degree, were quietly
withdrawn to point of vantage to
watch the tactics of the two remaining
besiegers. 1t was doubly interesting,
As they represented the two branches
of the service-it was the army
against the navy.
The chances offered to each were
equal for while Commander Gays
duty aboard the dispatch boat Walrus
often carried him away from the field
If action, Captain Henderson was as
often detained at his post, the fortified
island in the center of the harbor.
II was CALLING to Gay to have to
run his boat over to the island and
carry back his rival with others of
the garrison) to the scene of strife.
But it was no more CALLING than for
Henderson to be detained on the isl
and, while he knew Gay was ashore
and carrying on the siege undisturbed
Thus were affairs when it was ru-
mored that Miss Mapleson was going
east. The rumor became a certainty
and the interest of the watchers be-
came intense; the energy of the be-
sieging parties redoubled.
Finally, a week before Miss Maple
sons departure, and on a night when
Henderson was detained on the island,
Gay (gloating over the facD, called to
find the house of Mapleson in much
confusion, owing TO the fact that Miss
Mapleson's departure had been has
tened. and she was to leave the follow
ing evening.
Tomorrow night" exclaimed Gay.
in gallant despair. "Oh, then, Miss
Mapleson, won't you allow me the hon
CT of giving you dinner aboard the
Walrus and taking you across the har-
Dor to the station?'
Il think that would be charming,
only ! fear | must decline the first
part said Miss Mapleson. You see,
| have half accepted an invitation to
dinner, and l can't very well get out
of it,"
But II you should find that the half
accepted invitation for dinner does not
materialize into full one, may ! have
that pleasure as well as the trip across
the bay"
It.ss Mapleson smiled in a peculiar
fashion. Yes, in that case / shall
be delighted TO accept" Then she
held out note to Gay.
II wonder If ii would be too much to
ask you to drop this at the island on
your first trip tomorrow? I'm afraid,
II send ii by mail, it will arrive too
late"
1T will give me the greatest pleas
ure, Miss Mapleson," and Gay said 1t
in tone of voice that implied will
:ngness TO start the Walrus for the
pole that night if Miss Mapleson de
sired it.
AS Gay threw his coat over a chair
that night, the note-an innocent
enough bit of paper-fell from his
pocket, and, as he picked 1t up, he
read the address of Captain Hender-
son.
Then did that innocent looking note
belle its appearance and begin its dis
astrous work. It's pale, meek face
bore the name of Gays hated rival,
its heart contained message for him
evil thought-undoubted about
that dinner Miss Mapleson spoke of.
Hendersons last chance Thus spoke
the note 10 Gays jealousy-tainted
mind. Except for its message, Hender-
son would probably remain unaware of
Miss Mapleson's departure until too
late Mean, villainously mean thoughts
did that note suggest to the infatuated
Gay.
At last he slipped il back into his
pocket, and turned out the light.
"Of course, am absent-minded. and
Nne0 again, WOuiu never lHlHh vi
wearing that coat in the morning"
murmured Gay, as he turned in"
The next morning found the be.
sieged garrison rather uneasy, a state
of feeling not unnatural to a garrison
that is about TO capitulate, but is not
quite positive to which force. How.
ever. Miss Mapleson had almost un-
known to herself) decided that the
army should determine the terms of
surrender But IL o'clock came and
there was no signal-no flag of truce
from the enemy. Twelve o'clock-one
and the army was still silent. At
two, Miss Mapleson began to realize
how much she had longed for that
message; and at three, somewhat
frightened at her own feelings, and
determined to prove to herself that she
really did not care, she sent note 10
Commander Gay stating that "she
found with pleasure that she could &C.
cept his invitation for dinner" And
the navy beamed with delight.
The second and last trip of the Wal
rus was made to the island at five, and