Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1908-10-23

nor only very embarrassed, but very
nervous.
1t was a relief when dinner was final
ly served. Suddenly, glancing up, Mu-
riel noticed the steward talking to the
man across from her. He was evil
IDENTIFY. by his gestures, talking about
the bread in the center of the table.
She overheard him say. 81 thought you
were together, SO | brought the bread
on one plate" to which the man smil-
ingly replied: ut doesn't matter. 1t
will be all right"
For some time neither Muriel nor the
man opposite deigned to take any
bread. Then suddenly, as II by one
impulse, each reached for the same
roll, and each as suddenly withdrew
empty handed.
Immediately, with very fiattering gal
lantry, the man passed the bread to
Muriel, and she, not to be outdone In
courtesy, took the roll of combat"
broke 1t and offered her table compan-
ion half.
An hour or SO later in her state
room Muriel lay crying her pretty eyes
out, whether from an overflow Of hap
piness or because Of regret for her past
Stiffness she could not for the life of
her have told, when she heard a knock
at the stateroom door.
"Who is it?" she called cautiously.
Steward, miss. l have a message
for you"
Muriel took the envelope and broke
1t open with haste, her heart humping
unanimously as she read:
Dearest-I knew perfectly well why you
wouldn't recognize me at the table. You
did not want to excite public curiosity or
criticism, and | admired you for 1t. But
how l wanted to hold your hand tight
whenever 1 saw you tremble at the light
ming! But you were u~nspeakably sweet
In the way you let me know that we are
friends again and much, much more, dear
girl, / hope!
Now that we nave broken bread to-
gether can we talk together too? 1t Is
full moon tonight, you know. In about
fifteen minutes 1 shall be strolling around
the upper deck and shall expect to find
you tucked away in a corner there some
where. Six weary months ago you gave
me the mitten, little Muriel. Come and
see now what I have to offer In return.
THE SAME OLD TOM.
P. Spy the bye, Tn on my way TO
visit with your mother. She and l have
always been good chums, you know. l
heard you weren't to be at Cliffside this
summer. SO I thought perhaps your moth
err might be a bit lonesome. Queer she
didn't tell me you were coming!
It was lucky that Tom had given
Muriel fifteen full minutes of grace in
which to obliterate somewhat the n
becoming traces of her tears. She had
no sooner established herself comfort
ably In a deck chair on the lee side of
the pilothouse that Tom appeared idly
dangling by his side one long white
glove.
Muriel caught 1t instantly.
SILLY boyw was her greeting. where
did you get itY'
Tom stood smiling down at her rap
%turously.
"Why, of course, / was watching you
when you lost 1t. Several of US made a
scramble for it, and l got 1t. l knew
then my luck had changed"
"And | thought" Muriel told him,
crushing the glove in her hand, 1T was
an omen of misfortune. Why, what's
in IT." she exclaimed suddenly. Il feel
something hardT'
And she began to mvesffgste tacr
finger. Tom sat down close beside her
and watched her with absorbing adj
miration.
"Why it's-it's my engagement ring!"
gasped Muriel, shaking out the third
finger of the glove. isn't that funny?
l hadn't had 1t on at all because
Then as she realized the unpleasant
truth she had stumbled upon and also
how the ring had really come there she
looked up at Tom and smiled her adora-
ton.
won't you put 1t on again, Tom.
dear?" she asked with very sweet hui
mility.