The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-01-25
TAKEN BY STORM
By FREDA CARROLL
Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Coz

Sopyrl9ht, by la
Lloyd Storm was man Of determi-
nation. yet for the past two hours he
had been sitting on the deck of an
ocean liner. endeavoring to frame
proposal Of marriage, but instead of
doing 10. persisted in answering the
utter commonplace questions of his,
companion. whom he half fancied was
fencing for time. This was their last
night out. tomorrow morning the
steamer would dock. Storm would
continue his journey overland to Cali
fornia while. Yvonne Waldron, who
had aided him In forming most fer
vent friendship. with her pretty, gay.
chic little self, would remain in New
York.
Yvonne was returning to her own
country after two years Of constant
travel. She was twenty-five years
old but looked scarcely twenty. She
was accompanied by her maid only,
and met Lloyd Storm her first day out
from Liverpool. his place at dinner
being next TO hers at the Captains
table.
With = woman's intuition she knew
that Storm loved her, she had meant
he should from the first. Stealing
secret glance at him as he sat beside
her In the moonlight she knew that
even then 4 proposal was trembling
on his lips.
why don't you light cigar?" she
asked in an emotional little voice that
could not possibly sound matter of
fact.
1.-THE smoke will blow into your
face" he said.
II should not have minded for once.
tomorrow night you won't have to
bother about me. l wonder II we shall
ever see each other again." she medi-
tated audibly.
Come and walk with me-" he said
abruptly. They reached q deserted
part of the deck and stood looking
down into the rushing black water.
Yvonne played her last trump. SILVER
ing bit nearer to him she laid her
hand on the rail, broad gold band
cleaning on the telltale finger. Over
whelmed by desire. he placed his own
protectingly over 1t.
"Why do you wear that ring now?"
he asked.
why should not?" she replied.
"Is 1t not the usual thing for married
woman to do?" she asked. lifting her
eyes and gently turning her hand in
his until their palms kissed. Con-
.quering fierce longing to take her
in his arms. wife or widow. he went on
with apparent calmness: But you
,fv,y
your loneliness"
Following purely physical impulse
she lifted her eyes TRANQUILITY to his
asking:
Are you one who believes a woman
ia just what she seems to be-? Do you
believe that just because a woman
is married she should avoid all atten-
lions from other men? Do you admit
to harboring that hopelessly antiquat-
ed idea. that exploded notion. that
married woman should have no friend.
ship with man she happens to be
drawn to? Do you consider 1t So
cial error. a breach Of etiquette. for
q married woman to accept the atten.
ttons Of man friend? Such beliefs
are ancient history. II you think them
Questionable. I surely do not" was
&e bewildering assertion.
Norm looked long and earnestly In
to the lovely fascinating face of the
little girl beside him
Are you disappointed in mel" she
asked penitently.
Don't put 1t that way. you can't be.
lieve what you say you do" he NUT.
tered. still half daxed at her startling
theories.
II wanted you to be especially good
to me tonight. our last evening togeth.
err" she said. impulsively pressing her
cheek against his hand as 1t remained
clasping hers on the rail- But you
are Cross" she went on. with an un-
mistakable sound Of tears in her
voice.
Lloyd Storm shut his teeth hard to.
Asther. II Yvonns was another mans