Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-28

to profit by.
Because, though old enough to be
your father, l have not yet reached
years OF discretion"
you mean, | suppose. that II every
n attended to ones WI affairs II
would be n less spiteful world? I am
inclined to agree with you. Unhappi
ly life Is largely made up Of these
minor evils. Yet ! should ha We thought
that the desperate conditions under
which we exist at this hour might pro
tect me from uncharitablcness."
You are pleased to he severe"
mo; it Is the last privilege Of dan.
ger that shans should vanish. Yet
we plumb the depths of absurdity
when we contest the right Of any wo-
man. even n young and unmarried one,
TO appreciate all that n bra We man has
done and Ia doing to save her life"
Elsie was speaking without heat.
She might have been reasoning some
disputed point in ethics. The Span
lard was obviously thrown off his
guard.
you seem to demand an %explana-
tion." he said, with some warmth.
well. YOU shall have It. | am not a
man to finch from the disagreeable. I
admit a sort Of impression. | might al
most describe it as Il conviction. that
Captain Conrtcnay's ann toward
you bctokens n growing admiration"
This is the widest folly" cried
Elsie in bcwildermcnt. IL cannot
imagine what put such n notion into
your head"
Let me at least lay claim to a spe-
cics Of altruism." he replied. Il can
see fifty excellent reasons why our
young and good looking commander
should he drawn to YOU. nor can | urge
one against it,"
But he is already engaged TO an
other woman. so my one reason is
worth more than all your nifty"
"Ah. can that really he soY'
The tense eagerness in his voice
might have warned her were it not
that she was shocked by the bitterness
which wellcd up in her heart. She
was amazed by this retrospective
glimpse. 1t alarmed her. She must
convince herself at all costs that she
had spoken truly.
Although the evidence she rendered
was of dubious value. she strOve to ad-
vance her argument further.
Il have priced our friendship great.
ly. DR.. Christobal.'' she said. speaking
with a calm deliberateness that rang
I LaIln-. IL ko. 4,r-, I, sec ..eN ,sontI,
that | am compelled to utter this pro
test. Now. to end a distasteful con
troversy let me tell You what I know
to be true. When the ship was strand
ed and we all thought our only chance
Of safety was to take to the boats, by
n fukc, the accident of the moment, !
was LETT alone in the captains cabin.
The sea was breaking in through the
doorway. and 1t brought an odd relief
to my overburdened mind when I en-
deavored to rescue the contents Of n
locker which for some reason had
been scattered on the floor previously.
Among them ! found some letters. I
think you will believe me when | say
that I would not consciously read an.
otHVl lcISOu y pTlNdte TtSIDOuuel
Just then I was hardly responsible for
my actions. and | did happen to see
and grasp the meaning of a passage in
n letter from Captain C~ourtenay's sis.
ter which alluded to his afianccd
wife. 1t Is not such a tragic admission.
is It? / would scarce have given II an
other thought were it not for your
manner this mnrnip0 and vnI1r words
last night. | paid no heed at the time
to the innucndo that I had come on
deck to find him-to waylay him. MS
have heard men say when speaking Of
n type Of M | despise. SO | re-
solved to s%traighten out q stupid little
tanClo. It would he ridiculous in our
present state of suspended animation
to let such a slight thing mar our
friendship
Elsie was indulging in tina most de.
lusive thing, self persuasion. 1t was
not surprising, therefore. that she failed
10 note the unmixel satisfaction with
which Christohal listened.
Am I forgiven, them" he asked,
with n new tenderness in his voice.
ooh. yes; let us laugh at IT,"
But
Please let us talk Of something
more useful. have a little plan. and
you might ask the captain If he ap-
proves of II. We have plenty Of strong
canvas. What do you say If | set to
work and cover in the promenade deck
fore and aft MS we'll as both sides:
Then If tho Indians try to seize the
ship they would not be able to gain n
Judgment at so many points stimuli
t%aneously. 1t would simplify the dc,
tense. so to speak"
Admirable. am sure Courtenay
will agree. Indeed, ] am ashamed that
we superior males failed to hit on the
idea earlier. Before | 60 let me 10
certain that my forgiveness Is com.
plete."
shall we quarrel about a degree Of
b~lesscdneSs: | assure you I like you
more than ever When all Is said and
done, you thought ] was finging my
self at our excellent captains head. 50
you tried to spare NE the pangs of un-
vequitcd love- The words hurt. but
she did Ht finch. Christobal. anxious
to deceive himself. was radiant.
Your charity goes too far" he cried,
THAT was not the exact reason, M
my dear Miss Maxwell; | begin TO eX
arctca a ,Aa,.lar, <J;-, u1n1l