Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-01-02

II hope not, for our Chileans' sake"
laughed Courtenay. 81 heard Mr.. Boyle |
telling them to sweep 1t up, and they |
were hard at work when went to my |
cabin"
"Oh, is that where you hid yourselff
No wonder l could not ind you. or
course Joey knew where you were.
How stupid Of mev'
please don't call yourself names,
Elsie. You don't deserve them. And.
by the way, may address you by your
Christian manner 1t slipped out today
una wares. Not that feel like apollo
giving, because l don't. There are
times when the heart speaks, not the
guarded tongue"
Luckily the darkness covered the hot
blush which leaped to her cheeks. She
gave a nervous little laugh and strove
desperately to parry this wholly I'M
expected assault.
Il shall be delighted II you always
call me Elsie. II sounds friendly. and
l think our circumstances warrant
true friendship"
Excellent! ! suppose you know that
my name Is Arthur
Eyes, but l had no notion Of that
sort of exchange. You are the captain,
and q very serious sort Of captain at
times. feel like little girl when
you look ut me and tell me not to DO
naughty, so Elsie sounds oil right.
but simply dare not call you Arthur
Just imagine what sensation It
would create In the salon! should
feel creepy all over. And hadn't We
better be-
ELSIE" said he, with a tender note
In his voice which thrilled her like q
chord Of exquisite music. II want to
tell you something. The knowledge Is
forced on me that there Is another man
on this ship who wishes to make you
bis wife. but I. too. love you. and sec
no reason why should stand inside To-
any man on Gods earth until you tell
me with your own lips that you prefer
him TO me-"
"Oh" gasped Elsie and "Ohr again.
but not another word could she utter.
she who had been SO voluble moment
ago. The bittersweet pain of hearing
this sudden avowal was almost over.
powering. Her ideals Of honor and
truth were shocked, but she was wo.
man as we'll as an idealist. and she was
stirred to the depths OF her soul by the
knowledge that she had won the man
whose love she craved.
| II want you to listen TO me. Elsie"
he said, with a passionate intensity
that stilled the rising storm In her Dos.
ON. "Dr. Christobal may have plead.
| ed his own cause already. II Is not
for me to cavil ut him for doing that,
| but cannot lose you without word.
Whether you marry him or me or nel.
Their Of us. ! shall love you forever. !
want you to know that. II Is no new
discovery TO me. ! think my heart
went out TO you when carried you III
my arms through the gale, and since
that hour you and I have had expert.
ences denied to most men and women
ere they reach the conclusion that they
are 1T mates for the voyage OF life. Do
| you feel that. sweetheart? lAve we
known each other ten days or ten
years"
His face was very near to hers now.
His arm was around her neck. II was
| quite dark where they stood In the
shadow OF the bridge. He could not
see the tears In her eyes. but he heard
her broken answer:
"Are you-quite-falr-in using such
words to meT'
| Fair, Elsie! Fair to whom2"
"Because-oh. how can I tell you
Are you free toto speak to me IN this
wayg" ~
"Elsle, | am pledged to no other wo.
man, II that Is what you mean. Who
has been telling you otherwiseT Dr..
mo one. lndeed-lndeed. I alone am
to blame. You viii be angry with me.
but could not help It."
She could say no more. II she Ind
uttered another syllable Just then she
would have broken down completely.
Courtenay placed his hand under her
chin and lifted her unresisting lips to
his. He kissed her twice and laughed
softly. with glad confidence that sent
wave OF delight cours!ng through Ell.
sizes veins.
% Sweetheart" he whispered. II nm
sure you would not have allowed me to
speak SO plainly II you were going to
send me away. Now. don't want you
to bind yourself Irrevocably tonight.
That would certainly not be fair.
don't know why ! am to be angry OF
what It was you couldn't help. aud
don't care a red cent. All want 10