The Redwood gazette., 1909-11-10


Yes, Of course we had to have some
ONE she agreed. Won't you sit
down? I'd quite given up all idea OF
ever seeing you again. I'm glad we've
met"
Il didn't know that you would ever
want to see me again" ventured SOM
mers as they sht down.
The girls face flushed. This was the
time when there must be some expla-
nation. and her sense Of squareness
made her feel that the explanation
should come from her.
"I'ye wanted to see you ever since
that night in the furnace ROOM she
said at last. ito ask your forgiveness
Sommers shook his head.
mo: have nothing to forgive, MISS
Durant. 1t is l who must ask forgive
ness. If could only make you un-
derstand how much I've regretted that
night and my outburstv'
The girl smiled with unconscious
tenderness.
"You had every right to ask what
you did. | had given you the right,
she said softly.
The man sighed.
"Nothing could give me the right to
act as / did that night" he said bit
terly. "I've been punished for it.
Impulsively she held out her hand
to him across the table.
"I,et us forget all about that" she
said. 81 went to the works on very
silly errand that night SC--.- time
TIL tell you all about it. We mustn't
waste time about that now. though,
when we have just few minutes to-
gether."
"a few minutesw exclaimed SOM
mers. "You don't mean that I'm only
going to meet you to say goodbye"
Frances nodded.
'T'm afraid that's it for the pres
ent," she said. 'We're sailing this
afternoon"
"And I'll be on sea duty for two
years." sighed the man bitterly.
1t was Just as hard for the girl but
the knowledge that she was loved
helped to buoy her up.
"Then we must make the best OF
the time we have" she said. ''Tell me
what you've been doing since ] saw
you last
Sommers shrugged his shoulders. -
Nothing to tell. Been at sea. that's
ALL" he said.
"But surely you do something at
sea?" persisted the girl.
He was still too disconsolate at tie
thought Of parting to quite lift him
self into her mood M
"Oh, we eat and sleep and I've
taken up wireless a little in my sparb
moments. | expect you know whX
I've been interested in it ever sinSf
you gave n me my first lesson II yoaf
workroom." II a
"Can you send and take?" she askse
eagerly.
"a little. but am slow at IT. '',ss.ssss3
The girl was leaning ON tha-tahle
now in her eagerness, for already an
idea had occurred to her.
81 can send well NOW She exeiairn-
ed. 81 spent lots of time In the Ir-
vessa's little wireless, reom.s 1t seems
so much more wonderful on sea than
it did en- land. OBJ the mystery of it
all. 80 ~,.,,,.....rt
"Think Of being away off tossing
about in boat with not hing but sky
and water anywhere In sight. and to
have one who is''-she hesitated q mo-
ment. and bright flush rose as she
went on. correcting herself quickly
81 mean. of coirrse.i if there shdlbfi ba
some one very dear to you on that
same ocean. You don't know where
how near or how far. but by touching,
key you anisend your thoughts fyl
ing in every direction, and the little
wave currents bearing saur message
will quiver around him bash by him.
perhaps touch his cheek in passing.
and yoii wonder if he feels it,.
The uian was looking at herNlecrlv.
by JVve. that's strange" be said.
low. as she finished.
7 Frances laughed teaeinely
! why have you ever felt n mossage
dancing about you?" she questioned.
Sommers shook his head
"No. but the Roanoke did 1t was
very singular. | assure you. I was in
/ the wireless room one night "a couple
of weeks ago talking to the operator
/ the RlTl JpiHPI IOTNiFu WITH sSuuuPll.
7 tense ea@erness- when suddenIyswith-
out call or getting our response or
any preliminary that the well regu-
lated message ipdulges in before COM
1 ing to you. over our recorder there
came. clicking in a wonder niessagea
His voice softened to a note of ten
derness
at was message of love-the ten
derest and sweetest I've ever known.
! No one could tell for whom it was in
I tended. don't think it knew itself.
/ 1t had gone astray.
'It was sent by woman-it must
| have been-and it found home with
u.s. Not man on that ship but car
ries it now in his heart. May tell it
to your
The girl was looking at him, her
heart in her eyes.
love yooccoroo nf ho