The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-13

through the score of rocky little is
lands behind which lay the quieter
water Of Inland bay.
Although the wind was screaming
through the rigging and the great seas
that rushed past them were flecked
with an angry white foam, he was
Ioath to run for shelter. This comb
nation Of wild water and wilder wind
suited his mood admirably.
AS far as he was concerned person
ally, he was willing to take his chances
Of riding it out or sinking, 1t mattered
but little one way or the other to him.
Still, he had no right to sacrifice the
sailing master and the men because
woman had made a fool Of him. He
drew out a fresh cigar and lighted 1t
from the stump of the one he had just
consumed.
She had made fool Of him. There
was no doubt about that. She had led
him on and on-him, John Barrows
Ferrol, the conservative, the man who
had always Wanted that he was i'm
mune from the wiles of woman, and
then she had tossed him aside calmly
like any toy that had lost its novelty.
He chewed his mustache nervously
and swore under his breath. What
sort of spell had she cast over him.
He ought to hate her, yet in his in
most heart he knew that even now he
loved her with all the intensity Of his
nature.
The little islands slipped past one by
one. The yacht ceased her wild plung-
ing and entered the quiet water of the
bay sedately. A few sharp orders
from the sailing master and the sails
came rafting down and the anchor
was dropped with clatter of cable
Before them the shore was dotted
with twinkling lights that shone cheer
fully through the murky gloom of the
gray twilight. The rain was begin
ming to fall in long, slanting lines.
Ferrol still stood by the rail, smok-
ing and absorbed in his own bitter
thoughts.
He would send her message. He
would not let her know how deeply he
was hurt, but he would let her know
that he understood now the whole i'm
port of their little affair. He turned
to the sailing master. who was prepar-
ing to go below.
"order the gig lowered, Mr.. Nc
Graw," he said tersely. I'm going
ashore"
During that pull shoreward Ferrol
was turning over in his mind the mes
sage he would send, and from some
where In the archives of his memory
came a quotation from Sir Launfal
that fitted his needs to nicely. Il
set him smiling angrily as he sat In
the stern sheets Of the gig, the tiller
ropes in either hand.
He landed at the little pier and
splashed through the mud and rain 70
rne nearest hotel. At the telegraph
desk be filed out blank:
Miss Annette v. Morley. Hotel Jackson,
Wanona Beach;
For cap and bells our lives we pay.
Bubbles we buy with a whole souls task
ing.
Then he went back to the yacht,
smoked awhile, pacing the wet, dreary
deck, and finally went below. He
tumbled on to a wide leather seat that
ran the length of the cabin and went
over it all again and again-their
walks, their drives, their little quarrels,
the happiness that had been his until
that last bitter night-until at last,
soothed by the monotonous drip-drip
Of the rain, he fell into doze.
He was awakened by hail from the
darkness outside. The light was burn
ing dimly. The brass chronometer
above the chart locker showed that 1t
was nearly midnight. He hurried to
the deck and found launch chatting
alongside.
"This the Alfrida?' cried voice in
the launch.
Eyes. What is it?"
"Mr. Ferrol aboardT
81 am Mr. Ferrol."
Telegram for you, SIR" said a man.
scrarnbling aboard and handing him
yellow envelope, which was addressed.
''Mr. ]. B. Ferrol, Yacht Alfrida. In
dian Bay"
Ferrol tore 1t open and read Better
read the next line"
That was all, save the heading,
"Hotel Jackson, Wanona Beach"
He stood there for moment frown-
ing In puzzled fashion. Then, like a
fash, the text of that next line came
to him, "'Tis heaven alone that is
given away"
"Any answer, sir7" asked the wait
ing man.