The Hattiesburg news., 1909-12-03
CHAPTER XVII.
The Woman's Plea.

| CHAPTER XVII.
The Woman's Plea.
Miss Brenton," said Whitaker
with the deepest gravity he could in
fuse in voice and manner. you have
been most unfortunate, a most IN.
happy woman. Allow me to assure
you Of my sincerest commiseratfon
my deepest respect, my most profound
admiration. You have suffered, but
innocently. If may speak the voice
Of society. II may stand for tns
world as your companion has said.
can only express my reverence for Won
and my homage to you In this wav."
He stepped nearer to her, he seized
ner hand. He was an old-fashioned
numble-minded, quixotic sort OF a
sailor, II you will, for before anybody
reailzed what he was about, he bent
MS head low over it and kissed it. And
the sailors behind him and the ma.
rines in rank broke into a hearty
| cheer.
There. madam" said Whitaker
you have the appreciation of society
Tor my act As for you, SIR" he
turned toward Lansford, II should be
untrue to manhood II did not say
what you yourself have said; that Won
acted not only like brute and 4
coward. but. sir. when I look at the
lady, l am constrained TO add like 4
fool"
Langford started forward, but the
lieutenant checked him.
Having said all that, I must admit
that you have conducted yourself since
that time az man Of honor and as a
gentleman. I have NO doubt that
your offer will be accepted; that the
world will forgive you % It will ad.
mire and respect your wife"
moi" cried the man of the island.
suddenly.
He had kept silence, resolved to
near 1t all out without Interruption. He
had suffered as the miserable story
had been unfolded to such an extent
tnat all that he had gone through with
before seemed like child's play. He
mad heard Langford's noble confession.
MS generous offer to repair his wrong
but without the appreciation of II
which the circumstances and its intrin.
Sic quality might have evoked. He had
heard the woman's defense, her splen-
old justification Of her course, the bit.
ter repentance that had followed H.
out without that appreciation of what
Justihcation there was for her and the
value Of her remorse which the ac.
count should have brought to him. He
had observed Whittakers prompt and
touching expression Of confidence and
reverence, but without understanding
It's force and power Indeed, he had
instructive shrewdness enough IN
realize that even though the sailors.
touched by the act of gallantry and
moved with pity for the young woman
who stood there lovely in her sadness.
mad cheered, yet the world would be
very slow to the same expression.
He saw that the woman was face
to face with q crisis; that she
would either have to accept or de-
cline Langford's offer to marry her Al
once.
His heart was filled with bitter rase.
ne knew that he loved the woman:
that he never would love any person
nut the woman. but nevertheless the
resentment against fate which had
placed him in 90 awful q position. Of |
whose malign purposes he had been |
the blind. ignoble victim, was so
great that for the time being his love
was In abeyance. He pitied himself.
ne loathed Langford, he was contemp-
tuously Indifferent to the world, and
for the moment he almost hated the
woman. The sub-consciousness that
he had that this was as ungrateful as'
IL was unwarranted added to his
wretchedness and misery.
NO" he cried, before any answer
Is made, let me speak,"
Your pardon" said Whitaker.
may l ask who you are?"
Sir" returned the man, "as to who
am and what am, l do not know.
nor does it greatly matter"
Your pardon again." retorted the
lieutenant commander, coolly, but II
matters very much. Unless you have
some right to interfere. I do not con.
,ede that any suggestion from you in
Ehis crisis which seems to concern
,hese two people. this lady and this
is at all in order"
But it does concern me-" returned
he man, impatient of this checking.
for love this woman myself, and she
las done me the honor to say that she
owed me. I had intended to make
Ter my wife should Providence ever
'ring us to civilization again."
Had intended" exclaimed the WON.
In, under her breath. but no one no
iced her words, and the lieutenant
poke again.
That being the case, some in.
ormation as to who you are and how
'ou came here Is the more evidently
n order"
Il can answer that" said the WON.
N. When landed on this island. I
ound this man here. He had been
lere long time. believe he had
'een cast away here a. q child and
lad grown up alone. He had No