Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-02-11
CHAPTER IN.

On that fearful night Miss Ellen
thought that she would never get to sleep
after the exciting events of the day. Yet
so great had been the fatigues and such
the comfort and satisfaction she took in
the final outcome of the last interview
with her lover, in spite of her insistence
upon her own weakness, that presently
she dropped asleep and slept as soundly
as if she had not care.
Captain Smith was more wakeful. In
the first place. his duties brought him on
deck from time to time, but his heart was
light enough, his conscience clear enough,
to permit him finally to enjoy his slum
bers. He was not sure of her, but he
was encouraged. to put it mildly.
Bright and early the next morning he
got the Greyhound under way on what
was to be the most startling adventure
and the most remarkable day of his life
The bockade-runner had scarcely COM
mcnced to slip through the smooth water
of the sound towards the mouth of the
Neuse river when Miss Ellen made her
appearance on deck. The first glance of
the Captain brought a blush to her cheek
She strOve bravely to overcome the nat
ural nervousness consequent upon the sit
uation. however and greeted him in a
way which. while it was dignified and
slightly repellent. exhibited none of the
animosity of the past few days. 1t pres
entity developed into a quiet frendliness
which seemed to rise from a decision to
ignore the past and meet him upon a
footing Of pleasant comradeship, as if
nothing had happened.
This in itself was a great. rema rkable
concession. 1t did not indicate that Miss
Ellen had forgotten the events of the day
before. but rather pointed to a determina-
ton to overlook the things that had ag-
erieved her. This was a virtual condona-
tion of his offenses, if offenses there We're
and it was very comforting to him. He
was wise enough to meet her upon her
own ground. He made no reference to
their previous conversations or to his in
.entons with regard to her or the ship
,droit young man.
They talked about the weather which
was sufficiently beautiful in the freshness
of the early morning and the brightness
of the sunrise to excuse them for not
selecting more personal topic. Yet even
the best weather is soon exhausted as
subject of conversations Seeing that he
studiously refrained from discussing the
future with as much energy as she avoid
ed dwelling upon the past, with wOmanly
perversity she herself broached the sub
ject.
Last night" she began.
Last night | was in heaven" he in
terjected skllfully.
81 wasn't she countered quickly.
81 wish you had been," he said, "for I
found the experience exceedingly pleasant
and / think you would have liked it. Per-
haps l can communicate some of the hap
piness of it to you now
'Not in the daytime" she answered de-
murely.
"Oh." said the enraptured young Cap
tain, making a furtive grasp to catch her
hand again. II wish it were night again ~
''If it were. | should not be here"
"Why not?"
You're too dangerous in the dark"
81 look better then, don't II"
you do" decidedly.
That was what he had expected and
it was distinctly true, but he sighed
deeply, nevertheless.
''As ! was about to say" remarked Miss
Ellen, giving him full time to appreciate
the point to which her by-play had re-
duced him, 81 should like to know, if |
may ask the privilege, the program for
to-day, certainly so far as it concerns
me-"
IL haven't the least objection in the
world to telling you. / intend to make