The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-11-10

Yes of course we had to nave some
one" she agreed Wont 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 SIT 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.
1--WE 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; l have nothing to forgive, Miss
Durant. 1t is l who must ask forgive
ness. If could only make you I'M
derstand how much I've regretted that
night and my outburstt
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 I did that night" he said bit
terly. give been punished for it."
Impulsively she held out her hand
to him across the table.
"Iet us forget all about that" she
said. 81 went to the works on very
silly errand that night. So-4~ time
a
waste time about that now. though,
when we have just a few minutes to-
gether." =
"a few minutesr' exclaimed Som
mers. "You don't mean that I'm only
going to meet you to say goodby"
Frances nodded.
"1'm afraid that's it for the pres
ent," she said. Were 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
"Rut surely you do something at
sea 2" persisted the girl
He was still too disconsolate at the
thought Of parting to quite lift him
self into her mood n
"Oh, we eat and sleep. and ID
taken up wireless a little in my sparb
moments. | expect you know whN
I've been Interested in it ever sinse
you gave me my first lesson in yoaf
workroom." 1 II 81
Can you send and take?' she asked
eagerly
"A little, but am slow at II. ''r.ssss
The girl was leaning on the table
now in her eagerness, for already an
idea had occurred to her -
Il can send well now. y she exc1ailn-
ed. 81 spent lots of time in the r.
vessa's little wireless, room.S 1t seems
so much more wonderful on sea than
it did on land. Oh, the mystery of it
all!
Think Of being away off tossing
about in a boat. with nothing but sky
and wafer anywhere in sight, and to
have one who is"-she hesitated a mo-
ment. and 4 bright flush rose as she
went on. correcting herself quickly
81 mean. of course. if there sho,hll ba
some one very dear TO you on that
same ocean You don't know whnre.
how near or how far. but by touching,
key you can send your thoughts fly
ing in every direction, and the little
wave currents bearing your MESSAGE
will CULVER around hiAl h.Wah - hi4n.
perhaps touch his cheek III passing
and yuu wonder if he feels it,
The uian WAS looking 1T her q1eerlv.
BY .lpve. that's strange" BE- said.
low. as she. finished.
Frances laughed teaeinoly
why. have you ever felt n mnSeage
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 girl ienncd forward with sudden.
tense edGerneSs-" when suddenly.With-
out a call or getting cur response or
any preliminary that the well regu-
lated message indulges in before COM
ing to you. over our recorder there
came clicking in wonder message"
His voice softened to a note of ten
derness.
ct was a message of love-the ten
derest and sweetest I've ever known
No one could tell for whom it was in
tended. | don't think it knew itself.
1t had gone astray.
at was sent by woman-it must
have been-and it found a home with
u.s. Not a man on that ship but car
ries it now in his heart May | tell it
to you?"
The girl was looking at him, her
heart in her eyes.
go love mpcCapao Of coI1rcav cho