The Columbus journal., 1909-10-27
CHAPTER xvII.-continued.

Wnen ne came to the ant-hill. he
found companions and honey alike
gone. He went on to the cocoanuts
There he came upon WINTHROP
stretched fiat beside the skin of hon
ey. Miss Leslie was seated a little
way beyond. nervously bending :
palmleaf into shape for hat.
Il say. Blake" drawled Winthrope
you've been a deuced long time in
coming. 1t was no end of a task t.
lug the honey"
Blake brushed past without reply
1rS. and went on until he stood before
the girl. AS she glanced ~ at him
he held out the crimson blossom.
Thought you might like pos;es," he
said, in hesitating voice.
Instead of taking the flower. she
drew back with a gesture of repul
sion.
"Oh. take 1t away" she exclaimed
Blake flung the rejected gift on the
ground, and crushed it beneath his
heel.
Catch me making a fool of myself
again." he growled.
II did not mean it that way
really didn't. Mr.. Blake 1t was the
thought of that awful snake"
But Blake, cut to the quick, hal
turned away far too angry to heed
what she said. He stopped short be
side the Englishman; but only to slins
the skin of honey upon his back. The
lead was by no means a light one
even for his strength. Yet he caugh
up the heavy pot as well, and mad
on across the plain at a pace which
the others could not hope to equal
AS Winthrope rose and came for
ward to join Miss Leslie. he looked
about closely for the bruised flower
1t was nowhere in sight.
'Er-bes pardon, Miss Genevieve
but Gid not Blake drop the bloom
er-blcssom somewhere about here?'
Perhaps he did" replied Miss Les
lie. She spoke with studied indiffer
ence.
''I-ah-saw the fellow exhibit hi:
impudence"
''Ye-es?"
You know. think it high time the
bounder is taken down a peg"
All. indeed. Then why do You no
try it,"
Miss Genevieve! you know that a
present l am physically so much hi.
inferior"
How about mentally"
Though the girls eyes were veilel
by their lashes, she saw Winthropt
cast after Blake look that seemed
to her almost fiercely vindictive.
"Well?" she said, smiling, but watch
ing him closely.
An, indeed. However. this is nov
quite another matter. Has it not oc
Cured to you, my dear, that this entire
experience of ours since that beastl,
storm is compromising? p
"You-you dare say such a thing,
I'll go this instant and tell Mr.. Blake,
I'll"
Begging your pardon, madam-bu
are you prepared to marry that bar
barous clodhorper?"
Marry? What do you mean. siro'
Precisely that. 1t is question O.
marriage. if you'll pardon me. And
you see, l flatter myself. that when il
comes to the point. it will not be
Blake. but myself"
"Ah. indeed! And if l should pre
fer neither of you?"
Begging your pardon-I fancy yo,
will honor me with your hand. m,
dear. For one thing, you admit thai
I am gentleman"
"Oh, indeed"
"One moment, please! I am tryins
to intimate to you, as delicately as pos
sible, embarrassing 70,
would find it to have these little oc
currences-above all, to-day's-noiset
abroad to the vulgar crowd, or ever
among your friends"
What 90 You mean! What do yor
want?" cried the girl. staring at him
with deepening fear in her Devil
dered eyes.
Believe me, my dear, it grieves me
to so perturb you: but-er-love must
have its way. you know"
You forget. There is Mr.. Blake"
"Ah. to be sure! But really now
you would not ask. or even permit him
to murder me; and one is not legally
bound. you know. to observe prom