Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-26

met"
81 didn't know that you would ever
want to see me again." ventured Som
mers as they sat 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; have nothing to forgive, Miss
Durant. It is I who must ask forgive
ness. If 1 could only make you I'M
derstand how much I've regretted that
night and my outburst?'
The girl smiled with unconscious
tenderness.
You had every right to ask what
you did. 1 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.
''Let us forget all about that" she
said at went to the works on very
silly errand that night. Some time
I'll tell you all about it. We mustn't
waste time about that now, though,
when we have just few minutes to-
gether"
"a few minutesr' exclaimed Som
mers you don't mean that I'm only
going to meet you to say goodbye"
Frances nodded.
"Im afraid that's it for the pres
emit" 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 ssid. 'fTell me
what you've been doing since I saw
you last"
Sommers shrugged his shoulders.
Nothing to tell. Been at sea, that's
ALL he said.
''But surely you do something at
sea-" persisted the girl.
He was still too disconsolate at tho
thought of parting to quite lift hirnA
self into her mood.
"Oh, we eat and sleep. and I've
taken up wireless a little in my spare
moments. L expect you know why.
I've been interested IN it ever since
you gave me my first lesson in your
wOrkroom."
"Can you send and take?" she asked
"a little, but am slow at It."
The girl was leaning on the table
now in her eagerness, for already an
idea had occurred to her.
or can send well now" she exclaim-
ed. "I spent lots of time in the IT.
little wireless room. 1t seems
so much more wonderful on sea than
it did on land. Oh. the mystery of it
NIL,
Think OF being away off tossing
about IN a boat, with nothing but sky
and water anywhere in sight, and to
have one who is"-she hesitated a mo-
ment. and n bright flush rose as she |
went on, correcting herself quickly
II mean, Of course, IL there should be
some one very dear to you on that |
same ocean. You don't know where
now near or now 1ar, but by touching |
a key you can send your thoughts fly |
ing in every direction, and the little |
wave currents bearing your message |
will CULVER around him, brush by him, |
perhaps touch his cheek in passing, !
and you wonder if he feels it."
The man was looking at her queerly. |
by Jove, that's stranger he said, |
low, as she finished.
Frances laughed teasingly.
"Why, have you ever felt a message |
dancing about you?" she questioned.
Sommers shook his head.
mo, but the Roanoke did 1t was
very singular, l assure you. l was in |
the wireless room one night a couple
IF weeks ago talking to the operator"
the girl leaned forward with sudden,
tense eagerness-"when suddenly, with
1ut a call or getting our response or
any preliminary that the well regu-
ated message INDUCES in before COM
ng to you, over our recorder there
.ame clicking in q wonder message"
His voice softened to a note of ten
ierness.
at was n message of love-the ten
30 one could tell for whom it was in
ended. 1 don't think it knew itself.
t had gone astray.
at was sent by a woman-it must
ave been-and it found home with
is. Not q man on that ship but car
les it now in his heart. May / tell it
o your"
The girl was looking at him, her
leart in her eyes.
"a love message? OF course" she
aid softly. "But how extraordinary
Sommers nodded.
wasn't it? 1t seemed almost cruel
hat such a dear little message, so in
ocent and pure. should have been
brown out into this hard old world Of
urs to dash through the air, through
eat and cold and storm, vainly seek
ng an owner; going on and on.
But, you see, it didn't die" added
II