The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-11
CHAPTER XVIII.
Blind and a Fool.
He wild motion Of the ship in
the hard gale raging, for shortly
after he took the deck the mate

the Hiram and Susan before the wind
and further reduce sail, rendered II
/ impossible 10 prepare the regular meal
at the galley fire The Spanish cook
had managed TO boil some coffee, AID
from this, with the cold remains Of the
dinner, Susan made a sorry repast
AS before. she had no appetite. but
/ common sense taught her that she must
4 eat 20 live.
When she finished she went over to
| the door Of Morningtons cabin,
! knocked upon il, inserted the key in
/ the lock, and opened 1t.
/ asked
Mr.. Conant was thoughtful enough
/ 10 attend TO that was the reply.
/ VIII you come out into the cabin
| wish 10 talk with you"
/ Il should prefer not There Is moth
! ing that We can talk Of with profit; no
subject that needs discussion between
/ "WiH you come out into the cabin?"
| the girl famed forth passionateIy-
Is this request or a command?'
| "A request, OF course"
] In that case, no."
| "A command then"
| And from whom2"
/ From the woman you From the
! master Of this ship and your captor.''
said the girl, checking herself just in
( time.
IN that case, I presume I have no
None" she replied.
/ He stepped into the cabin, closed the
l door OF his staterOOm and stood before
/ her.
/ She mOtiOned TO the transom
| Sit down." she said abruptly.
She was trembling so that she could
| scarcely contain herself, and did not
/ trust herself 70 say more until she
/ could recover in some measure her com
] FTrs
/ mutinOus crew and cOwed them was in
! a state OF pitiful nervousness before
! that single. careless, Indifferent. and
! somewhat impairment young man.
You are armed?" he began, as ne
/ obeyed her gesture.
/ 4 am, Of course. Why
! That's we'll" he returned, "for I
might take advantage Of your defense
| less state"
Her hands fumbIed nervously at the
/ buckle Of her belt. She uuclasped it
lifted il up, and with its cargo of steel
and artillery crashed 1t down upon the
There" she said eve stand on
| equal terms"
Pardon me, no man stands on equal
| terms with a woman
! You are right i am unarmed now
/ and YOU are the -tronger."
That. also, 1 might dispute. for had
| I been stronger 1 should not be IN this
| situation and you IN yours"
| What do you meanE'
! I should not have let a woman"
/ he paused to give due weight to his
words and added slOWly-"that l once
/ thought I loved befool me in this way"
That you once thought" asked the
] girl, rising 70 the snare
You have repeated my remark,
which, after the experiences Of last
night, requires neither explanation nor
/ further confirmation"
7 see-I know said Susan, that
/ you do nCt-yOu cannOt-yOu never did
| care for me-that IL was all a pretense
on your part"
Then. what was it on yours?' he
burst out derCely
u never pretended anything"
MOP" he queTied. And that answer
! you were to give me on the morrow
when j pleaded ike fool for your
lOVey NOuTSt'
1t is not in written words to express
the contempt in that pronoUn- Susan
Shrank from under its force and then
compelled herself to meet the glance
Whatever my feelings were she
said, they have not changed, and II
you really care for that answer you
may have II now"
"The state II your feelings, madam,
is not matter Of deep concern TO me
now, and as for the answer l have il in
/ a lost ship and a ruined career and a
heart that you trifed with"
MOI Before heaven, mol" protested
the girl Cant you understand that
I had 10 DO it2'
4 understand nothing save that I
trusted YOU with my heart. my honor,
and that you blinded me by your beau
/ ty and your internal coqUetry."
Il know not che meaning of that
/ word she Interrupted Selling upon
that last phrase. T have known no
meaningless to me. 1 have known few
men save my father and never one
like YOU. / would rather have lost
my ship than have Iost-than have
D ia L Of ma nc n hrHM
Pray, madam, let US end this inter
view. IT'S TO no purpose. We are sew
cred, you and l. and even II you had
loved me you would not care to unite
your fortunes with those of a ruined,
broken, dishOnOred man"
IF / loved you" exclaimed Susan.
/ that would only make me love you
I the more"
'Tfg' queried the man.
And you must hear me-" continued
the poor girl, pOintedly disregarding
/ his Interrogation, for my honor and
Self-respect are at stake, too. I don't
like circumstances. Perhaps they
would lock their lips and close their
I hearts and suffer and die in silence.
Maybe IL is unmaidenly of me like
the dress / wear, but
Ills vastly becoming" said the
Lieutenant. rising and scanning her
1 from head TO heel with a slow. super
shane. Shamew cried the girl.
| That is unworthy of you, of the high
1 ideal I have of you. Look at mel
Since you wish to insult me by your
I gaze, YOU shall do il to your fill"
She rose and stood before him with
/ arms outstretched in all her slender
/ grace. She was deathly pale. and yet
there was a certain exaltatiOn in her
/ heart, for she who had been so grew
ouSly IN error according TO him had
4 Tor the momen put him undeniably in
/ the wrong
]
/ sustain the fierce directness Rf her
glance. because his conscience $rnote
/ him even as her words
4 Madam, he said bowling very low
/ you are right ! can do no more
/ than ask your pardon
/ i grant it, said the girl. sitting down
! again There, is nothing I could not
/ forgive you but you