The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-12-15
CHAPTER XVII.
The Woman's Plea.

Miss Brenton, said Whitaker,
with the deepest gravity he could in
fuse In voice and manner, you have
been most unfortunate, most un-
happy woman. Allow me to assure
you of my sincerest commiseration.
my deepest respect. my most profound
admiration. You have suffered, but
innocently. If / may speak the voice
of society, If I may stand for the
world as your companion has said,
can only express my reverence for YOU
and my homage to you In this way"
He stepped nearer to her, he seized
her hand. He was an oldfashioned.
humble-minded, quixotic sort OF q
sailor, II you will, for before anybody
realized what he was about, he benz
his head low over 1t and kissed 1t. And
the sailors behind him and the ma
rines in rank broke into hearty
cheer.
There, madam" said Whitaker.
you have the appreciation of society
for my act. AS for you, sir" he
turned toward Langford 81 should be
untrue to manhood If / did not say
what you yourself have said; that you
acted not only like a brute and q
coward, but, sir, when | look at the
lady, l am constrained to add like a
fool"
Langford started forward, but the
lieutenant checked him.
Having said all that, must admit
that you have conducted yourself since
that time as a man of honor and as q
gentleman. have no doubt that
,,,fIl l,a thaf thQ
l world will forgive you as 1t will adj
mire and respect your wife,"
{ moi" cried the man of the island.
suddenly.
He had kept silence, resolved to
|. hear 1t all out without interruption. He
9 had suffered as the miserable story
d had been unfolded to such an extent
II that all that he had gone through with
before seemed like childs play. He
ID had heard Langford's noble confession,
+. his generous offer to repair his wrong,
n but without the appreciation OF 1t
IN which the circumstances and Its intrln-
in sic quality might have evoked. He had
IL heard the woman's defense, her SPLEEN
did justification of her course, the bit
re ter repentance that had followed It,
I but without that appreciation of what
ot justification there was for her and the
ed value of her remorse which the &C
,rt count should have brought to him. He
an had observed Whittaker's prompt ant
er touching expression of confidence ant
DIV reverence, but without understanding
n: its force and power Indeed, he hat
Ter instructive shrewdness enough Il
in realize that even though the sailors
touched by the act of gallantry an,
en-. moved with pity for the young womaI
who stood there lovely in her sadness
,ye had cheered, yet the world would b
I'd very slow to the same expression
at He saw that the woman was fac
the to face with crisis; that sh
six would either have to accept or d.
I'm. cline Langford's offer to marry her 8
ab once.
the His heart was filled with bitter rag
ore He knew that he loved the woman
for that he never would love any perso
but the woman, but nevertheless ii
,t j" resentment against fate which ha
mid placed him in SO awful position.
ard whose malign purposes he had bee
ucb the blind, ignoble victim, was
wo- great that for the time being his lo'
the was in allegiance. He pitied himse
cen he loathed Langford, he was contem
was tuously Indifferent to the world, al
fled for the moment he almost hated d
, It woman. The sub-consciousness tn
light he mad that THIS was as ungrateiui
lille it was unwarranted added to
ring wretchedness and misery.
S of NO" he cried, before any answ
boat is made, let me speak"
was "Your pardon" said Whittak
was may ask who you are?'
Sir" returned the man, "as to "
: up am and what ] am, l do not knt
case, nor does it greatly matter"
have Your pardon again. retorted
nded lieutenant commander, coolly, but
have matters very much. Unless you b;
lted, some right to interfere, do not c
be cede that any suggestion from you
make this crisis which seems to conc
her these two people, this lady and
nope, gentleman, is at all in order"
nd | "But it does concern me-" retur
efore the man, impatient of this check
very for love this woman myself and
make has done me the honor to say that
loved me- I had intended to m
hitta- her my wife should Providence {
bring us to civilization again"
ears, Had intended" exclaimed the W
. 1t an, under her breath, but no one
a de- tlced her words, and the lieutel
ed spoke again.
| am "That being the case, some
ask formation as to who you are and
give you came here is the more evide
what in order"
to ex- Cro BE CONTINUED
a Call for "Live Ones"