The Morning standard. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1910-191?, 1910-12-25

certain of his identity in the winter
| twilight
Merry Christmasp she gave back
with a quick uplift OF spirits 1t was
TO be n Merry Christmas after all. her
pride declared dcnantly. She was turn,
lng tho tables on them nll.
"Glvc Us your bundle" the captain
told her. swinging It under his left arm
while his right went sklllfully out TO
cncircle her cloak-Shrouded figure
And now. lass. for the earnest mon-
cy." no whispered. dragging her toward
him.
Furiously she tried to wrench herself
away. but dropping tho bundle the cap
tain held her fast and pressed one hand
over her mouth,
Nay, 1 like not screams, though
these WIN do me no HARM" he chucklcd,
reused to incaution by his additional
supply OF rum, Body OF the dragon.
girl. stop struggling L mean you no
harm. Where arc your manners? A
kiss Is a small thlng-a small thing"
he repeated, with tlpsy laugh, and
KISS mean to hayol Come. stop
this"
A sudden hand at the captains coll
lar Jerked him a good four feet away,
and blow under his chin added an
other foot to that distance. Surprised,
but sobcred. by the attack. Brercsford
stood moment blinking at his an
tagonist. then with n rush he made
hercely at him. Tho captain was the
heavier man and inlamed with rage
and rum, but the other had the longer
reach and the quicker sight
Suddenly there was rush, a thud OF
blows and a gasp of laboTIng breath.
For second both figures were indis-
tinguishable in q lightning give and
takc' then, one on top the other, they
went down.
vn
ne assisted tho captain up by his col
lar.
Take yourself off unless you want
more. he commanded. breathing
heavily.
Tho captain shook his dizzy head.
holding his mantle TO his ingloriously
bleeding nose. Body OF the dragon.
but you are a sledge hammerr he
grunted. cycling his conqueror with
| something between a fighters admira-
tlon and mans resentment. Il meant
no harm; tho lass agreed to como with
me and l was but claiming my passage
| money. A kiss Is small thing"
Westcott looked from one TO tho
other.
You agreed to go?" he said. with
him?"
ITO England" the girl answered. 1T
| wanted to go back to England"
And Ill take her back now, and she
still wants TO co." the captain thrust
| In. with no more talk OF kissing either.
She's good little lass. and your folk
made vile show OF her"
Aye" said Westcott. but never
again. Zelloh. do you want to go
| now?" he cried out Dasslonately. his
face deathly pale in the dim light but
for the livld bruise on ono check. DO
| you want TO go-now?'
"No, oh, no; not noww she answered
him. breathlessly, her eyes held and
confused by that new brilllance In his
Why. It's the chap that stood beside
her to-day" tho captain muttered. A
whistle sounded from the shore; he re-
piled with another and held out his
hand to Westcott.
"No oftcnse. sir" ho said. at know
when games DONE" and he melted
away In tho darkness.
Westcott took one quick step 10 the
girl and drew her close. There were no
questions, no replies All had been
asked and answered between them In
that breathless moment. She lay still
N his clasp like an exhausted bird. and
under the weight of her light form his
heart throbbed with an almost terrify-
ing JOY.
"Zellah." he whispered brokenly.
"2ellah. love you. oh, how I love
YOU You Will live on. here.
with me2"
Tenderly he pressed the little hooded
head back against his arm to read her
face. His first kiss was salt with the
tears she shed She did not know why.
but In her eyes. when she shyly raised
them to his, was light so glad hap
plness so dlvinely radiant that grief
and pain seemed only far-away things
whose memories could not even dnrken
the newborn glory of their dream.