Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-01-06

could be depended III to keep quiet.
The ultimate success of all that he
had planned now seemed to the gen.
eral manager certain. He gave him
self up to the enjoyments of the cruise,
dreaming now and then of the time to
come when he and Frances as man
and wife should go on long trips to-
gether.
The first sign of real interest the girl
showed after starting was when the
yacht cast anchor in the broad harbor
Of Ponce, Porto Rico, and she learned
quite by accident that the cruiser
Roanoke vas expected there in a few
days.
Then, to the intense establishment of
Mrs. Durant and Pinckney. Frances
once more asserted herself. She de-
clared that she loved the old Spanish
town. Even the dirty plaza, two miles
away from the main city. interested
her. She insisted on staying over. be-
cause. she declared. she was deter
mined to study the town and the peo-
pie and ever ride over the famous mil
itary road constructed by the Span
iards at a terrible cost Of labor and
life from Ponce through the mountains
to San Juan.
Nothing that her mother or Pinck-
ney could do would move her. She was
interested. excited. eager all the time.
and each day. without the knowledge
of the others, she managed to slip
over to the government house to find
out when the cruiser Roanoke was ex-
pected.
1t was Il very pretty game of hide
and go seek that the girl and Pinck-
ney played without realizing it. Pinck-
ney also every day had inquired about
the coming of the Roanoke. He knew
that Sommers was attached to the
cruiser, and he was determined that
the naval officer and Frances should
not by any chance meet.
His orders were quietly given. and
the captain of the Irvessa was ready
the moment the Roanoke should ap-
preparatory to leaving.
Then, with these plans all laid,
Pinckney began his own plans for de-
parture. First he approached Mrs. Du-
rant and found her only too glad to-
go. At his suggestion she spoke to
Frances. only to meet a fiat refusal.
9" don't want to 80 yet, MOTHER"
protested the girl. "I'm having a
splendid time here in my own way,
and | can't see any reason for leav-
ing. I'd like to ride up to Coamo and
try the Spanish baths and then 60 on
through to San Juan. It's an easy
ride, and I can meet the ship there.
Suppose you and Edward go around
by ship and let me come through the
other way. l think that would be a
splendid plan"
Mrs. Durant looked at her daughter,
startled.
Frances, l think you must be out Of
your head!" she exclaimed. How
could you come through alone? Prob
ably you are planning to have Lieu
tenant Sommers take charge of you?'
Frances expression showed only
amazement, but her heart was beating
hard.
Lieutenant SommerSy' she asked,
with well simulated surprise.
Mrs. Durant made an impatient
gesture.
"Now, don't pretend, Frances. that
you are ignorant of the fact that the
Roanoke is expected here in the har-
Dor, and he is on board.
"IS he?" said Frances, still seeming
surprised. why. how nice that would
be-"
"N~onsense!w snapped her mother.
Frances. l don't care for that young
naval officer, and l don't see why you
can't get him out Of your head
The girls face flushed hotly.
II isn't in my head. she exclaimed.
Her mother was not to be put off so
easily.
"Humph! Maybe he isn't in your
head. but sometimes I've feared he's
in your heart. which is worse. Now.
Frances. don't be foolish. You know
Edward cares for you, and you know
that your father and l would like to
see you two married"
The girl shook her head decisively.
and her tone was very firm when she
answered.
I'm very sorry, mother. to disap-
point you and dad, but l must tell you
once and for all I wouldn't marry Ed
ward Pinckney if he were the only
man on earth"
The mother looked at her daughter,
amazed.
Frances Durant, I'm ashamed Of
you" she cried. "Here you've had me
enduring that horrid yacht for a month
past merely because 1 thought it would
help to bring this match about. and
now you tell me you'll never marry
him! I've never beer so treated in my
life"
Frances could not help laughing. She
slipped her arm about her mothers
neck a~ffectionately.
"I'm awfully sorry, mother, dear, but
l don't see how I can help you. You
wouldn't have me marry a man I don't
love. would