The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1910-01-13
CHAPTER XII.
A WIRELESS MESSAGE.

each told plainly how much this chance
meeting meant
OF course II was the girl who recov.
cred first With an arch smile that
was very close to tears Of happiness
she held out her hand.
80 you haven't quite forgotten me,
have you? You do know my name.
Won't you shake handsY
The man came to her eagerly. selling
her hand and holding 1t with a grip
that almost crushed II, while she looked
all the things that he could not just
then say.
IL can hardly believe it's really you,'
he exclaimed. ITS so strange to find
You away off here"
Frances heart was pounding with
great throbs of happiness He loved
herl That was plain very plain. Every
look, every gesture. showed It. And
with the knowledge there came to the
heart Of the girl great confidence,
content that made her able woman
like, to hide all her feelings and make
him work for everything that in real.
fly already belonged to him.
"Oh. mother and | are on a cruise
she said lightly. We've been here
several days. We didn't have all idea
that we should see you. What lucky
chancer
No one from her manner could have
guessed the weary days of waiting for
that cruiser, now just arrived.
lis your father with your" asked
Sommers.
The girl shook her head.
"No; father couldn't come. Mr.
Pinckney is with u.s.
The naval officers face hardened
ever so little.
"Oh. yes, OF course" he said, and,
inside, his evident jealousy made the
girl Just that much happier.
"Yes of course we had to have some
one" she agreed. Wont you sit
down? I'd quite given up all idea Of
ever seeing you again. I'm glad we've
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.
"I've wanted to see you ever since
that night in the furnace ROOM she
said at last, "to ask your forgiveness"
Sommers shook his head.
"No: have nothing TO forgive, Miss
Durant 1t Is | who must ask forgive
ness. II could only make you un-
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. had given you the right"
she said softly.
The man sighed.
Nothing could give me the right To
act as did that night" he said hit
terly. "T've been punished for IT,"
Impulslvely she held out her hand
10 him across the table.
LET us forget all about that" she
said 81 went to the works on a very
silly errand that night. Some time
TIL tell you all about IT, We mustn't
waste time about that now. though,
when we have just few minutes to-
gether."
"a few minutesw exclaimed Som
mers. "You don't mean that I'm only
going to meet you to say goodby"
Frances nodded.
I'm afraid that's It for the pres
ent." she said. "We're sailing This
afternoon"
"And I'll be on sea duty for two
years" sighed the man bitterly
II 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 said. "Tel me-
what you've been doing since saw
you last"
Sommers shrugged his shoulders.
Nothing to tell Been at sea. that's
ALL" he said.
But surely you do something az
sea ?" persisted the girl.
He was still too disconsolate at the
thought Of parting to quite lift him
self into her mood.
"Oh, we eat and sleep, and I've
taken up wireless a little in my spare
moments. ! expect you know why.
I've been interested In 1t ever since
you gave me my first lesson In your
workroom."
"Can you send and take?" she asked
eagerly.
"a little, but am slow at It."
The girl was leaning on the table
now In her eageness, for already an
idea had occurred to her.
81 can send well now" she exclaim-
ed. 81 spent lots of time IN the Ir-
vessa's little wireless room. 1t seems
so much more wonderful on sea than
II did on land. oh, the mystery of It
ALL
"rhink Of being away of tossing
about in boat. with nothing but sky
and water anywhere in sight, and To
have one who is"--she hesitated a mo-
ment, and bright flush rose as she
went on, correcting herself quickly