Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-06-23
CHAPTER xIv-contlnued.

AdlIElOIus jill HIS YdCuL, 6l6hloA lax OVoNOh
n orders his yacht put in.
CHAPTER xiv-continued.
Because"
She hesitated.
Are you afraid to tell me?"
YES" she said.
afraid of what?"
"Of losing YOU"
Danish that fear"
But It's not that that keeps me
silent"
What them"
Il would have the worlds comment
ON what I say when I say it."
"The worlds comment! What is
the worlds comment to me?"
"a test, a trial of your feelings! If
1T breaks my heart, you must know"
IF you feel that way about it," said
the man resolutely, you need tell me
nothing at all"
1t was a brave thing to say, for her
mysterious words filled him with du-
biety and dismay. He had no idea
what it was that she could tell him.
He had no experience by and through
which to embody her vague hints into
something real and tangible. He knew
that he was terribly grieved, and but
that he had no way to describe the
pain Of jealousy, he would have said
that he was racking with that unhappy
emotion.
Tell me nothing he repeated
again, IF it grieves you"
Are you afraid of the test?" she
asked, swiftly.
II am afraid of nothing, except los
ing you"
Il am not worthy of you," returned
the woman, "as l told you, but if vol
will still have me If you will take me
when l have said what / must say
and when the world has said what il
will say, then / shall be yours as long
as l live"
at is we'll" said the a Il wal
the ship now eagerly that l may show
you that what l have said is true"
"The vessel is nearer now" sht
said at last, rising from where the.
had been seated together upon thu
grass absorbed in each other, ant
pointing seward.
"Yes," he answered, 81 can evel
see the figures upon the deck"
Your brother men,"
frNXTi1l fbora he coroo uy0p,au nm tbl
ship"
II do not know" she answered
quickly. ut isn't likely. Do you wisI
to see other women?"
None" was the instant answer. 6
wondered if my brothers would brin
you sisters. That was ALL"
There was absolutely no dissimulG
ton about the man. There had bee
no coquetry about her. He woul
simply have failed entirely to undel
stand what it was. He was as homes
as straightforward, as absolute sin
plicity and sincerity must ever b
and she had met him exactly on hi
own ground. It was impossible, Their,
fore, for her to m~isapprehend hi
mere casual interest.
She stood quietly studying the al
preaching vessel. AS she did so,
came to her mind that there was som,
thing strangely familiar about the Of
coming ship. She stared longer, an
the conviction grew upon her. VIII
she realized 1t she clasped her han
Ito her heart with a sudden gasp ar
turned a white face upon him. Fl
was all solicitude In an instant.
What Is the matter?" he erie
Your face is white; you look /
strangely"
ut is a sudden pain" she gaspe
terror and dismay constructing h,
throat.
She wavered. He thought she W,
going to fall. He stepped closer
her and put his arm about her.
mo, mol" she said. repulsing.
1t was the first command she hs
given him in those bygone days wht
he had stood dumbly before her.
mo, moi" she pushed him away.
'Shall De all rlgnL.
Sand has the approach of men d
Sprived me Of the privilege of touc
ing your" he asked, wistfully. "Whs
lis the matter?"
Don't ask me now" she answere
rsI-I-cannot explain"
The vessel was nearer now and
she stared 1t came to a stop al
swung broadside to the reef. The
was no installing it. 1t was the Sout
ern Cross. She knew 1t as well as 81
knew her own face. The thing viii
she had dreaded so when she d
from that vessel in the launch, viii
she had dreaded for a time In I
first period of her s~ojourn on the
land, had come to pass. 1t was t
very yacht from which she had
capped. Undoubtedly it bore the m
from whom she. had fed. He b
come to claim her. OF all the tee
ing millions which the world held, Il
was he whom she would fain ha
avoided. Rather anyone and eve
one had come to her than he! WI
would happen when these men mt
The story that she would have *
him to-day in her own way had I
ship not appeared, the story that 3
would have told him on her dec
had that ship been other than It WI