Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-01-21

ent." she said. Were sailing this
afternoon"
"And I'll be on sea duty for two
years." sighed the man bitterly.
1t 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. .Tell 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 at
sea o. persisted the girl.
He was still too d~isconsolate 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. l expect you know why.
I've been interested In it ever since
you gave me my first lesson in your
workroom."
.Can you send and take?" she asked
eagerly.
a lillle, DuI L uIu SlOW at IL.
The girl was leaning on the table
now in her eagerness, for already an
idea had occurred to her.
~ can send we'll now" she exclaim-
ed. II spent lots of time in the IT.
vessa's little wireless room. 1t seems
so much more wonderful on sea than
1t did On land. oh. the mystery of 1t
all!
Think Of being away off tossing
about in a boat. with nothing but SIX.
and water anywhere in sight. and t.
have one who is"-she hesitated q mo
ment. and a bright flush rose as shr
went on. correcting herself quickly
81 mean. of course. If there should b.
some one very dear to you on tina
same ocean. You don't know whers
how near or how far. but by touching
a key you can send your thoughts fly
ing In every direction, and the little
wave currents bearing your message
will CULVER around him, brush by him,
perhaps touch his cheek in passing,
and you wonder If he feels it."
The man a looking at her queerly.
by Jove. that's %strangel" he said.
low. as she finished.
Frances laughed teasingly.
why. have you ever felt a message
dancing about your she questioned.
Sommers shook his head.
mo, but the Roanoke did. 1t was
very singular. ! assure you. was in
the wireless room n night a couple
of weeks ago talking to the operator
the girl leaned forward with sudden.
tense eagerness-"when suddenly, with
out a call or getting u response or
any preliminary that the we'll regu-
lated message INDUCES In before com
ing to you. over u recorder there
came clicking in a wonder message"
His voice softened to a note of ten
derness.
lit was G. message os love-tke tea
derest and sweetest I've ever known.
No one could tell for whom it was in
tended. | don't think it knew itself.
1t had gone astray.
ut was sent by a woman-it must
have been-and 1t found a home with
us. Not a man on that ship but car
ries 1t now In his heart. May | tell 1t
to you?"
The girl was looking at him. her
heart in her eyes.
"A love message? OF course" she
said softly. But how extraordinary
Sommers nodded.
Wasn't 1t? 1t seemed almost cruel
that such a dear little message. so In
nocent and pure. should have been
thrown out into this hard old world of
ours to dash through the air. through
heat and cold and storm. vainly seek
ing an owner; going on and on. miles
and miles, In every direction. until at
last it became weak and farmland
died"
But. you see, 1t didn't die" added
the girl tenderly.
mo" said the "By some
chance as it few by us we caught it.
and we loved it. That message will
live until the last man on that ship
has fought his fight"
"And it was sent to no n In par
ticularT" questioned the girl.
ITO you" he answered.
ITO mer' she exclaimed. startled.
Sommers shook his head. smiling.
mo. no. that was the address. Lis
ten: TO you. my own one. | SEND this
little message overlooking with my
love-"
He was bending across the table
eagerly. speaking low the wonder mes
sage that had come to him; giving il
back. his own declaration of love to
the girl.
"Yes," said she softly, for she under
stood.
At her M an intuition came to
him. He caught her look. He, too.
understood. And SO he dared mis-
quote a little.
SHOULD it ever reach you, would
you know it came from meY'
mo. no, 1t wasn't that" exclaimed
FRO mons charpIu Thau che cfonnad