The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-18
CHAPTER II.
The Purser Explains.

W. HEN Dorothy Fairfax came on
deck again the sun was dropping
fast toward the horizon. A gusty breeze
was blowing and the steamer was
pitching slightly IN the short choppv
seas that characterize West Indian
waters Movement mad become IN
pleasant 20 those inclined to seasickness
and this. combined with the COMPARE
tive ughtness Of the passenger list
caused the deck Of the Queen TO be
nearly deserted
Dorothy was Llad Of II She wanted
solitude IN order 20 think in peace. and
there was seldom solitude for her Vlen
young men-Or old men. for that mar ger
were near. They seemed to grayitate
naturally 10 her side
Mrs Renfrew's words. anE especially
the para graph IN the New York paper,
we're troubling her she could zee the
words now, published under a san Juan
Gate line
Miss Dorothy Fairfax. daughter Of
the mUlIiuilli0uaIre TailrOadeT. John
Fairfax, VIII sail next week for HSew
York TO order her trOusseau for her
coming marriage with Lieutenant Low
Ing. I. S n Nh Fairfax. who Is H.
uancinE the railroad here. VIII follow In
about three Weel s.
That was all. ne whole think taken
for granted Evidently the writer had
already announced or ne would eitntT
have made some inquiry Composing
that he w. determined 20 publIsh-have
spread himself on the subject
For Miss Fairfax had been written up
enough 10 Know that her engagement
would be- worth at least a column TO
the society editors Of the New York
papers. Yes. she concluded. the Item
must have emanated from some chance
correspondent who had picked I'D a
stray DIT OF gossip
She had known Mr. Loving FOR two
years OF more. and had liked him
Three months before. a. the close OF
the Howard trial she had become con
WINGED that he intended 10 ask her 70
marry him. ard she had slipped away
10 Join her father in Porto Rico IN or
der &c gain time 70 think before decIC-
ing on her answer And here she was.
returning home no more resolved than
when she had left
Il was odd that ne ship should also
bear LIEUTENANT Howard, Of whom M
Loving had been 50 fond. standing by
him all through his trial when every
body else fen away She had had a
glimpse OF Mt. Howard once. and
vaguely recalled him. 7voT dering what
combination OF desperate circumstances
could have brought man Ike him 70
the commission OF such a crime.
The judge, she reuemb ed. IN sen
fencing him 20 death had declared that
no mercy should be shown 20 one who.
with everything 20 keep him IN the
straight path. had deliberately gone
wrong
The soft pad Of footsteps on the dack
reused her from her musings. and she
turned 10 see the pUrser drawing near
All Good evening. Miss Fairfax
ne Tentured. We missed you at tea.
Feeling the motion a bit7 It Is a little
Miss Fairfax did not Ike the purser.
but she found Il difficult TO snub any
one Therefore she answered the man
pleasantly, though not with any es-
/ peCial enthusiasm
why, no. M Sprigg- I don't con-
slider this rough I'm rather & good
SAILOR. you know simply wasn't hun
cry at tea time"
Mr. Sprigg came closer
BY The way. Miss Fairfax he In
situated. You know Lieutenant How
ard is Oh board II you'd like 10 have
a Deep at him, just say the word and
I III manage Oh ne added hastily
as a slight frOWn m8rred Miss Fair
fax's pretty brOwS. 7 know YOU must
3 be interested II his case He's a friend
Of Lieutenant Loving. and Z read tho
notice In the paper today, you know
The look the girl gave him drove the
Snirk IN haste from his face
The notice in the paper was entirely
without foundation, Mr. SpriSg.' she
declared coldly- las for seeing Mr..
Howard, I'm afraid my tastes Dc not
run IN that direction. Besides, he prob
ably would not Ike 70 be stared at.
He was q gentleman once, you know.
she turned impatientiy away and