The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-03-30

following morning when Jefferson
showed her the newspaper article with
| Its astounding and heartrending news
| about her father had almost Frustrated
Shirley. The blow was all the greater
for being so entirely unlocked for.
| That the story was true she could not
doubt. Her mother would not have
cabled except under the gravest cir
cumstances. What alarmed Shirley
still more was that she had no direct
news of her father For a moment her
heart stood still. Suppose the shock of
this shameful accusation had killed
him? Her blood frozc in her veins. she
clinched her fists and dug her nails into
| her flesh us she thought OF The dread
possibility that she had looked upon
| him in life for the last time. She re-
mcmbcrcd his last kind words when
he came to the steamer TO see her off
and his kiss when he said goodby, and
| she had noticed a tear of which he APP
peared to be ashamed. The hot tears
wclled up in her own eyes ana coursel
unhindereu down her checks.
Suddenly she heard Il familiar step
behind her, and Jefferson joined her at
the rail. The wind was due west and
blowing half Il gale. so where they
were standing-one Of the most expos
ed parts of the ship--it was difficult to
keep ones feet, to say nothing of hear
ing any one speak.
Its pretty windy here, Shirley
shouted Jefferson, steadyins hims.::
against Il stanchion. Don't you want
to walk a little?''
He had begun to call her by her first
name quite naturally. as if it We're q
matter III course. Indeed, their rela-
tions had come TO be more like those of
brother and sister than anything else
Shirley was too much troubled over
the news from home to have mind
for other things, and in her distress
she had turned to Jefferson for advice
and help rs she would have looked to
All elder brother.
He was sorry for Judge Rossmore, of
course, and there was nothing he would
not do on his return to secure a with
drawal of the charges. That his IA
Their would use his influence he had no
doubt. but meantime he was selfish
enough to be glad for the opportunity
1t gave him to be whole week alone
with Shirley.
| Thus events, combined with the
weather. conspired to bring Shirley
and Jefferson more closely together.
The sea had been rough ever since
they sailed, keeping Mrs. Blake confined
to her stateroom almost continuously.
They We're therefore constantly in one
another's company, and slowly, UNI
consciously, there was taking root in
their hearts the germ of the only real
and lasting love-the love born Of
something higher than mere physical
attraction, the nobler, more enduring
affection that is born of mutual SYM
pathy. association and companionship.
Jefferson had been casting furtive
glances at his companion, and as he
noted her serious, pensive face he
thought how pretty she was. He Won
dered what she was thinking of, and
! SoNNC1iN AASIltSu uO Tic
FERROUS power that enables some people
to read the thoughts of others, he said
abruptly:
Shirley. can read your thoughts.
You We're thinking Of me''
She was startled for moment, but
Immediately recovered her self posses
sion. 1t never occurred to her to deny
it. She pondered for a moment and
then replied:
you are right. jeff, was thinking
Of you. How did you guess?"
He leaned over her and took her
hand. She made no resistance. Hel
delicate, slender hand lay passively III
his big brown one and met his GRASP
frankly, cordially. He whispered:
"What We're you thinking Of me
good or bad!'
| "Good. Of course. How could I think