, 1912-04-18

Cathewe 1nrO tne eur OF tne wOma he
loved.
Thinly the word came through her
lips. Yes"
Cathewe's chin sank into his collar
and he stared at the crumbs on the
cloth
.But what meant this argument with
the drivers?'' asked Coldfeid.
Eyes, I had forgotten that" supple.
mented the sailor.
"On the way back to Carghese we
should have been stopped. We were to
be quietly but effectively suppressed
till our Napoleon set sail for Mar.
s%cilles.' NJ. Ferraud bowed. He had
no more to add.
The admiral shook his head. He had
come to Corsica as one might go to a
picnic. and here he had almost toppled
over into a gulf!
The Significance Of the swift glance
which was exchanged between NJ. Fer
raud and Fitzgerald was not translat-
able to Laura. who alone caught II In
Its transit. An idea took possession of
her. but this idea had nothing to do
with the glance. which she forgot al
most instantly. AS Laura was of the
disposition to walk down by the Gem.
etery. to take n final view of the sea
before it melted into the sky. what was
more natural than that Fitzgerald
should follow her? They walked on In
the peace OF twilight. unmindful of the
curiosity of the villagers or of the play
Of children about their feet. The two
we're strangely silent. but to him 1t
seemed hat she must presently hear
the thunder of his insurgent heart. At
length she paused. gazing toward the
sea, upon which the puppies Of night
we're rapidly deepening.
And If l had not made hal wager.''
be said. following aloud his train Of
thought.
"And If l had not bought that statu-
ette,'' picking up the thread. IL she
had laughed nothing might have hap.
pened. But her voice was low and
sweet and Illuminating.
The dam of his reserve broke, and
the great current of life rushed over
his lips. to happiness or to misery,
whichever 1t was to be.
Il love you. and | a no more help
telling you than I can help breathing.
l have tried not to speak. have so
little to offer. I have been lonely so
long. did not mean to tell you here.
but I've done it." He ceased. terrified.
His voice had diminished down to a
mere whisper and finally refused to
work at all.
Still she stared out to sea.
He found his voice again. so there
isn't any hope? There is some one
else?" He was very miserable.
Had there been l should have stop
ped you at once"
But
DO you wish a more definite an
swer, JohnY" And only then did she
turn her head.
"Yes." his courage coming back full
and strong. 81 want you to tell me
you love me and while my arms are
round you like this. May l kiss your"
NO other man save my father
shall"
"Ah, l haven't done anything to de
serve this"
MOP"
I'm not even a third rate hero"
Mop with gentle raillery.
Say you love me-"
"Amo. anna. amiamo"-
an English. | have never heard IT
in English
So pushing back from him. "yor
have heard 1t in Italian?'
'I anna Itl-t. 1900. 49,. Thn.o
was never any N else. Say it."
So she said 1t softly. She repeated
1t as though the utterance was as
sweet to her lips as 1t was to his ears.
And then. for the first time. she be
came supine In his arms. With his
cheek touching the hair on her brow
they together watched. but did not see
Tue hnal conquest Of the day.
And have had the courage to ask
you to be my wife?" 1t was wonder
tul.
Napoleon. his hunted great-grand-
Son. the treasure. all these had ceased
TO exist.
John, when you lay In the corridor
'he other night and l thought you
We're dying | kissed you" Her arm
tEhtened as did his. "Will you prom
Use never to tell II ! confess a secret?"
81 promise"
You never would have had the
'ouraEe 10 propose If | hadn't deliber-
ateIy brought you here for that pur-
pose. II was | who proposed to you"
IN afraid ] don't quite get that"
doubtfully.
hen we'll let the subject rest
Nhere II is. You nigh. bring It up in
after years" Her laughter was happy
lie raised his ewes reverently toward
ueaVen. Shit would never know that
she had stood in danger.
hut your father!' with a note Of