The Mena weekly star., 1912-02-08


Ill be all right by evening. Short and
sharp is the way It takes me-"
Sheldon obeyed her instructions.
rushed hot water bottles along to her
and then sat on the veranda glancing
across the compound to the grass
house. Yes. he decided. the contentiou
of every white man In the islands was
right-the Solomons was no place for
a woman.
He clapped his hands ana LaIaperu
came running.
Here, you" he ordered; ''go along
barracks. bring m black fella Mary.
plenty too much, altogether"
A few minutes later the dozen black
women of Berande were ranged before
him. He looked them over critically.
finally selecting one that was young.
comely as such creatures went, and
whose body bore no signs OF skin dis
ease
"What name. you." he demanded
"Sangui7r
me Mahua," was the answer.
"All right you fella Mahua You
finish cook along boys. You stop along
white Mary. All the time you stop
along. You sawyer
me savee." she grunted and obeyed
his gesture to go to the grass house
Immediately.
what manner" he asked viabnri.
who had just come out of the grass
house.
big fella sick" was the answer.
white fella Mary talk m too much
alice time. Alice time talk m big fel-
Ia schooner"
Sheldon nodded. He understood. II
was the loss of the Martha that had
cigarette, and In he curling SMOKE Of
1t caught visions of his English moth
err and wondered If she would under
stand how her son could love wo-
man who cried because she could not
be skipper Of schooner In the can
nibal isles.
The most patient man in the world Ia
prone to impotence in love. and Shell
uOn WAS IN love.
But how to approach her? He d.
vined the fanatical love OF freedom in
her, the deep seated antipathy for re-
straint OF any sort No man could
ever put his arm around her and win
her. She would fiutter away like
frightened bird Approach by contact
that. he realized. was the one thing
he must never do. His hand clasp
must be what 1t had always been-the
hand clasp of hearty friendship. and
nothing more. And then. one morning.
quite fortuitously the opportunity
came.
MY dearest wish is the success of
Berande." Joan had just said apropos
Of discussion about the cheapening
Of freights on copra to market.
do you mind IL tell you the dear
est wish Of my hearth" he promptly
returned. Il long for 1t. dream
about it 1t is my dearest desire. 1t
is for you some day when you are
ready to be my wife,"
She started back from him as II she
had been stung. Her face went white
on the instant. not from maidenly en-
barrassment. but from the anger which
he could see flaming in her eyes.
This taking for granted. This
when | am readyr' she cried passion
ately. Listen to me, Mr. Sheldon |
like you very well. though you are
slow and muddler, but want you TO
understand once and for all that did
not come to the SoIomons to get mar
RED Getting married is not making
my way In the world 1t may do for
some women. but not for me. thank
you. When sit down to talk over the
| freight on copra | don't care to have
proposals Of marriage sandwiched in.
Besides-besides"
Her voice broke for the moment. and
when she went on there was a note Of
appeal IN IT that well nigh convicted
him to himself of being brute.
Don't you see? Ii spoils everyt ming
It makes the whole situation impos
sible-and- -and ! so loved our partner
ship and was proud OF It. Don't you
see3 ! cant go on being your partner
If you make love TO me. And | was
so happyl'
Tears of disappointment were In her
eyes. and she caught a swift sob In her
throat.
81 warned you" be said gravely.
"Such unusual situations between men
and women cannot endure. told you
so at the beginning"
"Oh. yes: it is quite clear TO me what
you did. You.took good care to warn
me against every other man in the
Solomons except yourself"
| 1t was a blow n he face to Sheldon
He smarted with the truth OF IL. and
at the same time he smarf,rl with
what he was convinced was the injus
tice of It. CLEAN of triumph that
fickered In her eye because OF tbs
hit she had made decided him.
1T Is not so one sided as you seem
to think II Is" he began. Il was do.
ing very nicely on Berande before you
came. did not want you to stay.
wasn't in love with you then. | want
ed you TO go TO sydney. to go back ia
Hawaii But you insisted on staying.
You virtually
He paused for a softer word than
the one that had risen TO his lips. and
she took 1t away from him.
Forced myself on you-that's what
you meant to say" she cried. the Gags
Of battle painting her cheeks. "0o
ahead Don't mind my feelings"
"All right. won't" he said deci.
| sively, realizing that the discussion was