The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-05
The ETEN7NG STORY
Cupid's Code.
(By June Gahan.)

IL was Inc idSI Gay OF the voyage
Russell was on deck at daybreak He
never missed the sunrise glory of the
Golden Gate, and this time he hoped
1t might tempt her out before he1
mother was up.
TWenty-one days they had been on
the same steamer and hardly spoken
together half a dozen times, never
alone.
But he knew she felt safer with him
there near her. At least he was with
in hail, even if she dared not hail. 1t
/ was something to catch the dear, sweet
! uplift of her lashes as she passed
him on the promenade. Just the long,
pleading glance told him all he wanted
to know. They could take her half
a world away from him, and marry
her off to some rich cub, but they
couldn't take her love away from his
keeping.
IF you go away from Australia,
I'll follow, Nita.'' he had told her.
. But 1 must go, Hal, and-and it
Will only make it harder, don't you
/ see?''
'Then don't CO." He knew he had
hurt her hands, crushing them in his,
t but he wanted her, wanted to take her
then and throw her over his shoulder
in good old bush style and run away
with her. Surely 1 may dare to ask
! the woman I want to be my wife.
Look at mel If I were lame or blind
or poor or evil in any way 1 would
not dare, sweetheart, but, he held
her from him at arms length, laugh
ing down at her-"say, do [ please
you for a husband? ''
Anita flushed holly and tried to pull
away from this strenuous lover.
Mothers coming, Hal-let go my
hands, please. Yes, of course you do.
1 told you so before
''Then why go?''
ct gave my word
before
Put it the other way. What would
you think of a girl who would prom
Use to marry you and then come back
in two months and say she had
changed her mind and wanted to mar
ry some one else?"
Release her, of course. Would 1
be loving her and yet making her un-
happy for life? What sort of men do
they breed in your part of the world,
lady mine, that they call this honor?"
"Oh, 1 shall be honest with him,
Hal, and tell him. she had said, sad
1y. Mo fear of that but it won't do
any good. You don't know mother"
Il wish you had more pluck"
the word. She liked it. She had al
ways thought she was plucky.
Her father had jeopardized every
thing he owned that last year when
he speculated with the silver mines at
Queredo. If Corwin had not swung
his own money into the breach and
carried the deal through. she knew
what the end would have been. She
remembered coming down one evening
unexpectedly into the library and find
ing her father sitting staring moodily
at a revolver in front of him. At least
Corwin had pushed aside that tragedy
for them. And later, when her father
had died, he was the only man who
had stood by them to try and save
something out of the wreck. Small
wonder that she had been acquieScent,
when her mother had told her why
Corwin had been so very kind to them.
But all that seemed years ago now,
since the summer trip over southern
seas and the meeting with Halliday
Russell She had tried to be fair to
both men, but she knew nothing of
the Irish breed of men they rear in /
the South seas.
1sI'll follow you to the altar, sweet !
heart" he told her. ''And if l get but
a fair chance, look out! I'm after !
my own until the other mans ring isl
safe on her hand, and it'll never get
there if I keep awake"
There was heavy fog. Every now
and then a fishingboat sail lifted out !
of the gray, slipping under the liners
bows. Russell looked at his watch.
1t was barely 4. He decided on cup !
of coffee, wheeled about, and faced
Anita as she pushed eagerly up for
ward, the loose locks of hair clinging
to her cheeks.
Good morning." she said hurriedly.
what time do we make port, do you
know?''
His eyes twinkled. It was the first
time they had met alone. He tucked
her resolutely close to his side. and
led her over to a secluded corner
wrapped in the gray fog.
Were not going to make port, !
he told her, quite seriously. "Now and
then the dear old gods of love still
wake from their dreams long enough
to undo the foolery of mortals 1
was Just told by the steward We were
until this fog lifts. I am going to put
you into lifeboat and slip away with
you"
"Oh, Hal, If such things were only
-eal'i She could not help the swift
little bitter cry against fate. Just
few hours and she would be at thei
notel with her mother and Corwin,
md they would be arranging every;
hing.
Russell gathered her very close in
speaking.
You would kiss me before. dear |
leart," he told her. "And SO 1 am !
more sure of you. Are you warmly
lad? Then listen The seas like
mirror, and in an hour when the mist
.ises it will be like an opal with
.olden veil laid over it. They're
lropping anchor now, but the pilot
,oats will be running out in a min !
tie or SO to see what's wanted" :
He rose and suddenly she saw he t
vas in earnest.
"And you will come gently. lover"
lie asked, amusedly. COR shall take
-ou in my arms and dive over the, !
ide?''
s.Where are we going?" she asked, 7
nd he saw something of his reckless !
less in her eyes for the first time.
he great boat had come to anchor, q
he throbbing of the engines had J
eased. Here and there in the fog j
brill whistle called a hail. Over I
asst a bell buoy swung. Somewhere. S