The Mena weekly star., 1913-07-24

in the End," He Encouraged. sky and the sea remained. She turned her head and looked sharply at him. He was sound asleep. Poor boy!" she murmured softly How care-worn!" There was something grotesque in the mask of desert tan and shaven skin. How patient he had been through it all, and how kind and gentle to her! She remembered now of seeing him that night in Cairo, and of remarking how young and fresh he seemed in comparison to the men she knew and had met. And she must leave him, to go into the world and fight her own battles. If God had but given to her brother like thisl But brother he never could be, no, not even in the pleasant sense of adoption. She did not want pity. To think of his getting those things for her in Damascus! Pity sug- gested that she was weak and help less, whereas she knew that she was both patient and strong. What did she want? She glanced up and down the deck. It was totally desert ed save for them. Then, 'clad in the beauty of a thousand stars" she leaned over and down and brushed his hand with her lips.
 And George slept on. Only the blare of the bugle brought him back to mum dane affairs. He was hungry, and he announced the fact with gusto. They would dine well that night. The cap tain placed Fortune at his right and George at his left, and preached bot tie of fine old Johannisberger And the three of them had coffee in the smohng-room. If the other passen. gers had any curiosity, they did not manifest 1t openly.
 Upon finding that they had no real need of staying over in Naples, the captain urged that they take the re- turn voyage with him. He saw more than either of the young people, with those blue Teutonic eyes of his. George promised to let him know with. tainly Fortune would decide one way or the other within that time.
 Both had seen the Vesuvian bay many times, with never-failing love and interest. They sailed across the bay in the bright clearness of the morning.
 You are going back with me-" George announced in tone which in- ferred that nothing more was to be said upon the subject. But, for all lis confidence, there was a great and heavy fear upon his heart as he asked for mail at the little inclosure at Cooks, in the Galleria Vittoria. There was a cable; nothing more.
 "Now, Fortune 0"
 Have l ever given you permission to call me by that name?"
 Why ."
 Have I?"
 "No."
 "TLen I give you that permission new"
 What do you frighten a man like tLat for?" he cried. What I was go- irg 10 say
 Fortune"
 "What I was going to say, Fortune, was this: Here is the cable from Nor timer. I'm not going co open 1t till after dinner tonight We'll go up to the Bertolini to dine. You1l say there for the night. while I put up al the Bristol. which is only little wayt up the Corso. I'm not going to ask you a question tin co&ce. Then we'll ,hr CT the subject till there isn't grain left"
 she made no protest. Secretly sha was pltaeed Co be bullied like this It proved that among all thcs sWarming ! peoples there was one interested in 1 her welfare But she knew in her | heart what she was going 10 say when 1 the proper time came She did moi wish to spoil his dinner. She was also | going to put her courage to its su- preme test; borrow a hundred pounds, | and bravely promise to pay him back. | If she failed to pay 1t, it would be be- ! cause she was dead For she could | not survive a comparison between | herself and her mOther. Here in 1 Naples she might find something, an | opportunity. She spoke French and | Italian fluently; and in this crowded | season of the year 1t would not be diff ficult to find situation as a maid or companion. So long as she could earn | little honestly, she was not afraid. She was desperately resolved.
 Such a dinner! Long would she re- member it; and longer still, how little either of them ate of itl She knew enough about these things to appreci- ate it. It must have cost pretty penny. She smiled. she laughed, she tested: and always battle to dam the uprising tears.
 The dining-room was filled; women fin beautiful evening gowns and men in sober black. But the two young people were oblivious. Their fellow