The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1914-12-03

ION.
Tom was looking forward anxiousl,
to seeing her when her vacation came
the following month. Perhaps theI
she would tell Tom. Perhaps =.
She went to bed with conscience
not wholly free from problems.
If was day or two later that Mis-!
Elizabeth spoke of her vacation to the
colonel.
why, have been thinking of that.
he said. II shall want you-at least,
should like to have you help me, if you
can. You see, Miss Elizabeth, ! am
taking little yachting party to Key
West, and l ought to keep in touch
with business affairs. If you could &C.
company us, you can have another
holiday when we get back"
The yachting trip was to take about
six weeks. Miss Elizabeth had never
been at sea; much as she wanted to
see Tom again the invitation was IT.
resistible. The colonel told her that
there were to be three or four other
ladies' They were to go aboard the
vessel at the little private dock at
seven in the evening, week thence.
Miss Elizabeth wrote a letter to
Tom, explaining the situation and
promising to come home as soon as
she returned. Then, at the appointed
hour, she accompanied the colonel,
who called at her boarding house in g.
taxicab, to the pier
ha oh 10 lon 81 10 y, or-P
A Waterman paced her decks, but,
though they inspected her from stem
to stern, there was no sign of the 9TH
ers. They had sat down for a mo-
ment in the dining saloon. The girl
was becoming little nervous.
I'VE will have dinner now," said the
colonel.
wait minute" said the girl hur-
riedly. when will the others be
here? Your sisters she not expect
ed before we diner"
The colonel pulled his mustache and
looked hard at her. Then he stretched
out one hand and patted hers gently.
my dear" he said, 1--WE are going to
be the only two passengers aboard this
trip"
The girl looked at him with terrified
eyes and rose from her chair with
little gasp. To the last day of her life
she always pictured the colonel thus,
seated before her. pulling his dropping
mustache, and smiling at her with
such a kind expression on his face
81 thought you understood, Eliza
BETH" said the colonel in tones of
grave politeness. There was reproach
in his voice, but Colonel Slice could
never be anything but gentleman.
"But-you said-you said" the girl
exclaimed; and even then she could
not quite believe it. But presently she
understood. She was not at all angry.
She felt the tears of humiliation rush
to her eyes, that he should have mis-
more than humiliation-there was real
sorrow for the loss of a friend, the
only friend she had had, except Tom,
since her parents died.
Are you going Elizabeth" asked
the colonel, watching her.
ought not to ask me that-O, what
have l done to make you think other
wiser" she pleaded.
my DEAR" said the colonel, Il
thought you, understood the situation.
Perhaps was wrong; had no wish to
deceive you. That is not my way.
There are certain conventions
Why did you think l was taking you
,ut to luncheons and dinners?"
CAS- friend" she cried holly, feel
ng her cheeks burning
He shook his head. Men of fifty do
lot make friends of their lady en-
,loyees in that way, my DEAR" he an
wered. II am sorry. Let me help
'ou with your coat"
They went up the stairs to the deck
nd stood side by side there for mo-
nent. Everything in Elizabeth's life
eemed to have crumbled into ashes.
he turned.
81 am sorry" she said "I wish /
ad understood. Good-by."
For the life of her she could not
ummon any indignation against him.
he did not feel the insult then, only
he unbearable loss.
Colonel Slice took her hand in his
nd bent over it. They strolled up the
ock; he called taxicab and escorted ,
er to her door. Then he raised his !
at and left her.
On the following morning a special T
elivery message arrived for the girl, {
skiing her to hold her position at the I
ore till the colonels return. They t
eed not meet, he said, but he trusted c
le would take charge of his interests I
II he could make arrangements.
lizabeth went back to business. O
She did not see him again. The h
lcht was wrecked in the great storm o
at ravaged the Florida coast that 1.
INNER. Colonel Slice never appeared Il
rain. He doubtless died, with all the h
ew But he had had time to make ii
rtain arrangements. The girl found b
'rself the possessor of substantial k
gacy But she never told Tom all the e
That was a page OF h
IT life that she tore out of the book. al