Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1914-02-20

ferently. It was very beautiful
yec, In an exotic way; but he was
veary with it all, and his heart faint
with hunger for home.
That was why he had weakened at
the eleventh hour and accepted Dora's
nvitation-because he had been SC
long away from home.
She chose to break the silence with
O. careless question:
"vFhs.t vessel is that?"
Jack glanced down toward the har.
Dor, A fussy steamer was putting in
to it's anchorage, like a fat, white
ghost with bright, staring eyes.
"It's the mail boat" he told her
"sha's in late Tomorrow" he con-
tinued in a half whisper, shell be
going in to Gibraltar and connecting
with tie liner for home!"
YES said the girl, abstractedly
and lapaed again into her silence;
for she was considering how she
might say to him that which she
longed to say.
"Now," said Jack, presently, with.
out daring to look at the girl-whose
eyes LAYER for an instant left his
strong, clean profls-"now, tell me
everything, please. Nora-all tbs
news about everyone I know"
She obeyed quietly, in a low voice
It seemed long account, but Jack
did not tire In the least.
"And-and Gwyrne and Beth Som
ers? They're married long since,
suppose?"
mo. I din't mention it, Jack, be.
cause"
1T understand-and thank you. But
not married! I must know, Dora. u
"Tom Gwynne," she said, after q
pause. "is dead"
Dead" he whispered, incredulous
ly.' Dead" He drew long breath
Please" he cried. please tell me!
Don't you see I'm tortured. Dora?
know you only wish to spare ms
but-you see. there was girl, and
and"
"This makes 1t different" said the
girl, quietly. NOW you can ask her
Jack" She went on, while he listened
aghast at his slip. That's why
wanted to tell you-for the girls
sake. You didn't think that we who
knew you, believed you guHy-did
you? Because we didn't, and that Ia
why I was glad, oh, SO glad. to FIND
you, and to be the first, the very frst
to tell you! You see, after you sacri
feed everything, Jack, and ran away
trying to save your chum. to make III
believe that you had-stolen tbs
money, and not Tom Gwynne."
"But you mustn't blame him" Ben
ton broke in quickly. HE didn't
really know what he was doing"
II know" She nodded decidedly
II know that you sacrificed all tt
save your friend. And when Ton
discovered what you had done. when
II was too late, he told Beth. Oh
course that broke the engagement
and 1t was only a little later thai
rom was thrown from his auto some
how-we never really knew what hat
happened. He left signed comics
sion; but we didn't know where yor
had buried yourself. Jack"
"Oh, you don't know, you dom
know" he cried brokenly, what thi:
means to me, Dora!"
"Ah but I do" she told him
gently. Il know, very we'll. That's
why I came here, Jack-to And you
I'd heard 1t was a place where PEG
pie went when they were in trouble
and I wanted to tell you, because
because there sounded tina
pitiful little quaver in her voice
because the girl is waiting for you.
Then I'll go!" he cried. 'Tll go!
Dora, Dora, l don't know how tc
thank you! I'm off in the morning
by that mail steamer. Home! You
won't mind my hurying off to pack
will you? She sails at .sunrise-ant
just think, In ten days I'll see Beth
And when he was gone she stood
for a long time motionless, dry of eye
and lip, staring at the corner around
which he had disappeared. FINAL!
she stretched forth both arms.
"Oh, my dear. my dear!" she sobbet
rs If her heart would break-but gen
tly, that none might hear.