Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-19
By EDMUND B. D'AUVERGNE
Author of "Her Husbands Widow" Etc.

lowed the sun to play havoc with your
complexion. My poor, little girl. I sum
pose you we're left without face cream. .
Yes" said Maud, with mock ruefut-
ness and they had run out OF Il on
board"
/ No one would have suspected the rela-
! uonship OF the pretty little lady in gray
fur and the tall young goddess in white
serge They stood. indeed. for exactly
opposite types OF womanhood. In these
rude surroundings, In the cruel morning
hBht, youth and viEor had an unfair ad-
vantage. Perhaps the older woman felt
THIS for she dropped into a fretful tone.
You are not a bit like me when l
was girl And do hope you won't do
any moro OF this absurd exploring You
spolt the beginning OF the season for
me OF course, when the rumor came
that you were lost l knew that YOU were
very we'll able 20 take care OF yourself.
out with everybody taking II for granted
that you were killed or something I sim
ply dared not so anywhere People are
80 uncharitable." Mrs. Plessv looked
round her with disgust. what a fright
tul ship-it looks like coal barge"
Maud slipped her arm round her
mothers waist TITS the finest BOAT
ahoat" she laughed Come down TO
my cabin and then Ill introduce you to
the man who saved my life"
Who's that7'
Il told you In my letter from Las Pal
mas, said the girl, pushing her mother
toward the companion ladder "cap.
tain Arrol, OF course tho master OF this
snip, She laughed gleefully. You have
trapped him beautifully, boarding us
unawares like this. You see. he's very
shy. This is my cabin" she drew the
curtain from the opening. What do
you think Of III"
What horrible. poky lltuo den! You
poor dear! No, 1 won't go in" Mrs
Flessey glanced UP and down the alley
way. way Tell me- she said apprehensively.
ou haven't been alone with men only
In this boat have your l suppose there
are some other women on bonrd7"
Not one"
"oh. you idiotio grill What will you
do next7 You know how people will
talk?"
II didn't know you were so easily
shocked, mother"
But people will talk, dear. And Gilbert
will be so annoyed II he hears this"
Maud Plessey flushed angrily. Mr.
Huron? What has It got to do with
htm7 she demanded Indignantly
AOu hhOW NflhI an interest ne taxes
In you. l think you might show more
gratitude for ii. Well, where is this Cap
tain What's-his-name to whom you are
going to introduce me7"
"He Is on deck" Maud faced her mo-
ther and her cheeks burned red. He ia
the best and finest man in the world-you
get to know & man pretty we'll shut up
with him for three weeks on shipboard,
may as well tell you at once that am
In love with him and 1 want him TO marry
me-"
II see." Mrs. Plessey looked up and
down at the tall girl pityingiy. II al
ways said you were fool" she remarked
with sigh. YOU haven't as much sense
In your wholo body as 1 have in my little
finger. Marry the skipper of a dirty lit
tie tramp like this! What arrant nom
sense!' MIRA Plessey laughed thin,
| flute-llke laugh. Really, you have made
me quite curious to see him"
Maud bit her lip and clenched her
| hands. Her mothers laugh had never
sounded so jarring. She controlled her
anger with an effort Come with me
and YOU shall see him And remember
she said, almost sternly, 81 mean what
| / said. love Captain Arrol, and as soon
as l am Of age shall marry him. You
might also remember that 1 owe him my
| life"
'Oh, promise TO be quite nice to him."
giggled Mrs. Plessey. She tripped up the
stairway after her daughter The girl
| took after her father she reflected Ad-
miral Plessey had married a chorus girl
for her pretty face his daughter was
prepared to waste herself. on some ro-
mantle. penniless adventurer
The deck was Uttered with crates and
boxes brought up from the hold prepara-
tory In the nnlOadinR The
had to pick their way carefully, Mrs.
Plessey's dainty shoes and ankles looking
pa.hetically incongruous on such a rude
floor. She halted abruptly, for Maud had
seized the arm of man who was mount
ing to the bridge with his back turned
towards them.
This Is my mother. Just come aboard
to welcome me, cried the girl eagerly.
Mother, this is Captain Arrol."
The captain started, and turning.
saluted, For an instant he and Mrs.
Plessey stared blankly at each other.
Then the woman went very pale and
grasped the rail of the ladder for sup
port. She forced sickly smile and eX-
tended her hand.
"Er-haven't | met you before Captain
Arrol?" she asked nervonsly.
Captain Arrol stood stifiy, staring at
Mrs. Plessey Mechanically he took her
Maud glanced from one to the other,
amazed, delighted.
why. mother" she exclaimed. you
never told me that you had met Captain
Arrol! 1 wonder you didn't recognize the
name when / mentioned it. II is rather
uncommon. And you" she said address,
ing the man. half reproachfully, why
didn't you tell me all this time that you
knew mother7'
II did In fact tell you that knew. or,
rather, had known your family very
slightly" he answered. 1T Is very kind
OF Mrs. Plessey TO acknowledge the ac-
quaintanee,"
He was looking searchingly, almost re-
sentfully. at the older woman as he spoke.
She stood a step lower down the ladder,
towing neryously with the buttons OF her
fur coat. and looking downward, evident
Iy considering how to act
She glanced at him swiftly and smiled.
al cannot thank you too much, Captain
Arrol," she said. 'for all you have done
for my dear daughter 1t Is debt which
] can never repay"
'sPlease understand, Mrs. Plessey." said
the sailor coldly, that you are under no
obligation whatever toward me in this
matter. Your daughter appealed 70 me
az one OF my own eOuntrywomen for pro-
lection against great violence IN foreign
land. I acted simply as ! was bound 70
act and as any white man would nave
seted IN the elreumstanees-at no risk to
myself, should add
Tha xirl looked again at her mother.
she felt that in some way her appearance
al this juncture had strengthened ArTols
reluctance to meet her again. Any want
az courtesy or cordlality on Mrs. Plesseyfs
natf zgolld convert that reluctance into