Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-06

-, ,n1l McRtIde. IA 3 %

L.rI AS n Nbllit''H'' ~
y. waited down the wind
xovhere are they safe-nowhere' do
Nv Rutherford, idlng in the shadow
"" o,bow on the steamer rail. gaz-
80 ''st .,,tv at the glory Of a moonllt
~ midnight in midocean heard this
'a :. y, -but could not tell whence 1t
en- IN fact. he heard without needing
ane rscalled the tone, the words
sa' nv nv. voice, in tones subdued, harsh,
..,,mptory, broke in;
aos'hb.h. You are a woman. You talk
gu" ,n-too loud tell you. when we
s.,,h New York"
W. @S.w York this was the woman
~ ,Nsv York; tell you they will
as'' ,e,os for us in New York; can
~, ,n.lr outstretched hands"
''Is .ish.b.h.h," again the man. "rhose OUT
....,rbed hands will find-whst2'
,srbut is what fear"
cThev will fnd-nothing. Nothing,
s,l you" .,
aHow can you arrange it, then?'
~. mans answer was sneer. "There
J., fools aboard-foos a-plenty-gullIblc
,,ol, They'll do the work for us. I've
,I,ked one out-a fool
(Which one is that?"
reh.b.h.h" There was click-it
.,,msd as though somewhere a portfolio
|,to.sd-perhaps window.
The voices became silent. Craig heard
no more.
Aud what he had heard, truth to tell,
ado at the time no impression on his
l.,,rd Later. hours later. days later,
-,ests and months later, he remembered
A, remembered it clearly. That conversa-
l,ion held in half whispers, uttered by un-
l,scoanlzable voices-save that one was
ksminIne and the other masculine-etched
I,self lndelibly upon the tablets of his
memory.
But now Craig Rutherford was occupied
WITH other thoughts The witchery of the
moonlIt night had cast its spell upon him
Eand the witchery of some one else-the
srner of veil he had Just picked up
nom the deck by the empty steamer
chair.
Rutherford was in love. 1t was useless
for him to deny it longer to his own con-
science. He must be honest with him
self and face the truth. He had battled
With his heart ever since he had first
plmpsed the girl who had come up the
rangplank at Hamburg. and walked SEEM
ingly straight into his soul HeroicallY
he had fought the passion, which welled
I'd only the more fiercely. day by day;
IL ~ 20
man and Craig was too old-fashioned-.
he told hmself-to indulge in intrigue.
Howbeit, he retained possession of tho
veil, and resolutely took his stand beside
the chair. A single glance told him that
the latter had been but lately vacated
The steward had not removed the rugs
and cushions. The owner was liable to
miss her veil. and might soon return.
His deductions proved correct, for , II
was not long before he heard the tap OF
mall heels on the deck. Each separate
lttle click throbbed sharply IN his breast
His blood jumped as if II had developed
new method of circulating. But he did
hot turn his head. He rested his arm
Upon the back of the chair, and continued
. seem absorbed in the moonlight scene.
A girl with brown hair. drawn IN a
oose knot rather high on her head, from
phich the wind tore feathery tendrls Is
In piay, came toward him. In spite Of
he high heels she walked with the easy
race and light. long step of youth-a
outh and physical freedom gained in the
weet communion of the broad outdoors.
eeing tall figure leaning on her chair,
he hesitated as If about to retreat.
earring TO lose her, Craig turned his
cad.
OH it's you Mr.. Rutherford" she
aid, coming forward sn1ilinrIv
Just little sentence such as any we'll
red woman might utter; yet Craig
aught himself flushing and trembling like
sehoolboy. This would never do! He
ned to think of something witty to say.
= think So" was his actual remark.
he schooled his voice into a tone OF
onventional friendlness. h7
The lbreeez ruffled his hair as he pulled
\ his cap. He stood smiling down upon
er from his well-proportioned height or
ye-eleven
Aren't you sure?" she parried lightly.
The mans heart opened like a flower In |
Y YARN satisfaction that pervaded him. |
We cordiality of her words. Little as
le had spoken, he felt the bond of con-
snlal and friendly spirit. He reached |
" the ulster she carried over her arm,
"a helped her put It on.
VINO said that I was going to lnger?" |
Y protested 1T is late-and | really |
,me back looking for something"
Ifaig's left hand snuggled down into the |
,us OF the veil, deep In his pocket, but |
uid not even ask her what 1t was she |
ousht' Instead. he sought again to |
something brilliant, to coax this Won |
illli girl into the condolences of a |
iendly chat.
me , moonlight injects fantastic un- |
'ehly' even into water buckets and |
eamer ohairs" he observed, after a |
lenee during which neither OF them had |
afked the time.
10 you think II will feed crowded II |
iss ~ INTO my chair with it2" she asked. |
~ q pretty upward glance that showed |
eal remark
mere are chairs made for two. YOU |
~, ne replied in the same mood, as |
,a3snt sent TO arrange the cushions for her, |
i ,S.Sils lhat he was to have her alone |
~ 'eW precious moments, I'm the glory |
~. ne RADIANT night, Then, as IL in an |
a 80 % ol energy. he overturned the chair |
~ ,'ul, sent the pillows flying.
Va y-uoh you want me to stay?" she |
n tl,t 40" he answered boyishly; but |
! & s'ots ~ OF the moonlight. so I'm rout- |
8 81 y OUT Of the chairw
she glanced up at him again tho, s.t
~ I silently. Rutherford felt as though
~ 'au reproyed him for saying too |
i n ne was supersensitiye tonight |
ne quick glance OF the girl had seen |
s NH. put clear brown eyes which looked |
49, 49, INTO hers. Written in physical |
'ers he carried the records OF his
~, ~ me polo fields, at the hurdles, and |
800 me hounds In his game he had |
ss played to win; and that meant /
N ypeHs serupulously ft in body and in
'rs Z alert and elastic, he was at once
sssnae .Ne and eonfdence-insplring I'm his
. mere he exclaimed. looking down at