Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-23

her courage was beginning to Gag wher
aholher policeman took charge OF her and
| instituted Inquiries as to the exact where
aoouts OF the Sidi. It was some time be
,ore they found any one who knew. Al
Iast nautical-looking man in a peaked
zap was discovered, and he volunteered
20 conduct the young lady to the ship.
Maud followed the mar down a ian,
between two high buildings, seemed tC
| pass through a half a dozen gates ant
"t last emerged on to a wharf by the
Waterside Her heart gave great lear
VI tnanktulness as she recognized the
FAMILIAR form of the sldi lying along.
siue' hush with the wharf. She dismissed
ner conductor with gratuity of l shll-
.,ls ana told him that he need not trouble
70 rouse the people on board.
stepping along a plank she found her
selt once more on the well-remembeTed
deck. The vessel seemed strangely sad
ana silent The engines were at rest,
the crew appeared to have abandoned
the decks, She missed the throbhinE,
tne rush or water, the creaking of chains
ana stamping of feet. As she made her
way cautiously toward the cabin a man
sprans UP and challenged her. She rec
ognized him at once.
1T is Miss Plessy," she said ~ have
come hack to see the captain. Is he
aboard2" "
Yes, miss. He's in his cabin. I'll tell
MIN you are here"
Without waiting for the man to an
nouhce her Maud followed the man below.
ArfoIs door was open. He was sitting
at 'he desk, busy, evidently, with mani
rests and other papers. He spranr to
his feet The deckhand dscreetly dis
appeared
On Martin" cried the girl rushing
forward; II had to SEQ you again. IT'S
oeen so lonely all day without you'll
l had 10 comew
she put her hands on his shoulders and
sinllsd INTO his eyes, His bronged face
III up with surprise and pleasure. "Dos!"
re inu'tered In the Spanish half natural
70 hlm' ITS splendid to see YOU again
I've been thinking about you all the eve
ming And he kissed her lips long and
deliberately.
Sne was nothing loath. She had not
reallNed Till that moment how much she
wanted him, 1t was good to touch his
marc, brown hands, to feel herself clasped
AGAINST his rough serge coat, to hear his
ioud' clear voice. She leaned back against
MS arms and surveyed him happily,
proudly. I'm glad to know that you've
oeen thinking about me-that you wanted
me- she said, She played lovingly with
the buttons of his coat as she spoke
on, wanted you all right, DEAR" he
lauBhed' Never wanted anything or
any one so badly in my llfe-or ever ex-
pected TO see any one less" he added,
pushing her down into a chair. What
mas happened? Has Mrs. Pessey turned
you out of house and home for having
lallen In love with me, or Is this Just a
social call?"
She looked up into his smiling face and
then remembered, He saw her face cloud
over, the smile on her lips fade, her gaze
hXed upon him in frightened, curious
scrutiny, She stood up.
oh Martin" she cried plaintively,
I've heard ALL l wish you had told mo
yourself"
AhH he said, looking at her keenly,
You have heard = Yes, sup
posed so hut forgot in the joy
OF seeing YOU. Well what have they told
youY' he asked sternly
She made q movement with her hands
as though putting the revelation away
tried for killing father ' and OF
course acquitted. II was horrible. I'm
awfully sorry" she went on hurrledly.
" hope you forgive my family for tho
harm we have done YOU or COURSE
1t was o horrible shock to hear this
still that's all over now.n She
paused and lowered her eyes
lou uoh doupl my innocence thenW
he cried, an exultant ring in his voice.
'oh. no, no, no! How could YOU ask
me?" She seized hts hands and kissed
them, Then she dropped them suddenly
She shot at him a swift, searching glance
but there is something else. / went
to the British Museum as soon as | heard
this to read up the reports of those awful
trials My poor dear, how you
must have suffered b" and-you
yyha uaI1 nh
mother"
WHAT"
"oh, Martin, don't look SO fierce!
must know. Was It true? Were you in
love with my mother?"
The sailors renly was Immediate and
decisive, mo, was not"
He thrust his hands into his coat
pockets and, standing at little distance,
faced her sternly, almost truculently.
A gasp of relief escaped her. "Oh, I'm
SO glad" she exclaimed fePvently, "That-
that would have been awful
He walked over to his desk, frownlng
He took out cigarette from an opea
box and lit II, What made you ask ma
that question:" he demanded sternly.
without looking at her. "Surely you did
not attach any Importance TO the lies and
of that cad In wig and gowns"
"No-thRt is" She hesitated, "For-
give me, Martini" she broke out, After
all II was not impossIble-or even I'M
probable. Mother is very pretty stll'
Men are always falling in love with her
She must have been irresistible then, |
ina gins, And It would be like you to
shield her"
He stood listening, his back half turned
away from her. But she could see that
he was smiling gFlmly. saFdonically.
you don't believe the explanation
gave them" he questioned, 1T seems to |
me that II you credit that heastly attoF- |
ney's theory of motive you might go on to |
believe / killed your father"
''FoF Heavens sake, dear one. don't say |
Lhat!" She put up her hands imploF'
ngly
He walked up and down the cabin, his |
cigarette sticking out from his mouth at |
an aggressive angle, He was angry, she |
could see.
nm sorry" she said. Her hands
lropped helplessly to her side,
who told you that | had been accused |
II the eFlmef" he asked abruptly, you
iad not recognised my name, If you had |
ven heard H. Was II your motherY"
mo. II was Mr. Huron, the man who
ame out to meet US. In fairness 10 him
must say that he did not say anything
bout IL til l questioned him-asked him
low mother and you had become ae-
and II there had been any quar-
el between you"
WHO Is this Mr.. Huron9 / have an
dea that have seen him before some
where"
ne Is a very old friend Of ouFs-of
aothers. perhaps ! ought 20 say, ne