Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-17

| chap that was carried over the sue VI
third day out I'm no hand at that sor
: of thing. / think I'll get the chief stew
I ardess"
/ Ciemfort Thought OF the gaunt oil
: woman who held that position and shud
: dered
Let me tell her." he suggested. q"
guess can handle It all right"
The purser hesltated n moment He
too. thought OF the stewardess and ne
manner. Clemforts name was guarantee
and he nodded his head
IAN right. Thanks" he said. Get tn,
address so we can send over his enects'
He hurried away and Clemfort ap
preached the girl She smiled as he ap
preached. II can't have much longer tC
wait" she said. Almost every one has
left. He cannot be much longer now"
Perhaps" he said softly, there will
be long, a very long delay"
The girls face blanched You mean
she stammered. Clcmfort nodded.
BE brave" he urged, as he laid his
hand upon her arm ~The ship passed
through a storm four days ago. There
was one wave that swept the decks,
Your brother had slipped out, evading
| the rule-and the wave came. In such
a sea there was no hope, though we did
all that we could. I did not know his
name until just now"
He stood quiet for a moment until she
| had sobbed out her grief. All about them
the little groups OF reunited friends were
! laboring with the customs officers and
| none noticed the little tragedy that was
being enacted. Presently the sobs grew
less Violent and Clemfort touched her
arm
"tlis effects will be sent you if you will
give me an address," he said gently
Would II not be better for you to go7 1
will get cab"
IL think had better not have a
cab" she said softly. III cannot"
You cannot go on the ferry this way"
he said. Let me have your address and
l will see you safely to your home"
She gave him an address in the down.
town boarding house section and Clemfort
took 1t down for the purser. Then he
returned.
And now" he said, I'VE will get under
way"
II couldn't think of taking Won from
your friends" she said, drawing back.
Clemfort smiled, 81 have none on this
side OF the water now" he said sadly
There are none to greet my home-com-
ing"
She looked up in quick sympathy you,
too, are alone?" she said, and Clemfort
thiIheu at thdt 100 II seemed to es-
tablish a bond of sympathy between
them.
In the cab her tears broke forth afresh
He wisely let her sob out her grief. There
was little to tell of the accident and he
sat silent. 1t was not until the cab en-
tered familiar territory that she regained
control of herself. Then she turned to
him.
you are awfully good" she said CRATE
ara IL
be an awful bother to you"
Il am very glad to be of service-since
service is needful," he said. 1T has
taken me out of my own bitter thoughts"
For an instant her hand pressed his
In sympathy. Then the cab ratified UP
to the curb and came to a stop before
an oldfashioned house. Gently he
helped her from the cab and up the
high stoop.
May call tomorrow" he asked. as
maid opened the door.
'In the evening"" she said, III you care
TO. L work through the day. Thank
you so much"
For an instant her hand rested in his
again and returned his cordial pressure
Clemfort ran down the steps and dis
missed the cab. Then he strolled over
to Fifth avenue and turned north toward
the hotel he had selected.
He stopped in at florists on the way
up, and could he have known the COM
fort the flowers brought the GIRL he
would have slept far better that night.
He had expected to return to England
In a few weeks, The business that had
demanded his presence in America was
quickly transacted. and consequently he |
was obliged to think up excuses for re-
naming. Marie spoke one evening of his |
lingering.
Il suppose you will be going back |
soon," she said You said you would |
be here only for a short time and 1t |
has been almost six months now. |
Imagine that your business will soon be
closed up"
II wish there was hope for It," he said
but am afraid that must wait yet a
while"
You are worried about itH" she said
quickly, as she noted his expression,
How wish / might help you"
You can he said soberly. THE busl-
ness that originally brought me here was
closed up long ago"
There Is something new7"
Something that had no idea of when
left England. l had expected to get
right back, but have been waiting FOR
an answer TO most important question,
one that will affect my every interest,
and | am afraid to put my fate to the
test"
And I can help your" she asked.
'HowF' as he nodded assent.
BY torg1Ving me for seeming to oh
Lrude on your grief and asking that you
WIZ Do my wife" He leaned forward
across the table eagerly scanning her
race 1t seemed indelicate to speak SO
soon, and yet ever since the day of his
arrival he knew that his happiness de-
pended upon Marie. She laid her hand
Gratitude alone would impel mo to
answer yes" she said. You have bsen
20 kind to me in my afrliction, but"
ated. 'e "sSi-
But 1t Is not gratitude alone" she
smiled. MY love says yes too. II
,eefns almost as though the sea had taken
'ne @ OF my loved ones and given me an
'ther in exchange"
ana TO think. mused clemfort, that
!, might nave let the stewardess break
ne ne news as he slipped upon her finger
ne solitaire that had been his mothers.
Copyright. 1851