Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-11-09

| uStrade, and was no longer visible.
"Hugh!" her voice rang from the
upper floor.
| He started violently out Of deep alb
straction, and replied inquiringly.
you won't forget to lock the door?"
He sWore violently beneath his
| breath; controlled his temper and re-
sponded pleasantly: Certainly not"
Then he shut the outside door with
a convincing bang.
eff this be marriage .w He
smiled his twisted smile.
Leaving the kitchen light turned
| low, he went to his own room and,
as on the previous night, threw him
self upon the bed without undressing !;
but this time with 40 thought of sleep.
indeed, he had no expectation of clos
| Ing his eyes in slumber before the
next night, at the earliest; he had
40 intention other than to attempt to
swim to the nearest land.
| An hour dragged out it's weary
! length, and the half of another. He
rose, with infinite precaution against
| hdhluS uuy noise.
Slowly, on tfptoes, Whitaker stole
toward the door, out into the hall, took
single step on toward the kitchen;
and then, piercing suddenly the abso-
lutte stiffness within the house,
board squealed like an animal be-
meath his tread.
In an instant he heard the thud
and patter Of her footsteps above,
her loud, quickened breathing as she
leaned over the balustrade, looking
down, and her cry of dismay: Hugh!
Hugh"
he halted, saying in an even voice:
Eyes, it Is l." She had always seen
him; there was no use trying to get
away without her knowledge now; be-
sides, he was no snesk-thief to fly from
a cry. He burned with resentment,
impatience and indignation, but he
waited stolidly enough while the
woman few down the stairs to his
side.
Hugh" she demanded, white-faced
and trembling. 'twhat is the matter?
Where are you going?"
He moved his shoulders uneasf1y,
forcing short laugh. 81 daresay
you've guessed 1t. Undoubtedly you
| have. Else why" He didn't finish
| save by gesture of resignation.
"You mean you were going going
TO try to swim to the mainland"
II meant to try it," he confessed.
81 should have known" she de-
clared passiOnately. 81 was asleep, but
[ knew the instant you stirred
at must be DONE" he muttered.
please"
'But IT, must not be done! Hugh !"
| Her voice assembled IL can't let
"5u. I won't let you! You It'll
be your death-youll drown. I shall
have let you go to your death"
"Oh, now, really" he protested.
But, Hugh | know it! I feel 1t
here" A hand strayed to rest, fut-
tering, above her heart. 'If I should
let you go Oh, my dear one,
don't, don't gor'
Mary" he began hoarsely, ST tell
you"
You're only going Hugh, because
because | love you SO [ am
afraid to let you love me That's true,
isn't it? Hugh-it's true?"
He mumbled an almost inaudihle
avowal of his intention.
Hugh, you're killing me! If you
love me"
He gave a gesture of despair and
Capitulati0n.
1--WE done my best, Mary. I meant
to do the right thing. /"
Hugh, you mean you won't go?"
Joy from a surcharged heart rang vi
brant in every syllable uttered in that
marvellous voice.
But now he dared meet her eyes.
eyes," he said, 81 won't go" noddfng.
with an apologize shadow of his
twisted smile. 81 can't if it
distresses you"
"Oh, my dear my dearm
Whitaker started, staggered with
| amaze, and the burden of his wife in
his arms. Her own arms clipped him
close. Her fragrant, tear-gemmed
face brushed his. He knew at last the
warmth of her sweet mouth, the dear
madness of that first caress.
Then through the magical hush Of
that time when the world stood still,
the thin, clear vibrations of a distant
hail:
"AhO-oy!'
In his embrace his wife stiffened
and lifted her head to listen like a
startled fawn.
"ListenW He held up his hand.
This time it rang out more near and
most unmistakable:
"Ahoy! The house, ahoy!"
With the frenzied leap of a mailman,
Whitaker flung out into the dim, sill
very Witchery of the night. He stood
staring while the girl stole to his
| side and caught his arm. He passed
1t round her, lifted the other hand,
dumbly pointed toward the northern
beach. For the moment he could not
trust himself to speak.
In the sweep of the anchorage a
small, white yacht lowered ghostlike.
On the beach itself a small boat
was drawn up. A figure in white
waited near 1t. Rising over the brow
of the uplands moved two other fig
ures in white and one in darker cloth
ing, the latter leading the way at a