News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-12-06


swim to the nearest land.
An hour dragged out it's wear
I length, and the half of another. FL
rose, with infinite precaution agains
making any noise.
Slowly, on tiptoes, Whitaker stol
toward the door, out into the hall, tool
single step on toward the kitchen
ana 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 thut
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
Yes, it is l." She had always seen
MN; there was no use trying to get
away without her knowledge now; be-
SIDES, he was no sneak thief to fly from
a cry. He burned with resentment,
impatience and indignation, but he
waited stolidly enough while the
woman flew down the stairs to his
side.
Hugh" she demanded, white-faced
and trembling, "what is the matter?
Where are you going?"
| He moved his shoulders uneasily,
| forcing short laugh IT daresay
you've guessed 1t. Undoubtedly you
have. Else why" He didn't finish
save by a gesture of resignation.
"You mean you were going-going
to try to swim to the mainland"
II meant to try it," he confessed.
ST should have known!" she de-
clared passonately. 81 was asleep, but
I knew the instant you stirred"
at must be DONE" he muttered.
"Please-"
"But it must not be done! Hugh !"
Her voice assembled. CT can't let
you. / won't let you You It'll
be your death-youIl drown. I shall
have let you go to your death"
"Oh, now, really" he protested.
But, Hugh, I know it! 1 feel it
here" 4 hand strayed to rest, f1ut-
tering, above her heart. eff I should
let you go Oh, my dear one.
don't, don't go!"
Mary" he began hoarsely, 81 tell
YOU"
you're only going, Hugh, because -.
because l love you so l 1 am
afraid to let you love me That's true,
isn't it? Hugh-it's true?"
He mumbled an almost inaudible
avOwal of his intention.
Hugh, you're killing me! If you
love me-"
He gave gesture of despair and
Capitulation.
''Tve done my best, Mary. meant
to do the right thing. L"
Hugh, you mean you won't go?"
Joy from a surcharged heart rang vi
brant in every syllable uttered in that
voice.
But now he dared meet her eyes.
"Yes," he said, 81 won't go" nodding, |
with an apologize shadow of his
twisted smile. 81 can't if it |
distresses you"
"Oh my dear, my dearr'
Whitaker started, staggered with |
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
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
startled fawn.
Listen" He held up his hand.
This time it rang out more near and
most unmistakable:
"Ahoy! The house, ahoyv"
With the frenzied leap Of mailman,
Whitaker flung out into the dim, sill
very witchery of the night. He stood
while the girl stole to his
side and caught his arm. He passed
~ iouhu iSis iiIttu Tic JULIET uuHu,
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 it. 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
rapid pace. AS they drew together,
the leader of the landing party
checked his pace and called:
"Hello there Who are your What's
the meaning of your fires-?'
Mechanically Whitaker's lips ut
tered the beginning of the response:
"Shipwrecked-signaling for help"
"Whitakerl' the voice of the other
with jubilant shout.
"rhank God we've found youl"
1t was Ember.
CHAPTER XVII.