The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-06

ture never to be forgotten and lmpoS-
sible of description.
ITO think l might have missed it,
she said at last. Thank you for MAX
ing me come
81 take it you are not often made
to do anything" he said, with a smile
This is the first time within my
memory" She answered his smile.
II imagine you are not often crossed.
yourself"
IT pretty generally have my way"
he replied carelessly. DO you see
yonder? 1 boarded there one sum-
mer. I am glad to remember I was
there The following winter was most
severe. There was much suffering, so
over a perilous time" He glanced at
her curiously. Does it ever occur to
you to wonder how the other half
lives?''
She shook her head. This is my
first escape from the beaten path"
Don't you ever long to get away
from it, he asked casually.
They were lettering along the two
mile stretch of road between the viii
lage and st. Johns. AS he spoke she
paused and looked back at the lovely
view. II wouldn't be here if L had
not felt I must escape from it,
When they parted neither knew the
others name. Lavina did not think it
necessary to mention hers, as they
would never meet again, and If there
was a purpose behind the keen,
amused eyes as the man touched her
hand in parting there was no OUT
ward sign that he did not acquiesce
in her decision.
The next morning she left for
Labrador.
She was a little late in reaching the
steamer, and, somewhat breathless
from haste. was following the stew
ard down the deck when the back of
a rough, gray coat caught and held
familiar about it, SO familiar that she
moved hastily forward, confronting
the owner with blazing eyes.
"Youi
''Why not?"
You came because you knew 1
was sailing on this steamer"
Partly. 1 intended taking the trip.
1t made no difference if 1 came now
or later on. Do not misunderstood
me- 1t was not for your charming
society, but because 1 know it is not
desirable for a woman, especially
young woman, to take this trip
alone"
other people. You are as much a
stranger as they"
He regarded ner steadily. You will
take that back" he said at last
out another word
They ran into fog that night, de-
pressing, penetrating fog. There were
eleven days of it, and the trip was
heightened to a fortnight. but long
before the fourteen days were up La
yinia had offered friendliness. 1t was
one thing to be alone in sunshine,
quite another to be alone and weighed
down by a heavy gray blanket that
allowed no view other than that OF
the steamers deck
He accepted her overtures with no
degree of eagerness, but under his
apparent indifference was steadfast
determination that made itself evident
their last evening on board when he
ended the silence that had fallen be-
tween them by saying:
you have not yet retracted the
words YOU said to me the morning we
left ST. Johns"
''It is not fair that you should hold
them against me. 1 was beginning to
regard you as a friend. Z
ties of friendship even before you
spoke"
no thought"
"You knew I was to be trusted"
She did not answer directly. For
two weeks we have neither of us
known who the other was. I do not
even know your name, but I am going
to ask you to my home. Will you
Gomez"
His eyes softened to a wonderful
gentIeness. when -
"And you may ask for"
He interrupted. You need not tell
me-
You know me?"
your picture stood on your broth
er's desk at college. He is my very
good friend and the picture is won
derfu1 likeness"
He did not consider it necessary to
tell her he had begged the picture
from his friend. That would come
later. She was not ready for what he
had to say and he codrd wait.-(Copy-
right. 1916, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)