The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-21

on tue hlp Win an hnplehfhHi
tightening OF the muscles OF my
throat and curious sensation that
everything Was slipping away from
me
"Good.by." I said duly. as !
reached the steps, and he raised his
cap Ia silence
Elizabeth called to me as passed
the door of her room.
ibid Mr.. Bennett say anything
about tonightT she asked, follow.
Ing me into my room.
NO. why should he7"
you don't mean TO say YOU have
forgotten"
Forgotten WHAT"
Elise. sometimes | think YOU
must be In loye-or, rAlher. | should
think 40 were IL any other girl
Don't you know that We give a din
ner tonight Our very first formal
effort. 10 celebrate Lady Edltha
birthday"
turned. brush in hand. and
stared at hor | had indeed for.
gotten. altho our menu for the oc.
caaion had been discussed and our
toilets decided upon that morning
at breakfast
How well Lady Edith looks IN
evening drcss." remarked Eliza.
beth. rs We discussed the events OF
the evening after the departure OF
our guests.
Mr. Blake evidently thought
20. returned Gabrielle. He had
eyes FOR no one else Hut she was
stunning IN that black gown"
And Mar Ann.'s entrees were
perfection" resumed Elizabeth. with
great Subtraction. she IL n
treasure. What does 1, matter TO
such genius II she has a dozen
worthless sons"
what indecd7" acquicsced.
yawning. and proposed bed. but the
others objected. saying that 4, was
not late and they were very vide
awake.
Let's have n prosi." suggested
Gabrielle. who loved to wander
about the cottage and look AT the
ocean from all points ~ the com.
pass the last thing before retiring
Not In thin slippers" ! protest
cd. and good clothes.
There il no grass up here" shs
replied. and NC can hold mp our
skirts. Do come. Elizabeth. just for
n little while"
was sorry | had not gone also
as soon as they turned the corner.
and picking up my long skirt care
fully started in pursuit. | saw.
however. that they we're deep In
one Of tho heart To heart converse
tions in which they sometimes in.
dulge. and decided not TO interrupt
them.
50 | sat down on the sisph lead.
ing 10 the slip. knowing they would
certainly visit Il before they went,
In. as u vas Gabriells's faVoriie
view.
Resting my chin In my hand. !
reviewed tho evening. which. from
my own private and particular
standpoint. had been 8 failure
Now. ! had fully intended TO I'm
press Gordon Bennett with the fact
that no was stu under the ban Of
my dlsplcaSure. u was therefore
somewhat dirconcerting TO be 20.
iiiely ignored by the gentleman In
question. who. beyond n civil bow
and smile. had appeared unaware
Of my existence and rad devoted
himself exclusively to Elizabeth.
was thinking OF this when !
suddenly became aware that |
smelied cigar--and a very good
one. Moreover. the odor came
from beneath. and as the steps led
directly TO the slip tho conclusion
was forced upon me that someone
was down there.
Curlously enough. was not
frightened. but decidedly indignant
Some one WAS taking great lib.
erty with private property. :
thought. and | wished we're brave
enough to 20 dosn and order him
or them--nxay. forthwith.
There was no moon. and ! could
not positively distinguish anything
IA I peered down into the darkness.
but in another instant tho alp and
everything upon Il stood out against
the darkness. After ar increduious
moment. understood. for roc.
ognized the broad beam OF white
light which fell across tho water
with dazzling briliiancy.
Our friend the searchlight had
paid us many Visits since tho first
night upon tho slip. and we had
come 10 watch for II. especially on
dark nights or in bad weather. We
seldom watched In vain. for II wag
persistent and Woodworking light
and explored the island, or At leasi
our end OF u. with painstaking
thoroneEs and regularity.
So | sat in the sheltering dark.
ness on the top OF the steps and
looked down upon the illuminated
slip, and wished most ardently |
had never ventured out.
For there we're two men upon
II. and an unlighted steam launch
waited beside IL. One OF them
knclt before tho door OF the boat.
house. evidently trying TO unlock
Il. while the o:her watched with
interest. and finally produced a
bunch OF keys from his own pocket.
| saw plainly that the man who
supplied the keys was Gordon Sen.
nett. who. with his friend. Mr..
Blake. was trying TO force nm en-.
trance into our boat.house.
Another instant, and | sprang to
my feet and fled. do not know
why I ran. but rushed wildly on
and finally cast myself breathless
upon my bed. my pulses throbbinR
painfully and my whole being quiv.
ering with sense of shame.
For ! had so nearly loved him.
| knew II now, even as ] knew his
nworthincss. Had he not lied To
me that afternoon? And now he