Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-06-29

"Ships, ships! Hundreds OF them!"
Why, general. what
1.-The Mediterranean fleet, young wo-
man, bound home to protect the chan
mel against the German high seas
fleet" Deep pride was in the gov
errors voice. His eyes kindled as they
fell on the distant pillars of smoke,
scores of them, mounting straight up
to- support the blue on their blended
arches. Captain Woodhouse could
scarcely conceal the start General Gran
dall's announcement gave him. He fol
lowed the others to the window more
slowly.
Jane was out on the balcony now
with field glasses she picked up from
the governors desk. She called back
through the curtains, summoning
Woodhouse to come and pick out for
her the flagship. When he had Joined
her Bishop stepped quickly to his SUI
perior's side.
"What do you think, general? Chap
strikes me as genuine-that portrait of
Lady Evelyn clinched things, I take
it"
"Confound it, We haven't absolutely
proved anything, pro or CON-" General
Crandall grumbled in perplexity.
"Thing'n have to be decided by the In
dian-what he finds or doesn't find-in
Woodhouse's o Let you know soon
as l hear"
Bishop hurried to make his adieus to
Lady Crandall and her guest and was
starting for the doors when Wood
house, stepping In from the balcony,
offered to join him. The governor stop
ped him.
by the way, captain, If you'll wait
for me a minute / should like your
company down the Rock"
Bishop had gone, and the general,
taking Woodhouse's agreement for
granted, also left the room.
Woodhouse, suddenly thrown back
on his guard, could find nothing to do
but assent. But when Lady Crandall
excused herself on the score Of hav-
ing to dress for dinner he welcomed
compensation in being alone with the
girl who had gone with him steadfast-
ly, u~nfinchingly, through moments Of
trial. She stood before the curtains
screening the balcony, hesitant, appar-
emily meditating fight. To her Wood
house went, in his eyes an appeal for
q moment alone which would not be
denied.
you were-very kind to me-" he
began, his voice very low and broken.
"If 1t had not been-for your help, l
would have
II could not see you-see you grope
blindly-and fail" She turned her
head to look back through the opened
glass doors to the swiftly moving dots
in the distance that represented the
incoming battle fleet.
But was there no other reason ex-
cept just humanity to prompt your"
He had possessed himself of one Of
her hands now, and his eyes compelled
her to turn her own to meet their
gaze. "Once when they-were trying
to trip me, l caught q look from your
eyes, and-and it was more than
than pity"
"You are presuming too much" the
girl parted family, but Woodhouse
would not be rebuffed.
you must hear me-" he rushed on
impetuously. This is a strange time
for me to say this, but you say you are
going-going away Dor l may not
have another opportunity-hear me!
l am terribly In earnest when 1 tell
you I love you-love you beyond all
believing. No, no! Not for what you
have done for me, but for what you
are to me-beloved."
She quickly pulled her hand free
from his grasp and tried to move to
the door. He blocked her way.
II cannot have you go without a
word from you," he pleaded. "Just a
word to tell me l may
"How can you expect-that-I know
ing what l do She was stun
bling blindly, but persisted: "You, who
have deceived others, are deceiving
them now-how car 1 know you are
not deceiving me too?"
81 cannot explain" He dropped his
head hopelessly, and his voice seemed
lifeless. 1T is a time of war. You
must accept my word that I am honest
with YOU
She slowly shook her head and start
ed again for the double doors, per
haps-when you prove that to me-
He took an eager step toward her
"But no, you cannot. l will be sailing
so soon. and-and you must forget"
you ask the impossible" Wood
house quickly seized her hand and
raised 1t to his lips. AS he did so the
double doors opened noiselessly and
Jaimihr Khan stood between them
sphinxlke.
Jane, startled, withdrew her hand
and without a farewell glance ran
across the library and through the door
to Lady Crandall's room. Jaimihr