Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-01-26

He started violently out of deep alb
straction, and replied inquiringly.
''You won't forget to lock the doorT'
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.
IF this be marriage .w He
smiled his twisted smile. NJ
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 no thought of sleep.
Indeed, he had no expectation of clos
ing his eyes in slumber before the
next night, at the earliest; he had
no intention other than to attempt to
swim to the nearest land.
An hour dragged out its weary
length, and the half of another. He
rose. with infinite precaution against
making any noise.
Slowly. on tiptoes, 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, a
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:
''Yes, 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 sneak-thief to fly from
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. 81 daresay
you've guessed it. 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 mainlandT'
81 meant to try it," he confessed.
'I should have known!'' she de-
clared passionately. II was asleep, but
I knew the instant you stirred"
"It must be DONE" he muttered.
PLEASE"
But 1t must not be done! Hugh ="
Her voice ascended. IL can't let
You. won't let you! You =. It'll
be your death-you1l drown. I shall
have let you go to your death"
"Oh, now. really" he protested.
"But, Hugh, / know it'll / feel it
here" A hand strayed to rest, fiut-
tering. above her heart. 'If 1 should
let you go Oh, my dear one,
don't, don't gol"
Mary" he began hoarsely, II tell
you"
You're only going, Hugh, because
because l love you so am
afraid to let you love me That's true
isn't It? Hugh-it's true?"
He mumbled nn almost inaudible
avownl Of his intention.
"Hugh, you're killing mel If you
love me-"
He gave a gesture of despair and
! lcapitulation.
4 "Pve done my best, Mary. / meant
to do the fight thing. l."
"Hugh, you mean you won't goY
Joy from a surcharged heart rang vi
brnnt in every syllable uttered in thai
marvellous voice.
But now he dared meet her eyes
EYES," he said, 81 won't go" nodding
with an apologize shadow of hi,
twisted smile. II can't if b. 1
dlstresses you"
"Oh. my dear, my deari'
Whitaker started, staggered witt
: amaze, and the burden of his wife fl
his arms. Her own arms clipped hin
close. Her fragrant, tear-gemme,
face brushed his. He knew at last tn
warmth of her sweet mouth, the dea
, madness Of that first caress.
/ Then through the magical hush o
that time when the world stood still
the thin. clear vibrations of distan
J, hail: .,N
a "Aho-oy!"
In his embrace his wife stitfene
and lifted her head to listen like
startled fawn.
g "Listenw He held up his hand.
q This time it rang out more near an
most unmistakable:
, e"Ahoy! The house, ahoy!"
With the frenzied leap of madmaI
q Whitaker flung out into the dim, 81
very witchery of the night. He stoo
staring, while the girl stole to h
side and caught his arm. He passe
= 1t round her, lifted the other ham
= dumbly pointed toward the norther
~ beach. For the moment he could u,
trust himself to speak.
:" In the sweep of the anchorage
= small. white yacht lowered ghostlik
= On the beach itself small bo
was drawn up. A figure in whl
= waited near It. Rising over the bro
:, of the uplands moved two other q
- ures In white and one in darker clot
ing, the latter leading the way at
- rapid pace. AS they drew togeth'
eo the leader of the landing par
=, checked his pace and called:
"Hello there! Who are you? Wha
the meaning of your fires"
Mechanically Whitaker's lips
ed tered the beginning of the respons
MISUNDERSTANDING for help
If "Whitakery the voice of the 9th
In interrupted with jubilant sho
"Thank God we've found you'll"
Ter 1t was Ember.
yh,
CHAPTER XVII