The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-10-11

earliest command. told Of shlpwrcck
In the South seas; Of battle for life
In the Indian ocean of strange peoples
met In every quarter of the earth
Of fighting windy gales Off the Attain
tic coast, and the silent desolation of
tropic seas. Breathless with interest,
she questioned me. and / answered,
feeling the magic of her eyes on my
face, the soft intoxication of her pres
ence beside me. She was natural,
wholesome, the very sort of woman l
had dreamed about, as being some
where In the world. yet had never met
before. Her very presence was inspi-
ration, but beyond this vague impress
sion my dream did not go. Then i
looked aside at her and laughed, realiz-
ing suddenly how loquacious had
been. "a
"Really, I must have nearly talked
you to Sleep" said regretfully. ~ do
not know when I have before been
guilty OF such egotism."
"Do not say that. II was most In
teresting. 1t Is nice to be spoken to
as though one was an intelligent hu-
man being--it is quite an experience"
"Perhaps I do not understand"
DOUBTLESS not. for you are not n
girl, and You tell me you never sought
society. The very nature Of your life
has left you frank and straightforward.
You talk to me Just Gs you would to u
man."
'If my frankness has Interested
you," 1 ventured. "can you not, realize
how much I desire to learn more--who
you are. why you arc. heref"
"Of course; but I cannot tell you,
Mr.. Hollis-not yet"
She looked at her wrist watch. hold
ing It out into star-gleam, which re-
vealed the white shapeliness OF her
arm.
IL dare not even remain here with
you longer"
"But you will come again7 This is
not to be our last meetingf"
She hesitated, her eyes meeting
mine almost kindly; then she held out
her hand.
''The last-yes, in this way. You
will meet me again, but not as we nre
tonight. have truly enjoyed being
with yoG, of hearing your story. but
this meeting here alone was not my
choice. You understand I could not
avoid II, and after was discovered
I had to remain and win your pledge
to secrecy. You will not forget that?'
"Assuredly not. You win not return
to the deck tomorrow nightT
She laughed softly. and withdrew
her hand. which / still held.
Tomorrow night Oh. canno
tell; we may be far enough at sec by
then so need no longer seek fresh all
by night. / told you my concealmen
was only temporary. Good night, Mr.
Hollis"
The gray dress she wore left upor
me the impression that she fadet
from sight, her dim outline vanished
SO suddenly amid the shadows. tool
swift step forward. impelled by al
Irresistible desire to ascertain In wha
portion of the yacht she found conceal
ment, yet paused almost as quickly
Who she was, and why she had choser
SO unconventional a manner Of joining
us, was beyond my guessing. 1 essaye,
many theory, yet one after the other
all broke down, and left me cropping II
darkness. Only one fact rename,
steadfast, to which I could cling witt
conference.-the girl was no mere ad
venturess, no criminal; she was doinl
nothing Of which she was In the leas
ashamed. nor had she the slightes
fear the consequences.
/ slept so soundly as to be the las
guest mt the breakfast table the mex
morning, although as sat there alon
Fosdick returned from the deck to tn
cabin, seeking a raincoat, and report
ing heavy fog. through which tn
yacht was proceeding slowly. The yes
sci was still within easy view Of Mon
tauk, or had been before the mist shu
down, but the really important new
had come to Darlington by wireless
positive information Of the outbrea
of war. Russia and France were phi
ted against Germany and Austria 4
the death grapple. The German troop
had already begun an invasion OF Be
.gium on their drive toward Paris.
was still unknown what course Eng
land would take.
The nature Of this news obscured Al
else, and left me unable to complet
my meal. Other messages were me
mentarily expected. and dressed has
tily, and Joined the little group on tn
deck, just as a cabin boy handed CaI
ringtol a new message. He read 4
crashing his clenched hand down o
the rail.
"It's all over with now," he e,
claimed, holding the paper aloft, an
gazing about into our eager faces
England declares war, gentlemen. Sh
will stand by her treaty with Belgium