Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-21
CHAPTER xNIX.-Continued

CHAPTER NNIX.-Continued
IT REALIZE how you have looked upon
L me from the time of our first meeting
on the dark deck Of the Esmeralda," she
said. her emotion evidenced only by a
tremor in the soft voice. 81 have been to
you mere girl. 30 do not interrupt with
denials. for ii is better | should 80 on.
That was your thought Of me. as 1t has
been the conception Of other mon, ! be-
lieve Fergus Mccain considers me from
that viewpoint also, and hence possesses
such faith in ConQuering me through rear.
| must appear childish, perhaps act so. to
leave this impression upon the mind. But
! am not "A child, I think and feel as n
woman indeed, | have cause TO believe that
my life-lonely and without companion OF
my own age--has made me older in e&-
perience than my years. Why do con-
fess this? Because | believe the time has
come when you should know. ! am going
to carry out your desire; | am going TO
outwit Fergus McCann and overcome his
yillainy I am going to lower myself re-
nounce my ideals, for your sake
Mine, OH no 4: you cannot mean that
there are others"
Yes. there are others. sympathize
with and am glad to serve them le'
their fate alone--even my own peril r.
would never have led me to make TINS de-
cislon. You-yOu have asked 1t OF me
and YOU have said to me-honestly. | be-
lIeve-that such action on my part will In
no way lower IRE in your esteem trust
you and am wiling"
you care. actually care that much for
me?"
rs there any disgrace any unwoman-
illness in saying so? We are In desperate
stress, all Of us. Even death may be nut
n few hours away. If we are saved it must
,I nh, "a
is no situation TO be ruled by social con-
ventions or lack of frankness IN speech
| do care for you, Robert Hollis you
would have known it long ago II you were
not blind in such things. may appear TO
YOU a girl but | have womanS upserNa-
tion and experience. nave not lalIeu 70
see and understand that is why ! am
unafraid now to tell you the full truth'
You have cared for me ever since we were
in the boat together. Is this not so?'
"Yes, but ! never thought
"Of course not; you are not the sort OF
man who would. You have not made Ire
study of women; perhaps that is why l
trust you so thoroughly. But knew even
If YOU said not a word; ! read 1t IN your
faca YOUR manner In the way your eyes
followed me about. Sometimes believe
n vyas.y YOUR silence, your lack OF confidence
in Yourself: the absence OF concert IN your
nature which won my response Ill you
had made love to me. Robert Hollis would
have laughed at you; but-but no" 40
not feel like laughing at all
"You do love me you-you love me!
"Ob YOU mustn't compel me to say that
II is enough to confess | care; that am
Interested II II was not for the desperate
chance I am about to take ] should never
have said these words They sound un-
maidenly, immodest; but you VIII NOT
place that construction upon theul' we
4, afnl.
cannot 60 to Fergus McCann pretending TO
Weld TO his desires, TO conform TO ms
xyisbes without you comprehend trst OF
ali that | do this not even TO save my
own life, but-beCause ! love you. kno"
what has stood between us; what mas
sealed your lips what has made you neS.
tate and kept you silent II Is my tather $
n,iIIions Well. they are not here; on this
doomed ship, facing death tosether' we arc
simply man and woman ~,
* nd Won love me? You really love me-?
"As woman never loved before, | be.
I,eve" she answered gravely i love you.
know not what time passed as held
ha- In NV arms and whispered those words
rsnressed SO long. Almost had | forgotten
,,,here we were; the nature Of our sur
roundings; the fate which threatened us
could remember only her, the velvety
touch of her flesh, the welcoming light OF
love in her eyes. ! know NOT what we
talked about, fOIbNlouo OihJ ~ N''' - "'
being alone together with every barrier be-
tween us swept away forever. The sun
shine poured in through the open port
touching her hair with threads OF golden
light and leaving bar OF brilliance across
the stateroom deck, Beyond / could see the
,,,Ide stretch of ocean. deserted and desc
late the waves crested with siivery foam
nnd a deem blue in their hollows,
Vet Imagine the respite was not long.
1,hars came a sharp rap upon the wood of
~ dooT bringing us instantly back TO a
rnslizatIon OF our position. Her arms re-
leased me and / arose TO my feet.
What is wantedY
"i,'s few minutes till noon, SIR" said
= voice | failed to recognize. And I'm 10
ta,I Won 10 come on deck"
aouite right my man; I'll be there at
once stand by 70 carry the instruments. "
"Aye, aye, sir
rrhsre was a certain cheerfulness and re-
.nact IN the voice which convinced me the
saIIovv was not among the rngleaders, but
tbe hone of making him an adherent to our
cause vanished when / opened the door
end recognized Dade. The man was too
weak too much OF jellyfish, to render his
triendship of any particular value. Be
sides. Dugan was also IN the cabin leaning
,dlv AGAINST the stair raii, but quite as evil
Nentlv on guard. ] nodded 70 him, but he
ehlv condescended 70 stare IN return. aud