The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-31
(Continued)

f gOnner, I reckOn?" "I never saw him after we sank. |Are all the men here?" "All but those in the forward boat, l ir. They got away furst, an we ain't had no sight ov 'em since. Maybe we kyiIl when it gets daylight. Harwood's charge. l give him a compass, an { old him ter steer west. Wus thet 1ight?"
 'An could have told him. haven't lad an observation, and it is all guess work. l know the American coast lies I o that direction, but that is about all. couldn't tell if it be a hundred, or | hundred and fifty miles away. I must have been in bad shape when l 'you pulled me in?'
 "We thought you was gone, sir. You was bleedin' some, too, but only from flesh wounds. The young lady she lust wouldn't let yer die. She worked over yer for two or three hours, sir, lfore he'd any hope" Her eyes were downcast and her hce turned away, but 1 reached out
 Nond and clasped her fingers. The
 v Of the night and oCe5n Was motouless posture Only as land gently pressed miDs did .L courage, with a knowledge that ae recognized and welcomed my pres . ance,
 Watkins says I owe ray llss to you" said so low the words we're scarcely ludlble above the dash of water \ Iongsids Tt will make tbQt life more ! valuable than ever before"
 She turned her head, and I felt her ayes searching the dim outline of my ace questiouigGly.
 "Of course did everything I knew she replied. why should I not2 You Ire here Captain Carlyle, for ny saka i; owe you service"
 "And must [ be content merely witt ! .hat t6ouahtE' I urged, far fron pleased. This would 1oean that yoar 1uly interest in me arises from graH- ude,"
 And friendship" her voice as couG- iential as my own, "There is DO reg- lon why you should doubt that sure: .-7,,' '
 'Tt would be easter for me to under stand, but for the memory of what [ ana bond slave"
 "Your meaning is that tgIs friaa1- xsbip has Us Q basis eauality1'
 "Does 1t not2 Can real frtertsa.r exist otherwiseY'
 ''No," she acknowledged gr@vs7g, And the fact that sucb f-.eodstip foes exist between US evidences ny faith in you. I nave never felt this social distinction, Captain Carlyle, have given it no thought. This nay seem strange 10 you, yet is most nat Iral. You bear an honorable name, md belong to a family of gentlemen. YoH held a position of command, won ly your own efforts. You bore the part of q man in & revolution; if guilty if any crime, it was a political one, in DO way sullying your honor. l have every reason to believe you were false | y accused and convicted. Consequent Ny that conviction does not exist be tween us; you are not my uncle's scrv- &Rnt. but my friend-you understand ne now2"
 And you would actually have me speak with you as of your own class free man, worthy to claim your friendship in lifeT'
 ~"Yes," frankly, her face uplifted Why should it be otherwise? No man 4 ould have done more, or proved hin elf more stanch and true. We are 1T Hanger yet, but such peril is nothing compared with what have escaped. eel that your skill and courage wil bring us safely to land. am no long afraid, for I have learned to trust ou. You possess my entire conf lence"
 "But do you understand fully?" uestioned anxiousIy. "All I have dont or you would have been done for any ther woman under the same cOndi ions of danger. Such service to an ther would have been a duty, and n, lore. But to be with you, aiding anC rotecting, has been a delight, a joy ehave served Dorothy Fairfax for hel Nh sake-not as I would any other pDid you not suppose I knew?'
 ETer glance flashed into mine througl ie star-gleam, with q sudden messag,
 revealment.
 t'You knew-that-tha 1t was yol Frsonally I servedT"
 F7OI course l Knew. 4 "Ou1dh II
 sver unaware of such things. Now
 ever, I must tell you the truth.
 now you care for me, and have careC
 nee first we met. An interest no les
 teful has led me to seek your ac
 eaintance, and give you my aid. Sure
 it is not unmaidenly for me to con
 ss this when we face the chance o
 ath together?'
 But" stammered. q can scarcel.
 lieve you realize your words. l.
 [e you Dorothy"
 'And is 1t not also possible for m
 lover"
 sYou-you mean, you love meT
 II love you-are you sorryW
 Sorry I am mad with the joy o
 yet stricken dumb. Dorothy Fair
 have never even dared dream o
 sh message from your lips. Dear
 r girl, do you forget who I am
 lat my future?"
 I forget nothing" she said, proud
 It is because I know what yol