The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-02
(Continued)

the darkness, the air soft and refresh ing. The locker was filled with flags, representing almost every nation on earth. I dragged these out and spread them on the deck abaft the cabin, thus forming a very comfortable bed, and at last induced the girl to lie down, wrapping her in a blanket. Finally found a seat beside her on a coil of rope, and we fell into conversation.
 This was the first opportunity we had enjoyed to actually talk with each other alone.
 Dorothy" I said humbly, ''you were frightened last night. I cannot hold you to what you said to me then"
 You mean you do not wish to? But I was not frightened"
 And you still repeat what you said then? You said, I love you"
 ''Yes, can repeat that-I love you"
 "ThCse are dear, dear words; but I ought not to listen to them, or believe am not free to ask a pledge of you, or to beg you to trust me in marriage"
 ''Is not that rather for me to de cide?' she questioned %."chly. ''I make a confession now. YOd remember the IlBhL l LitL yOu Oll icth, "lltu SOu were a prisoner, and told you that you had become the property of Roger Fairfax? I loved you then, although I scarcely acknowledged the truth even to myself. We are all alike, we FaIr- faxes; we choose for ourselves, and laugh at the world. That is my an swer, GeOtfry Carlyle; I give you love for love-"
 q would ask an opportunity denied me-to stand once more in honor among men. I would not be ashamed before Dorothy Fairfax"
 ''NOr need you be-" she exclaimed impetuously, her hands pressing mine. "You wrong yourself, even as you have been wronged. You have already done that which shall win you freedom, if it be properly presented to those In power. I mean that it shall be, once I nIn safely back in Virginia. Tell me, what are your plans with-with this schooner"
 "TO beach it somewhere along shore, and leave 1t there a wreck, while we escape. The men insist on it with good reason. They have been pirates, and might be hung if caught"
 And yet to my mind," she insisted earnestly, that choice is most dan gerous. l am a girl, but if I command ed here, do you know what I would do? I would sail this vessel straight to the Chesapeake and surrender it to the authorities. The men have nothing to fear with me aboard and ready to testf- fy in their behalf. The governor will accept my word without question. These men are not pirates, but honest seamen compelled to serve in order to save their lives; they mutinied and captured the bark, but were later over come, and compelled to take the boats, The same plea can be made for you, Gcoffry, only you were there in an eff fort to save me. It is q service which ought to win you freedom. If the gov ernor fail me, I will bear my story to the feet of the king. l am q Fairfax, and we have friends in England, strong powerful friends
 'I am convinced" I admitted, after a pause, that thig course Is the wiser one, but fear the opposition of the men. They vii! never gc willingly"
 "There is an argument which will overcome their fear. I mean Cupidity Each sailor aboard has an interest in the salvage of this vessel under the English law. Also there must be gold ahOard-perhapS treasure also. Let the crew dream that dream and you will need no whip tC drive them into an English port"
 Full pardon. and possibly wealth with it." I laughed. "A beautiful scheme. Dorothy. yet it might work. Still, if l know sailormen, they would doubt the truth, if it came direct from me. f2r I am not really one of them"
 "But Watkins is. Explain it all to him: tell him who I am, the influence I can wield in the colony, and then let him whisper the news to the others. Will you not do this-for my sake?"
 "Yes," I answered: "I believe you have found the right course. If you will promise to lie down and sleep 1 will talk with Watkins now. I may catch some catnaps before morning, but most of the time shall be proving about deck. Good night, dear girl"
 She extended her arms, and drew me down until our lips met.
 "You arc actually afraid of me still," sue SlAO. " fly SuOulu SCu Dt.
 Somehow. Dorothy you have al- ways seemed so far away from me have never been able to forget. But now the touch of your lips has"
 Broken down the last barrier|
 "Yes, forever"
 Are you sure? Would you not feel still less doubt if you kissed me again?"
 held her closely. gazing down into the dimly revealed outline of her face, and this time felt myself the master.
 left her there and groped my own way forward. I found Watkins awake. He listened gravely to what I had to say. with little comment, and was evi- dently weighing every argument in his mind.
 'Tve bin in Virginia and Maryland, sir" he said at last seriously, and if the young woman is n'Fairfnx. she'll likely have influence enough ter do just whut she says. I'll talk it over