The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-10-16
By JANE BUNKER


81 fsz ssR ~ fsz "a IA "a is ssa s
have nothing whatever to do with him
or his affairs. / replied, the moment
I got the chance, at is quite impos-
sible, monsieur. 1 never share a state
room with anyone" .rn ..f
"Ah, madame-a child-a little child
alone, alone,"-he looked at me re-
proachfully. "What shall she make
alone on that long voyage? And COM
ing to your customs house In New
York; hear Eat zey are terrible-zat
ladies receive indignitles beyond be-
llef-being stripped to re skin to be
searched by monsters In human FORM"
/ flared up at thls-our customs
house isn't anything to give one par
ticular pride, but It's nothing indecent.
and told him very fatty 1t was not 80.
In an instant of unreserve l men
toned that had fourth cousin in
the service who always met me and
saw that I got through-he was In
charge of the inspector who examined
baggage on the line / always took.
"Ah, how excellent 1t would be for
Claire to accompany you," monsieur
exclaimed with feeling. "All her anxi-
ETY. would zen be set at rest by your 30
estimable cousin. Surely you will not
refuse her to share your stateroom?"
was exasperated again in a minute.
I've got Quaker blood in me, and come
from people whose yea is yea and
whose nay means "that settles It." /
snapped out that my stateroom was
too small even for one, in comfort.
"But shall most gladly engage re
largest on board for you and my
| daughter" he cried, Frightening. '"In-
deed 1t Is no more zan right Eat l pay
re entire passage"
Claire started and turned furiously
red. Child as she was, she had a
breeding and dellcacy Of feeling that
her father lacked. AS for me- my eyes
were popping. l threw my napkin on
the table and let this icicle slide off
my tongue: Monsieur, l am perfectly
able to pay my way through the world
without the help of strangers" and
with that l rose, adding, II must say
farewell to you and your daughter. ]
have many things to attend to and my
friends are expecting me-"
Monsieur and Claire immediately
followed my example in rising, mon.
sieur calling the garcon TO bring the
bill and telling Claire to 60 with me
to the saloon. AS she was leaving hi
called her back for another commu
nication not meant for me to under
stand. She, poor child. wasn't equa
to the task he set, for she blurted out
very red in the face. Papa wants m,
to beg you to take me with you
and then stopped and looked at tn,
floor, for the smile she saw In m.
face.
II understand just how you feel. m.
DEAR" l said gently. you're too beau
tifully well bred to urge the granting
Of favor that has been and must b.
refused"
"Oh, how did you know how 1 felt?
she gulped, looking up with her bi
eyes relieved of their embarrassment
"It's just how felt, and I'm ashame
that"-she bit her lip and kept bac
what she was going to say-that he
father had asked it-and said, art
lessly, 81 love you."
.. She put up her face and we kissed
That one little moment-the feelin
that she was the real thing-kept m
believing in her later In spite of every
thing, and when couldn't believe 1
} her at all-except as the finished az
: complice in detestable crime.
i Monsieur lie pere hurried in.
glance quite plainly passed betwee
J them In which she told him it was n
I use. Then he said the carriages wei
outside, and he saw me into one an
L gave the driver the name of the hot,
I told him. and I was Off in a cloud {
$ adieus and bows and hand-waves an
d whip-cracks and was presently ct n
[. hotel.
(, CHAPTER n.