The Elbert County tribune., 1920-01-02

German. but I've since learned was
dialect I couldn't be supposed TO un-
derstand. All / got of 1t was a stern.
'.Du must" which silenced the girl
completely.
1t was that-the callous rudeness
toward me, though at the moment he
was In the very act of asking a great
favor-that nailed my resolution to
have nothing whatever to do with him
or his affairs. 1 replied, the moment
l got the chance. "It is quite impos-
sible. monsieur. never share a state
room with anyone"
"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 indignities beyond be-
lief-being stripped to ze- skin to be
searched by monsters in human form"
/ iared up at this-our customs
house isn't anything 10 give one par
ticular pride, but it's nothing indecent.
and told him very fatty it was not SO.
In an Instant of unreserve l men
toned that 1 had fourth cousin in
the service who always met me and
saw that 1 got through-he was in
charge of the inspector who examined
baggage on the line I always took.
"Ah. how excellent 1t would be for
Claire 10 accompany you," monsieur
exclaimed with feeling. "All her anxI-
ETY. would zen be set at rest by your so
estimable cousin. Surely you will not
refuse her to share your stateroom?"
I 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." 1
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 zat pay
re entire passage"
! Claire started and turned furiously
red. Child as she was, she had
breeding and delicacy of feeling that
her father lacked. AS for me. my eyes
were popping. 1 threw my napkin on
the table and let this icicle slide off
| my tongue: Monsieur. am perfectly
able to pay my way through the world
without the help of strangers" and
| with that / 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 go with me
to the saloon. AS she was leaving he
called her back for another commu-
| nication not meant for me to under
| stand. She. poor child. wasn't equal
to the task he set. for she blurted out.
very red in the face. Papa wants me
to beg you to take me with you"
and then stopped and looked Mt the
floor, for the smile she saw in my
| face.
7 81 understand just how you feel. my
dear" said gently. you're too beau
| tifully well bred to urge the granting
of favor that has been and must be
refused"
"Oh, how did you know how felt?"
she gulped looking up with her big
eyes relieved of their embarrassment.
''It's just how felt, and I'm ashamed
that"-she bit her lip and kept back
what she was going to say--that her
father had asked it-and said. art
lessly. II love you"
She put up her face and we kissed.
That one little moment-the feeling
that she was the real thing-kept me
believing in her later in spite of every
thing, and when couldn't believe in
her at all-except as the finished ac-
complice in detestable crime.
Monsieur lie pere hurried in. A
glance quite plainly passed between
them in which she told him 1t was no
use. Then he said the carriages were
outside. and he saw me into one and
gave the driver the name of the hotel
/ told him. and was off In a cloud of
adieus and bows and hand-waves and
! whip-cracks and was presently at my
hotel.