The Ordway new era., 1921-04-22

Of the craft as completely rs though
II did not exist, lowered the prov. OF
big tug boat. And on 1t stood a man.
For the fraction of minute these
two, the man and the girl, stood alone
In that rift in the fog before Millicent
abruptly turning, plunged into the wa
ter. lust as the bow of the vessel
touched the raft. and made straight
for the shore Yet they would have
known each other in eternity.
Even as Millicent disappeared the
man called to some one behind him'
There's a girl on her. AS he spoke
he jumped to the raft But Miiilceht
was already well on her way ashore.
The fog lifted as quickly as 1t had
come and the man saw the sienuer
figure emerge from the water ana
run up the beach. Millicent heard him
call out, "She's all right"
AS the girl gained the lighthouses
the clerk called to her: Game near
to taking you along, didn't she! Ihat S
one of the Graham Wrecking com
pany's tugs, come 10 take the rait
away. Forgot TO tell you.
MiIlicent dressed. drove her rum
about home, dined and costumed her
self for the last dance of the season
at the clubhouse with curious sense
of elation. 1t was as though she saw
everything about her through mist
and the only thing that stood oH
clearly was the figure of the man on
the bow of the boat. Every detail OF
his appearance was stamped indelibly
ON her mind. He was an outdoor
man-for the sun had tanned his skin
and faded his khaki clothing TO the
same tan. 1t had even bleached ms
wavy hair in spots. His eyes were
deep blue.
Afterward Millicent decided that
she must have spent those hours III
something resembling an hypnotic
state-a walking dream. 1t lasted un-
til Gilbert Graham led her determined
ly out into the darkness of the club
veranda after the first dance, and de-
manded his answer. Out at sea the
fog was closing in and again the dis
tant siren took up its mufiied note of
warning. Without realizing that she
had never yet formulated a decision,
Millicent's lips answered mo" to Gil
bert's plea. The man she could love
would love the sea would sense the
romance of work like that of the
wrecking company Gilbert's father
owned; would revel in the physical
toll and risk of saving ships-human
lives perhaps!"
81 see," interrupted Gilbert. ITS
because l prefer TO be treasurer of
the concern rather than wear dirty
khaki and do rough-neck work with
the deckhands like"
Millicent shiyered. Her elation fell
from her. 1t was that man on the
prov of the tugboat-not as he prob
ably was but as she had imagined him
to be-whom she had been describing
as the man she could love. OF course
she would never see him again!
Gilbert observed the shiver and in
terrupted himself to say: You're cold.
Let us go in
At the lighted doorway stood man
in white flannels, looking in. He was
Drowned by the sun and his hair was
burned lightish, in spots.
Hello, Paul! When did you show
up?" Gilbert's tone was one of sur
prise, but it did not express much
pleasure.
Not until Millicent, piloted by a
strong brown hand on her arm, was
half way down the walk that led from
clubhouse to pier did she realize what
the introduction had meant. OF
course, this was that brother of Gil
bert's who had charge of their New
England branch. She hadn't dreamed
they didn't look in the least alike
Half brothers," the man uncapnily
made answer to her unspoken thought
"You-you're the girl in the fog"
"Yes." answered AIillicent. And
that sense of elation came again, null
tiplied. For some note of finality in
Paul Graham's voice assured her that
they would always be together in a
world of their own, as for that long
moment they had been alone in the
rift in the fog.