Evening star., 1923-05-22

in safety to stop and hold JlABett
should she attempt to go ashore
without him. ...'
Turning his head suddenly, unex-
pectedty, he saw in the clear, bright
moonlight Ju-Bett standing in the
doorway of the cabin, watching him
intently. She would have turned
quick for her: with a bound. .he.was
at her side. seized her wrist, drawing
her resolutely out on deck.
Taking her arm, he conducted her
to the farthest end of the deck. that
their conversation might not be over
heard.
He placed a seat for her. but Jill
Bett declined 1t,
For some moments they stood to-
gether in silence, neither looking at
the other.
the rail- in silence. Jil-Bett's dark
eyes were looking wistfully out over
the wide sweep Of the on-spangled
waters. Ten thousand stars were in
the sky. ten thousand in the sea.
He was wondering in what words
he should broach the subject so near
his heart. There was a time when
the intense gaze he beat upon her
would have set her heart fluttering;
not so now: she waited in apparent
calmness for him to proceed.
He was quite at loss for words.
He knew she must have been think
ing the matter over with much de-
liberation and had evidently arrived
at conclusion. He looked at her
in wonder. How this last week had
changed her. Was this superb young
girl standing before him with the
cold, naughty mien OF an empress
the confiding child Jil-Bett. who had
so lately clung to him in far-ofr Katar
with kisses and tears? -..-. 9,
The other Jil-Bett had vanished for
ever; this one seemed 80 different.
She made no attempt to break the
silence. but stood looking out upon
the water as though she had for
gotten his presence.
he broached the subject that lay so
heavily on his heart. At length he
turned TO her. .-.-
Il have had plenty of time to think
during these last few days. Jil-Bett."
he began, slowly. and I want to as
sure you the outcome Of it you will
consider fairness itself to you"
She made him no answer. and he
went on constrainedly: You realize
our marriage was not a union of
hearts. but Of hands. brought about
through the force of distressing cir
,cumstances."
Jil-Bett's dark eyes still looked out
TO sea: she made no effort to reply,
to check the bitter recriminations he
was uttering.
"As there is no love between US
nor has there ever been. the step I
am about to propose will not be a
hardship to you to take. I sincerely
nope you will view 1t in this light and
accede to It,"
He knew she must be listening in
tently and believed she meant to hear
all he had to say on the subject ere
she acquainted him with her ultima
tum regarding 1t.
With returning memory I find my
self man of wealth-much wealth.
Before any court, should you agree
20 an annulment of the marriage
You would be allowed a sum which
would make you independent for life.
L intend to do better than that bv
you. Give me my freedom and you
shall have one-hslf of my fortune:
that will still leave me a man OF
great wealth. You will surely see
tnat this Is a. most magnanimous
offer and that am anxious to deal
fairly by you"
He was nonplussed at her attitude:
her silence disquieted him. IT throw
myself on your mercy. Jil-Bett. to do
n the ri, right thing by me. Put yourself
love each other--fondly; all the ar
rangements were completed for the
marriage. I had even bought a beau.
tiful home to which I was to take INV
were made for our honeymoon trip.
Think OF the distress when / sud
denly disappeared. No matter what
they may have said of me, she would
never believe them. She is the kind
OF girl who would wait for me-aII
turned her great love a thousandfold:
she was the light of my life. INV
sweet Clairena! Oh. I cannot fully
describe to YOU what" my darling is
ltke-sure1y the most wonderful OF
all the worlds rosebud garden Of
girls: Her eyes are like violets, deep
purple, and her hair is as gold as the
sunshine. Her. hands are small,
white and dimpled. with palms as
PINK as a lovely seashell
Clairena is as proud as she is beau
tful; that Is why my seeming de-
sertion must have cut her to the
hearts core. Were I to have re-
mained away all my life, she would
never we'd another-she would be
ever be permitted to lead her to the
altar, and call her by the sacred
name of wife -.
This very knowledge of her char
aeteI; a, and the realization that it
renew my pleading to you to set me
free, for her sweet sake. If not for
my own. II you refuse, you will
wreck two lives, both Clairena's. and
mine. I will plead to you, for her
sake, on my knees, IL 1t be necessary"
him. Did she still intend to hold him
by calling chains which refused to
break, no matter how much pressure
was brought to bear? He had used
every argument that was to be
word he could think of to say other
than: This is our last night on
shipboard. God! What shall I do il
my darling is awaiting me? have
sent them a message by. wireless
decide, here and now, you see"
Jn-Bett looked out over the waters
with eyes that did not see the won
drous beauty Of the night She was
inwardly praying God ITO givo her
strength not to fall dead at his feet,
as she listened to his pleadinrs. How
ne must love this beautiful Clairena.
who would remain single all her life
unless she wed him. She was as fair
as the morning, he had said: more
1GaTtirui whoIa war1d than = NJ. any other girl the
She wondered DULY why fate had
been SO cruel TO her, as to nut one n,
her path who idolized another? WHY
had she learned to love him SO, he
whose every heartbeat was for the
girl from whom she had Separated
hlm-though' so innocently and un-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS not of her
own voiition? =
She looked up at the stars burning
iH ShC piuc dDoNe hGr. The large
beautiful one that she had once told
Jack was the chink through which
she believed her young mother. whom
she had lost in her infancy, was look
ing down upon her.
NO one could have guessed from the
calm demeanor and marble-whit face
mot muscle of which twitchedS
the terrible, battle. that was raging
In her soul. Which was the riEht
thing. which the wrong thing to do?
He was bound to her while they. two
sho uld. live by the most sacred of slI
bonds-the marriage tie, and she