One Day

her stateroom, and laying her hand upon his arm, looked up into

away, Paul, and neve

od to me if I d

moment. "How?" sh

w moments under the sta

good-night here and

ast night, you know. To-morrow we shall part-perhaps forever-who kno

ng, her heart flut

rhaps!"

h a smile, then added, te

dare anythi

n co

s. But," and she gave him a tantalizing glance

ppointed, but he felt s

e deck in an agony of impatience. He had felt so certain that he knew

I'm here,

re, Opal and

behind her back and looked at him defiant

haughty!"

not; I

th

-not

m, t

she stamped her tin

ild," he said. "What have yo

angry! If I were only a bit sor

etail of her appearance, his eyes full of admiration. The

hand on his arm. Paul insta

his face, almost wistfully. "A girl wh

the most innocent surprise. "Merely keepin

hat .

...

h conscious of the trend of the other's thoughts-the beating of the other's heart. The deck was de

nteresting

!-holding

m him. "I forgot yo

et ag

always interesting?...

, I suppose! I was enjoyi

her ha

lously sweet silenc

omise me, Pa

l-what

to think hard of me, however rashly I may act! I'm not accountab

e boisterous and unruly enough. You ma

cated him. He laughed a soft, caressing little lover-laugh, and raising her face to his, kissed her lips easily, natu

her lip, and choked b

? Say i

! There! l

ed again softly, till she whispered,

rse you

nted her finger at him accusin

you wouldn't!

dn't

o-what you

" insin

you ask th

Quite like old

folk? They

't t

. other people's h

that

rel

Laura had been

written sonnet

! no

s, Opal! Let's play we're ma

you any consc

t a question! Of

y aren't usin

busy! K

very

eas

ainly

et me k

o!

n't you like

d her, and his lips found

, "Sill

hy

something he doesn't really want, and

ew what he really wanted-always-and was not sorry when he had it. Not he! He w

o, Paul! I don't

little while!" H

e certainly didn't belong to herself! Whatever this madness that had suddenly taken possession of her, it was stronger than herself. She couldn't control

re you l

he answer stra

n on shipboard, and an affair at sea is always so-evanescent, that no one expects it to last more than a week. I don't want to make such a transitory impression upon you, Paul. I wanted you to remember me longer. I wanted-oh, I wanted to give you so

u think I c

et a kiss as soon as the

irl! Who taught you s

you a whole week

gain and the sentenc

on each side of his face a

shamed of you

ourse

urse y

I said 'Not'! But why?

n't I? But-I don't be

again, fiercely. "I

buried his face in her neck, kiss

e again found his voice. "Such a tiny, little girl! I am

ow-no longer merely passive-q

closer, closer! Crush this terrible a

im and felt her heart throbbing out its pain again

last, "Let me go now, Pau

she looked up into his eyes in an agony

ure you wa

but I'm quite sure that I o

ting the part of the man he meant to be, or of a cad-an unprincipled b

sh of indignation. "Why have you

er over y

f honesty? You make me do things we both know I'll be

ever to the eyes of the infatuated Boy who watched her. He was fighting despera

lish-wicked, perhaps-for a grande passion. I could forgive myself that, I think!

hoarse-heavy

an opportunity to tell you-in so many words-but you must have seen what

ar a word-not a word! Do yo

he laughed nervously at the

I hate a scene. But, really, Paul, you mustn't-simply mustn't! There are re

ke love to yo

... ju

y n

nt reasons that I might give if I chose, but-I don't choose!

al air of hers that made one

u going

out here for? I can't

ht, of course! And y

ing laugh in those inscrutable eyes. Then

o as you please with me, in spite of-everything-and

m, and their lips mel

rew away from

ust have gone to my brain!" She laughed merrily, pulled his face down to

they met for a br

h the Boy in her mos

her troubled face, bent over her, saying, "Ha

and asked with the utmo

rted. "Last night

ored, p

ool not to take-what he wanted-- But if you want to be-friends with me, you'll just

he placed hers in it for th

interrupted, and they sat down

docked in New York, when she waved her companion de

see the tears in her eyes,