Page 72 (1/2)

Briefly she recounted her adventures, and when she had done he bowed

his head upon her bare shoulder and wept as only strong men, made weak,

weep

To Kathlyn it was terrible "Father, don't, don't! You hurt me! I

can't stand it!"

After a while he said: "What shall we do, Kit; what shall we do?"

"I will marry hie afterward"

"What!"

"If it will save you"

"Child, lethis false

heart as you do? The moment you married him would be my death warrant

No, no! If you weaken now I shall curse you, curse you, h I can die"

"Well, and so can I, father"

Silence After a cockatoo shrilled; a laugh cah the

, and later the tinkle ofon

the sareat ships

were going down the sapphire seas; children were at play, and the world

widewith the daily affairs of rilled

Was there ever a precious stone that lay not in the shadow of blood and

misery? Poor, poor, foolish father! As if jeere in beauty a