ked across an intervening
stretch of about three feet of water and saw a glow of something
lighter than the murk. The package! Quick as thought he stepped over
to the rock and then almost stumbled over a figure in a white ball gown
lying, as seemed at first impression, prone. A sickening horror passed
through Jack as he bent down. It was Anne Wellington.

She lay half on her side, resting on her elbow, her skirts twining
bedraggled about her ankles. With one hand she was mechanically
lifting water to an ugly bruise upon her forehead. As Jack appeared at
her side she smiled at him dazedly.

"There," she said, lifting her hand feebly and pointing toward a
water-soaked package at her side. "I--I wanted to show you I was not
a--traitor." She closed her eyes wearily. "I'm not, really, you
know." As she opened her eyes, smiling wanly, Jack with a hurt cry
threw himself at her side, took her in his arms, her head resting
against his shoulder.

"Anne!"

"I could n't let you think--that," she said. "It would have been all
right. I bungled horribly with my feet and slipped and fell." Tears
were starting from Jack's eyes and she saw them. "No! No! I'm all
right," she said, "just a bit dizzy. I am sorry. I was
going--to--bring--it back to you--so nicely and prove I was not an
expatriate." She shivered slightly and Jack drew her close.

"Don't!" he said.

For a while she lay silent while the dawn whitened and gleams of steel
flashed over the waters. She was smiling now, contentedly.

"I looked all about for you after that--that dreadful scene. I
couldn't find you anywhere. I was afraid--" she paused.

As Jack did not reply she looked suddenly up into his face.

"Then you can't forgive me?"

"Forgive you!"

"Sara told me all," she said. "She showed me how utterly outrageous I
had been."

"Sara!" Jack inwardly breathed a prayer of gratitude to that young
woman.

"Yes, she told me. But it was all so exciting, so sudden. How could I
have known?" She raised her head and looked at him, her eyes all
smiles and all love. "Of course it was so clear after Sara explained."

And even, in his ecstasy Jack found himself formulating a stern
determination to demand at the first moment from Sara just what her
explanation had been. Yet at the same time he would willingly have
fallen at her feet and worshipped her.

Anne was still looking at him. Then slowly she released herself from
his arms and aros