Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1905 — Kelway and the Customs [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kelway and the Customs

By Sherwood Boyd

“No,” said Miss Clovis, “I do not think that this trip holds for me any especial souvenir. "Nothing to remember, to recall, in after years as one of the patches of sunlight on life’s checkered road?' “Nothing,” she said decidedly. “Three days of wretched seasickness and four days of storm tossed waters and seven days with an unhealthy mind.” “Do you care so much?” be asked softly. “I had hoped you had forgiven and forgotten.” ’•Really, Mr. Kelway," she said, “I am surprised that you should imagine for.a moment that the Incidents of last month still linger in my mind.” “Marjorie,” lie began softly. “Miss Clovis, if you please,” she cor rected. “I said Marjorie,” he repeated. “Miss Clovis does not please me just at pres “Th^u"Miss' ( withdraw her undesirable presence,” she began. Kelway held her hand in an iron gulp. “It has taken me the entire trip to get you alone,” he said. “I am going to

hold you prisoner until you listen to an explanation.” "If you propose to use brute force 1 shall not make a scene,” she said coldly, "but I have assured you a dozen times that I have no desire to reopen a dead issue.” “It is not a dead Issue to me,” he pleaded. “It is my very life.” “Who was it said that life was made up of trifles?” she asked. “I don’t know and don’t care,” be said ungraciously. “The only thing I can think of at this present moment is that tomorrow morning we shall be on land and that unless I can make you see matters from my point of view I shall lose you forever.” “One cannot lose what one does not possess,” she suggested. “But I did possess your love,” he said eagerly. “You did not tell me so in words, but there were little things—that night on Ben Nevis, for Instance.” The girl trembled. Even against the light gemmed shore of Staten Island she could see those misty heights; she could remember how she clung sobbing to Kelway, fearful of the danger. He laid his hand upon hers. She shook it off, and there came the remembrance of another scene, a crowded railway station and Kelway, who had just left her, kissing a most attractive young woman as the train went on. This was the man she had given her heart to, a mm who kissed others when they were as good as engaged. “I wish,” she said petulantly, “that you would not refer to that most unpleasant experience.” “I did not think it unpleasant. I am willing to be lost again—with you.” “Possibly your companion of the railway station might object,” she sneered. “Have I not told you that the girl kissed me by mistake?” he asked. “A very reasonable explanation,” she commented. “A man never does get credit when he tells the truth to a woman,” commented Kelway. “Now, if I had said she was a cousin or something of that sogt, would you have believed me?” “Certainly not,” was the prompt reply. "It is immaterial whether I believe yqu or not.” “It is not immaterial,” he declared. “I may have loved you,” she said, “but whatever affection I felt for you Is dead. I have put you out of my mind and heart. I have done with you forever, and if you were kind you would take yourself out of my life.” “Is that your wish?” he asked very softly. "Is there no hope?” "None at all,” was the decisive reply. “I never want to see you again.” For one brief instant his hand crushed hers as it lay upon the rail. Then he had raised his cap and was gone. The light blinked and fluttered in an odd fashion. It might have been Imagined that Miss Clovis was viewing them through tear dimmed eyes had she not savagely repeated: “I’m glad he’s gone. I'm glad he’s gone." The customs officers Invaded the cabin Immediately after breakfast the •ext morning, and as the Wanderer

steamed slowly up the bay the passengers made out their declarations. Kelway had nothing to declare and stood on the deck watching the shipping, and not even when Mias Clovis passed did be take bis eyes from the water. And, strange to say, Miss Clovis resented this literal compliance witli her request. She went to her stateroom, and Kelway did not see her again until she came to her trunks under the C’s. He was sitting upon bls own steamer trunk under the K’s waiting for an inspector, and by the arrangement of the letters he was right beside Miss Clovis. It was a very rude thing to do, but he watched as the inspector, suffering from an intermittent burst of official energy, dug down to the very bottom of her trunk. On the top of the tray was a framed picture of himself, with a bit of heather inside the Miss Clovis sprang to the tray, ijut Kelway had seen. He came forward. “I am going back on the steamer tomorrow," he said to her. “Why?” she asktjd as the blushes spread over her face. "Since you do care after all I am going to get a sworn statement from that girl, the picture of the brother of hers she mistook me for, and his declaration that he was expected to arrive on the train by which I traveled." TfTs not necessary,” she said softly. "I found out after you left me last night that it was all right.” “Who could have told you?” he cried wonder! ngly. Not even the customs officer heard the whispered “My heart,” but Kelway was content. “To think that I should not have spoken if that meddling customs inspector had not shown me that you still loved me,” he cried wonderlngly. “Unless I bad seen that frame I should have had no hope.” The inspector still wonders why that ten dollar bill was tnrust into his hand.

MISS CLOVIS SPRANG TO THE TRAY, BUT KELWAY HAD SEEN.