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of Karnak？ Here I can telephone you； not that I ever have anything to say
that you want to hear； but because I want to listen to your voice； and to
have you ask； 'Oh！ is that YOU？' as though you were glad it WAS me。
But Egypt！ Can I call up Egypt on the long…distance？ If you leave me
now； you'll leave me forever； for I'll drown myself in Lone Lake。〃
The day she sailed away he went to the steamer； and； separating her
from her friends and family； drew her to the side of the ship farther from
the wharf； and which for the moment； was deserted。 Directly below a pile…
driver； with rattling of chains and shrieks from her donkey…engine； was
smashing great logs； on the deck above； the ship's band was braying forth
fictitious gayety； and from every side they were assailed by the raucous
whistles of ferry…boats。 The surroundings were not conducive to sentiment；
but for the first time Polly Kirkland seemed a little uncertain； a little
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frightened； almost on the verge of tears； almost persuaded to surrender。
For the first time she laid her hand on Ainsley's arm； and the shock sent
the blood to his heart and held him breathless。 When the girl looked at
him there was something in her eyes that neither he nor any other man had
ever seen there。
〃The last thing I tell you；〃 she said； 〃the thing I want you to remember；
is this； that； though I do not careI WANT to care。
Ainsley caught at her hand and； to the delight of the crew of a passing
tug…boat； kissed it rapturously。 His face was radiant。 The fact of parting
from her had caused him real suffering； had marked his face with hard
lines。 Now； hope and happiness smoothed them away and his eyes shone
with his love for her。 He was trembling； laughing； jubilant。
〃And if you should！〃 he begged。 〃How soon will I know？ You will
cable；〃 he commanded。 〃You will cable 'Come；' and the same hour I'll
start toward you。 I'll go home now；〃 he cried； 〃and pack！〃
The girl drew away。 Already she regretted the admission she had
made。 In fairness and in kindness to him she tried to regain the position
she had abandoned。
〃But a change like that；〃 she pleaded； 〃might not come for years； may
never come！〃 To recover herself； to make the words she had uttered
seem less serious； she spoke quickly and lightly。
〃And how could I CABLE such a thing！〃 she protested。 〃It would be
far too sacred； too precious。 You should be able to FEEL that the change
has come。〃
〃I suppose I should；〃 assented Ainsley； doubtfully； 〃but it's a long way
across two oceans。 It would be safer if you'd promise to use the cable。
Just one word： 'Come。'〃
The girl shook her head and frowned。
〃If you can't feel that the woman you love loves you； even across the
world； you cannot love her very deeply。〃
〃I don't have to answer that！〃 said Ainsley。
〃I will send you a sign；〃 continued the girl； hastily； 〃a secret wireless
message。 It shall be a test。 If you love me you will read it at once。
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You will know the instant you see it that it comes from me。 No one else
will be able to read it； but if you love me； you will know that I love you。
Whether she spoke in metaphor or in fact； whether she was 〃playing
for time；〃 or whether in her heart she already intended to soon reward him
with a message of glad tidings； Ainsley could not decide。 And even as he
begged her to enlighten him the last whistle blew； and a determined officer
ordered him to the ship's side。
〃Just as in everything that is beautiful；〃 he whispered eagerly； 〃I
always see something of you； so now in everything wonderful I will read
your message。 But；〃 he persisted； 〃how shall I be SURE？〃
The last bag of mail had shot into the hold； the most reluctant of the
visitors were being hustled down the last remaining gangplank。 Ainsley's
state was desperate。
〃Will it be in symbol； or in cipher？〃 he demanded。 〃Must I read it in
the sky； or will you hide it in a letter； orwhere？ Help me！ Give me just
a hint！〃
The girl shook her head。
〃You will read itin your heart；〃 she said。
From the end of the wharf Ainsley watched the funnels of the ship
disappear in the haze of the lower bay。 His heart was sore and heavy； but
in it there was still room for righteous indignation。 〃Read it in my heart！〃
he protested。 〃How the devil can I read it in my heart？ I want to read it
PRINTED in a cablegram。〃
Because he had always understood that young men in love found
solace for their misery in solitude and in communion with nature； he at
once drove his car to Lone Lake。 But his misery was quite genuine； and
the emptiness of the brick house only served to increase his loneliness。
He had built the house for her； though she had never visited it； and was
associated with it only through the somewhat indefinite medium of the
telephone box。 But in New York they had been much together。 And
Ainsley quickly decided that in revisiting those places where he had been
happy in her company he would derive from the recollection some
melancholy consolation。 He accordingly raced back through the night to
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the city； nor did he halt until he was at the door of her house。 She had
left it only that morning； and though it was locked in darkness； it still
spoke of her。 At least it seemed to bring her nearer to him than when he
was listening to the frogs in the lake； and crushing his way through the
pines。
He was not hungry； but he went to a restaurant where； when he was
host； she had often been the honored guest； and he pretended they were at
supper together and without a chaperon。 Either the illusion； or the supper
cheered him； for he was encouraged to go on to his club。 There in the
library； with the aid of an atlas； he worked out where； after thirteen hours
of moving at the rate of twenty…two knots