Page 110 of The Irish Gypsy

She watched him talking and laughing. Howhandsome he was! Patrick was at his best when he was in control,directing everyone about him like some young god.

Kitty said very quietly, "I'm not going."

He stopped laughing and turned to look ather. "Not going?" he questioned her.

She sighed deeply, reaching for words thatwould make her explanation less painful for him. "A trip across theAtlantic would kill me right now," she said sadly.

He looked closely at the small, black-cladfigure before him. Her cheekbones stood out so prominently, theylooked like they might pierce the skin. Her wrists were sofine-boned they were skeletal. He knew her words told the truth. Hewas at a loss for the first time in his life.

"I'm going home," she said simply.

He knew he could rave and shout until he wasblue in the face. It would alter nothing! Her mind was made up. Hecrumpled the telegram into his pocket, bent down to place a kiss onhis daughter's brow and left quietly.

It took a week to pack the belongings shewanted shipped to Ireland. She put the huge house in the hands ofher bankers and asked them to sell it for her. Katie and Mimi bothagreed to accompany her to Windrush.

A small cavalcade stepped off the boat trainon an evening in July. A chilly breeze blew off the Irish Sea,making Kitty thankful she had worn her furs. She carried her babydaughter, while her son, grown out of babyhood, walked beside her.Two young women followed, each struggling with a heavy case. Kittytried to hail a porter to transport their luggage onto theovernight ferry, but before she had given him her instructions, twomen strode purposefully along the platform toward them. She lookedup startled as the tall figures loomed out of the darkness.

"Patrick!" she gasped.

He tipped his hat and swept her a mockingbow. He handed the cases to the man standing beside him. He tookthe baby from Kitty and placed her in Katie's arms; then he swungCharles Patrick to his shoulder and commanded, "Follow me!"

Kitty had to walk very quickly to keep upwith him, but her heart was beating wildly and singing at theintoxicating nearness of the man.

"Madame, there are some women who are willingto sacrifice everything and follow a man to the ends of the earth.Ah, but how many men do you know capable of such a grand gesture?None, you say? Ah, there you are wrong, madame! Permit me theluxury of the supreme gesture." He took his letter of appointmentand contracts from his pocket and tossed them into the wind.

"But, Patrick," she protested, "what do youintend to do?"

"Marry you, madame, before you elude meagain," he said with a wolfish grin.

They went up the gangplank of his ship, andhe swung his son to the deck. "It's time our children were in bed.We'll see to them together tonight," he said with relish.

The maids were soon settled in their cabinsand the children fed and put to bed. The anchor was lifted. Theywere going home!

Patrick picked up Kitty's furs and wrappedthem about her closely. Then he took her hand and led her out ondeck. "This has to be done by moonlight," he explained. He took herinto his arms and bent to claim her lips, shuddering with his greatlonging. "Kitty, will you marry me?" he asked humbly.

Soft and tender-eyed and sighing, sheanswered, "Yes, my darling. When?"

"Now! The captain awaits us in the cabinbelow."

When they were finally alone, getting readyfor bed, she was still breathless. He had again swept her off herfeet, giving her little time to decide her fate. He could not getenough of looking at her. When she was ready for bed, he stoopedand caught her in his arms, lifting her against his heart. Ecstasythrilled within her. At long last she had her heart's desire. Underthe covers he came close against her back and gathered her in hisembrace.

"Patrick, what will you do now that you havethrown your career away?"

He nibbled the silky flesh of her shoulder."I don't know. And I don't care. Right now all I care about isyou." The faint, sweet perfume of her hair stole to him. "What haveyou decided to name our daughter?" he asked, trying to control hismounting desire.

"I'm going to call her Pagan! PaganO'Reilly!"

"Good God, kitten, a name like that is justasking for trouble."

She slipped around in his arms to face him."I do always ask for trouble, don't I?" She kissed him seductively."And you always manage to give it to me."

THE END