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Show im By Cyrus Townsend y y Brady ILLUSTmmftiPY'fafvtfit tQfYMwmnr wccwwwm com,chi m crcat bjutaih SYNOPSIS. A youn? woman cast ashore on a lonely island, finds a solitary inhabitant, a young white man, dressed like a savage and unable to speak in any known language. She decides to educate him and She mold his mind to her own ideals. finds evidence that leads her to believe of Charnock Kevell man is John the that Virginia, and that be was cast ashorea was when a child. Katharine Brenton highly specialized product of a leading Her writings on the sex probuniversity. lem attracted wide attention. The son of becomes infatuated a with her and they decide to put her theories into practice. With no other ceremony than a handshake, they go away together. A few days on his yacht reveals to her that he only professed lofty Ideals to possess her. While drunk he attempts to kiss her. She knocks him down and leaves him unconscious, escaping In the darkness in a gasoline launch. During a storm she is cast ashore on an island. Three years teaching gives the man a splendid education. Their love for each other is revealed when he rescues her from a cave where she had been imprisoned by an earthquake. A ship is sighted and they light a beacon to summon it. Langford, on his yacht, sights the beacon and orders his yacht put in. N i i I first period of her sojourn on the island, had come to pass. It was the very yacht from which she had escaped. Undoubtedly it bore the man from whom she had fled. He had come to claim her. Of all the teeming millions which the world held, this was he whom she would fain have avoided. Rather anyone and every one had come to her than he! What would happen when these men met? The story that she would have told in her own way had the him ship not appeared, the story that she would have told him on her decks, had that ship been other than it was, he must now learn by the brutal force of circumstances, through some compelling necessity which she could not in any way influence or alter. She loathed the man who was coming to aid her. Her Christianity trembled in the balance. She would fain have called invectives down upon his head, and for the moment she swept the whole sex together In one unreasoning hatred and resentment in which the man of the island participated. What sorry jest had blind fate played upon to-da- y her? She moved farther away from her companion under the constraint of CHAPTER XIV Continued. these thoughts, and when he would have approached her nearer, she Recause flamed upon him in sudden anger that She hesitated. left him appalled. But under the inAre you afraid to tell me?" fluence of it he kept his distance. She Yes, she said. saw the way of the yacht checked. She Afraid of what? saw the boat dropped from the davits Of losing you. and manned by the men. She saw a Banish that fear. figure, too far off to recognize, but But tis not that that keeps me which she divined must be his, deBilent. scend the battens from the gangway. What then? She saw the little boat headed toward I would have the world's comment the shore. Then she turned to the on what I say when I say It. man. He was standing with folded What is arms, his brow black as midnight, The worlds comment! the world's comment to me? staring out to sea. He knew nothing A test, a trial of your feelings! If understood comprehended nothing, It breaks my heart, you must know. nothing, suspected nothing. His only If you feel that way about it," said realization was that she, his gentle the man resolutely, you need tell me goddess, whom he had loved, was nothing at all. angry with him, so far as he was conIt was a brave thing to say, for her cerned, without rhyme or reason . or mysterious words filled him with du- cause. biety and dismay. He had no idea The stoppage of the ship, the lowerwhat It was that she could tell him. ing of the boat, its approach to the He had no experience by and through island were now matters of indifferwhich to embody her vague hints into ence to him. She was angry. He something real and tangible. He knew could think of nothing else and there that he was terribly grieved, and but was bewilderment In his dismay. that he had no way to describe the Nothing had given him power to solve pain of jealousy, he would have said the enigma of her conduct. Where she that he was racking with that unhappy gazed with serious intentness, he emotion. looked listlessly. Her heart smote Tell me nothing, he repeated her again. The sense of justice upon which she prided herself came to her again, if It grieves you. Are you afraid of the test? she rescue. She stepped close to him and laid her hand upon his arm. asked, swiftly. I am afraid of nothing, except losForgive me! she murmured and ing you. her heart lea;.cJ v, ithin her bosom to I am not worthy of you, returned meet the great flush of pleasure In his the woman, as I told you, but If you face as ho ie. nouued instantly to her will still have me if you will take me Cuit-- a a iiu her a pt..l. when I have said what I must say, You said you knew men, the man and when the world has said what it asked as they threaded their way will say, then I shall be yours as long through the trees and won the hill as I live. along the familiar path, do you know I wait "It is well, said the man. anyone on that ship, do you think? the ship now eagerly that I may show The question was an absurd one unyou that what I have said is true. der almost any other circumstances "The vessel is nearer now, she than that. Yet chance had shown him said at last, rising from where they the one point in her armor and his had been seated together upon the innocent and casual question had grass absorbed in each other, and driven into her soul a stab. Evasion seaward. pointing should have been easy. Indeed, his "Yes," he answered, "I can even trust in her was so great that deceit see the figures upon the deck. would have been simple. But she had Your brother men. always told him the truth and she Will there be some women on the could not begin now. ship? Yes, she said, I think I do. "I do not know, she answered, He stopped abruptly, illumination It isnt likely. Do you wish and quickly. anguish, the light of pain In his to see other women? soul.. I None, was the instant answer. Was it because you know that man wondered if my brothers would bring that you suffered so on the hill? was all. you sisters. That Yes, she said, again forcing herThere was absolutely no dissimula- self to speak. tion about the man. There had been one of those who loved you? he Ie no coquetry about her. He would He said so, but eimply have failed entirely to underAnd you, did you love him? stand what it was. He was as honest, I hate him. as straightforward, as absolute simWhy? asked the man sternly. plicity and sincerity must ever be, Had he injured you In some way? him met had on she his and exactly In the greatest way, she answered own ground. It was impossible, therehis with deepening gravity. And here her fore, for her to misapprehend sense of justice pricked her. But it mere casual interest. She stood quietly studying the ap- was partly my fault. And have you forgiven him? he proaching vessel. As she did so, it came to her mind that there was some- asked with a little softening of his thing strangely familiar about the on- voice. To him forgiveness was as natural coming ship. She stared longer, and In his the conviction grew upon her. When and Inevitable as breathing. she realized it she clasped her hand ethics there was no other course. He to her heart with a sudden gasp and had never had anything to forgive, be She was not so true turned a white face upon him. He it remembered. to her standards as theman she had was all solicitude in an instant. What is the matter? he cried. taught. The pupil was more devoted Your face is white; you look so than the master. There are some things, she restrangely. It is a sudden pain, she gasped, plied bilteily, that a woman cannot terror and dismay constricting her forgive, never forgives." What things? he persisted, wonthroat. She wavered. He Ihought she was dering ignorantly as to her meaning. Dont ask me, she answered, Imgoing to fall. He stepped closer to her and put his arm about her. patiently. "1 told you 1 would tell you and you will have to the story No, no! she said, repulsing. It was the first (ommand she had wait until then. "But that comment of the world? given him in those bygone days when You will hear it from that mans he had stood dumbly before her. I lips, if 1 mistake not, said the womNo, no! she pushed him away. shall be all right." an, wearily, "but you must press me And has the approach of men de- no further. See, they are close to the prived me of the privilege of touch- reef. We must hasten. What-l- s - She drew her hand away from his ing you? he asked, wistfully. the matter? and ran rapidly to the beach. NatDont ask me now, she answered. urally he followed, overtaking her in I I cannot explain. a few swift steps and running as was If he had The vessel was nearer now and as his wont by her side. she stared it came to a stop and stopped to indulge in the luxury of he would have found swung broadside to the reef. There was no mistaking it. It was the South- his feelings in such a turmoil of such ern Cross. She knew it as well as she strange emotions as would have defied knew her own face. The thing which classification and description. Of but she had dreaded so when she fled two things was he very clear; that he from that vessel in the launch, which loved this woman, and that in some she had dreaded for a time in the way, for causes unfathomable and not asked, an angry flush in his face. I dont know for certain, the woman answered, but I think his name is "What has my name to do with it? interrupted the man persistently. Will you answer my questions? When I know who you are and by what right you put them, I will dewas Langford's contemptuous cide, answer. The woman had never seen her companion in a temper, but he was perilously near the breaking point now, and Langford, although he realized it not, had never been and would never be in so much danger as at that instant. A swift glance showed her the man strung to the very outbreaking point. The woman laid her hand upon his arm, a calming touch. "In the world, she said, people are presented to one another." How she loathed Langford. She thought for a moment that she had only to say the word and her island companion- - would tear him to pieces. She wondered how far after all she had succeeded in instilling Into his mind the restraints of civilization. She began to see dimly that such an CHAPTER XV. achievement was beyond the power of any single individual; that it had been Accusation and Admission. in the past and would always be in the Now that the great moment had future the result of the come for Langford had at last recog- and restraint of the many. Yet she nized the woman whom he sought in forced herself to speak evenly to the spite of her strange garb he became visitor. Mr. Langford, I believe this mans suddenly acutely conscious of trivial details and accurately responsible to name to be John Revell Charnock. I He stepped, believe him to be an American, a Virmatters of no moment. for instance, near thp bow of the boat, ginian. I found him here upon the told the coxswain that he might allow island. the men to land but that they must re"This matters nothing, said the ismain close to the beach and within lander, I dont care what this mans easy call and see that the boat was name is, or who he is. I want to know properly secured. Then he turned and why he distresses you. walked slowly singular how eager he "Sir, said Langford, wondering what had been for that moment and how was the best tone to take with this tardy he was in availing himself of singular being, pray let us withdraw it when it came toward the two who yonder to the shade of the trees where stood silently watching a little dis- we can be more private.' tance away. The men in the boat who had scramHe was dressed In a boating suit bled out upon the sands had been of white and wore a white yachting eager spectators and auditors of everycap. He was distinctly good looking. thing that had gone on. Their curiHis repentance, his anxiety, his disap- osity was greatly excited and their pointment had refined his face to a propinquity was evidently distasteful certain degree and he was not an un- to Langford. worthy specimen of humanity in ap"You are refusing to answer my The man looked at him questions, said the man. I will not pearance. with vivid curiosity and a sudden be put off further. , sense of dismay to find the new comer Man, said the woman, laying her so worthy of respect on the ground of hand upon his arm, it is my wish. appearance at least. Oh, if you wish it. The glance that Langford gae tbs He turned without a word and led man was at once casual and I!Jr'rJthe way rapidly across the beach out ent. His whole Interest was 0f earshot but not out of sight among upon the woman. He found himself the trees. trembling violently in spite of the Now, he said turning and facing superhuman efforts he put forth at the other two. control. It was only the most iron He noticed that the woman was constraint indeed that enabled him to ghastly white and that Langford was approach her at all. As he drew near scarcely less pale. to her, he took off his cap, bowed to Sir, said Langford firmly, I deher and strove to speak. cline to answer your question. I have Katharine, he said at last hoarse- business with this lady and with her ly, thank God that I have found you! alone. It does not concern you and I Woman, said the man by her side, beg you to withdraw for a moment stepping swiftly forward and confront- and give me free speech with her. ing Langford, who is this man? After that I may have some questions "His name, returned the woman to put to you. steadily, is Valentine Arthur LangEverything that concerns her conford. cerns me," said the man, sternly. What did you do to her, asked the What you have to say. to her must man with the bluntest possible direct- be said to me. Speak on. ness, that she weeps at the thought of For a moment Langford looked as if you; that she is filled with horror as he would have sprung upon the other, you approach; that she looks at you but he was so clearly no match for as she does now? I have never seen the wild stranger that discretion came that look upon her face since we have to his aid and kept him still. Besides been upon this island. he had no wish for vulgar brawling Langford turned and faced the man then. He turned to the woman. as these singular queries were put to "Katherine, he said, I have much him. to say to you. Cant you make this Who Is this man, Katharine? he man hear reason? present to him, he hated the man or the men in the boit off shore. By the woman's directions Just before they reached the shore, the man picked up two fallen branches of palm. They ran to the beach opposite the entrance and waved the palm branches above their heads. It was too far for the voice to carry and there was too much noise from the breakers on the reef if the distance had been shorter. But the men In the boat evidently caught sight of the signals and understood them, for she was presently about and in a few moments they saw her prow cut the blue waters of the lagoon through the one entrance to the barrier. The man and woman stood silently, a little apart, watching the swift approach. Unerringly steered, the boat struck the gently shelving beach bows on, and a last sturdy pull drove her fairly out of the water. The man in the stern sheets rose, stepped forward between the oarsmen and leaped out on the sand. The present was in touch with, the past, conventional faced the unconventional, civilization and primitive confronted one another. mJd ' ' 4 i and nodded her head. She realized that the thread of destiny was taken from her hands and forever. Mr. Langford, you will have to say Where have you lived, he cried, to me whatever you wish before this that you don't know the meaning of man, she said at last. Why, 'tis impossible, cried the words? I have lived nowhere but here and other. I have known no language but what It must be. And, interposed the man, you this woman has taught me. Yet she could easily have taught shall say nothing to her until you have you the meaning of that word, the answered my questions. There must be no violence, cried other responded with cruel, ruthless the woman, stepping between the two. meaning. I will take the lesson from you. No violence! You will have it then! For answer the man gently, but I will. with irresistible force, lifted her out of the way. She knew now where he She was my wife, but without the got the strength to tear down the blessing of God or the law of man. I rocky wall, and while she trembled, owned her, do you understand? I posshe thrilled. sessed her body and soul. Not soul, said the woman, but the Katharine, said Langford to do him justice he was not afraid what protest was lost. is this man to you? You lie! cried the man, swiftly I am nothing to her," answered leaping upon him. the man, except that I love her. No tiger ever sprang with such And you? said Langford, hotly, swiftness or such ferocity. Langford still addressing the woman. She loves me, again answered the other, and we were happy until you brought the world to our shores. Since then she has wept. Look at her , now. My God, exclaimed Langford, is it possible? It is true, said the woman, finding voice at last and looking steadily from one to the other. Langfords emotion now passed all bounds. He had trembled before; he shook now as if with the palsy. He reached out and caught the trunk of one of the trees to steady himself. What are you to this man, in Gods name? he cried. Nothing. Ever since I fled from the ship on that hateful night and landed on this island, we have been friends, good friends. He was a castHe had forgotten his speech. away. He had lived here since he was a child. I taught h'.m everything. To love you? queried Langford In hot and bitter jealousy. That was one thing I learned myAnd yesself, answered the man. terday, you might call it chance, but I call it God, said the man gravely, discovered to us the love we bore each other and that is all. Are you forgive the question, said Langford, addressing the woman, and there was agony in his voice, as you were when I left you? I am a different woman, thank God! Different? but in the sense in which you mean the question, I am just as I was, save that I love this man. But you had no right to love him or any one, burst forth Langford bitterly. me And do you reproach with that? Do I? Think of your wife. Shes dead, said the man hoarseI have searched the world for ly. you. I have come back here to make amends, to own my fault, to marry you before God and man, to take you back, to do for you as long as I shall live all that a man can do. There was such genuine passion in his voice and in his appeal that the most inimical and indifferent would have recognized it, but there was no response to it in the womans heart. A greater love than his had come into her soul. The whole current of her being flowed to the man by her side. Your words have No," she said. no appeal for me. They awaken no response in my heart. I love this man, Yes, not you. Have you thought, cried Langford meaningly, that you are not free to love any one but me? By heaven!" cried the man springthis time I will be aning forward, swered. Why is she not free to love me or any one? ."Because, said the other resolutely, before she came into your life she belonged to me. Belonged to you? Yes, to me. "And by what tie? He was furiLangford hesitated. ously wrought up. He saw that it was necessary to make a break, a rupture between these two. He thought that if he could do so, his own suit might the better prosper. He was in deadly earnest and therefore he took the risk. How frightful it was, he had no preconception. He did not understand that he was dealing with a primitive man. How should he? He did not understand what passions slept beneath the surface. And perhaps if he had understood, to do him justice, for he was a fearless man, he would have ventured just the same. he said She was my mistress! hrough his teeth. Shame! Shame! cried the woman and then fell silent, clasping her hands and waiting for what might come. The hour of her travail was upon her. Langford flashed a look at her and then his gaze reverted to the man. The expected outbreak did not instantly y I She has made me hear reason for three years, answered the man for her before she could speak, but her power ends in this hour. The woman looked at him piteously come. Lt r Stood Silently, a Little Apart, Watching the Swift Approach. I know Mistress! said the other. not what that means, but 'tis a word of bitterness. Say further and more clearly your intent. Why, you fool! He that calleth his brother a fool shall be damned, said- - the man. Langford stared at him. Woman, Shall I Throw Him and Kill Him? Down was prepared for an attack. He dealt a blow at the oncoming figure with all the force of his arm, and skill and training enabled him to put Into it more than one would have fancied from the slightness of his figure. He struck the man fairly in the chest. . The blow apparently might have, staggered an ox, It had no effect whatever upon the other. In an instant Langford was caught as If in the grasp of a whirlwind. He was lifted from the earth and held high in the air. For one tense moment, unable to struggle, he hung upon uplifted arms. He heard a voice beneath him cry: Woman, shall I throw him down and kill him? Do him no hurt, said the. woman, for what he has said, as he sees it, is true. CHAPTER XVI. Confronted. these appalling words the strength seemd all at once to go out of the mans arm. Heavily, but not with purposeful ungentleness, he slowly set Langford down upon his feet on the sand. You brute! cried the other man, At trembling with impotent anger. There was nothing that he could do personally. If he had possessed a weapon he would have killed the Islander, but he was unarmed and helpless. Therefore he turned toward the beach and called to his men. They had seen the sudden attack and were already running across the sands. No, said the woman, that word belongs to you. You have told the She turned truth, and yet not all. to her companion of the island. Man, she said, you have loved me. You must hear what I have to say. You have said that it was true, he muttered, hoarsely. Aud the man who has said it lives. Lies! His voice rose to a cry. He turned toward Langford again. But by thi3 time the six blue jackets who made up the gigs crew were close at hand. Haley, cried Langford to the coxseize that brute yonder, swain, and The woman was still wearing the knife that she habitually carried. She used it often and kept the blade bright and of keen edge. She whipped it out on the instant, her civilization falling iiom her like a discarded garment when the man she loved was threatened. Let no one lay hand upon him," she cried, aflame to defend him. I swear that I will drive it into my own heart if he be touched. "Give me the knife, said her companion, suddenly. Before she could prevent him, he whipped it out of her hand. And now, he said, springing toward the huddled group of sailors, the bright blade lifted, which of you will touch me? The men shrank back. There was something so furious in the aspect of the man, his power was so evident and his temper as well that none wished to precipitate the fray. ' (TO BE CONTINUED.) |