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Show YD E, KII 8TR r ETC. lr, Kl( orever I t. or t.J foreheif the Crowing the eye, lind SWOllli r unrd ! tl troubl you i T, you t it. ii 13.50 j j ut I to you line lilJ ,uck Bii end It s. As y m rtaa i i. i In AtlU If nnllfn lun. mie anuiura iv cuuinio niiii nnu own ldals. She tier hli mind to that leadsvmmhora to believe ...ijnrn um .iiinn it h iiupnni'K nr and that he was cant aahore A CIHiU. iBinimw wii mull T. peciflHsed product of a leading .rliy. Her writing on the sex wide attention. The snn of iiimiuiuea 10 put ner tneo-T.i-o viif and iney an-mcere- no With other .. practice. - (...linli. MH W1I1 liaiinaiiunoi inr ku ann; tr, A few days on his yacht re. u her that he only profonsed lofty While drunk he at- to DomeHS her. n prob-,itract- e V b to klRi Her. tine Knocks him down .ives him unconacloua. escaDlns In Lkneas in a gaaollne launch. During n me ie cam asnore on an inland. ei, but ueringiwer on jrearr teaclilnv aivei the man a 4 education. Their love for each it revealed when he reacuea her i cave where she had been Imprla- an earthquake. A ship Is eighted r uir it a Deacon to aummun il kd. on hla yacht, lights the beacon nlers his yacht put In. etter aJ tend I nd curat met. CHAPTER XIV workln? bat a Continued. ause " hesitated. s horn hit Lt you avlng the i origld case q rk Tri afraid to tell me?" she said. raid of what?" H losing you." . juiou tuat :t 'tis not blessed! the t was i a for ei mr a under! ime, b nch fol d she lot oil P. Bed ader, frank, marry mi old flds a solitary inhabitant, a Ani'i. sclpe cd i . 8YN0PSIS. b and Brady y a week' id y icar. that that keeps me hat then?" have the world's comment hat I say when I say lt.H What Is pe world's comment! vorld's comment to me?" test, a trial of your feelings! If r?aks my heart, you must know." you feel that way about It," said nan resolutely, "you need tell me dj at all." was a brave thing to say, for her erious words filled him with du- and dismay. He had no idea It was that she could tell him. id no experience by and through to embody her vague hints Into thing real and tangible. He knew was terribly grieved, and but he had no way to describe the of jealousy, he would have said lie was racking with that unhappy would like a it audi lion. ell me nothing," he repeated k "if it grieves you." Ire you afraid of the test?" she M, swiftly. am afraid of nothing, except los- - truth, I more "0U. lence. not worthy of you," returned oman, "as I told you, but if you still have me if you will take me b I have said what I must say, when the world has said what it say, then I shall be yours as long am thing. I cannq ) make i. The Into the thes to not aff selves. she foi live." is well," said the man. "I wait hip now eagerly that I may show that what I have said is true." vessel is nearer now," she it Thul at last, rising from where they lence q been seated together upon the a absorbed in each other, and h first period of her sojourn on the had come to pass. It was the ery 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 him in her own way had the 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 these thoughts, and when he would have approached her nearer, she flamed upon him in sudden anger that left blm appalled. But under the influence of it he kept his distance. She saw the way of the yacht checked. She saw the boat dropped from the davits and manned by the men. She saw a figure, too far off to recognize, but which she divined must be his, descend the battens from the gangway. She saw the little boat headed toward the shore. Then she turned to the man. He was standing with folded arms, his brow black as midnight, staring out to sea. He knew nothing, understood nothing, comprehended nothing, suspected nothing. His only realization was that she, his gentle goddess, whom he had loved, was angry with him, so far as he was concerned, without rhyme or reason or cause. The stoppage of the ship, the lower ing of the boat, its approach to the Island were now matters of indifference to him. She was angry. He could tnlnk of nothing else and there was bewilderment in his dismay. Nothing had given him power to solve the enigma of her conduct Where she gazed with serious intentness, he looked listlessly. Her heart smote her again. The sense of Justice upon which she prided herself came to her rescue. She stepped close to him and laid her hand upon his arm. "Forgive me!" she murmured and her heart leaped within her bosom to meet the great flush of pleasure In his face as he responded Instantly to her caress and her appeal. "You said you knew men," the man asked as they threaded their way through the trees and won the hill along the familiar path, "do you know anyone on that ship, do you think?" The question was an absurd one un der almost any other circumstances than that Yet chance had shown him the one point In her armor and his Innocent and casual C estlon had driven into her soul a stab. Evasion ting seaward. should have been easy. Indeed, bis es. Pes," he answered, "I can even trust in her was so great that deceit led you the figures upon the deck." would have been simple. Dut she had li'our brother men." s." always told him the truth and she Vlll there be some women on the ?kton. could not begin now. lace to "Yes," she said, "I think I do." e uspdA do not know," she answered, He stopped abruptly, illumination "It isn't likely. Do you wish and anguish, f rosesM'-ly- . the light of pain in his e other women? " ' soul.. None," was the instant answer. "I . "Was It because you know that man veiled if ered if my brothers would bring that you suffered so on the hill?" seems sisters. That was all." 'Yes," she said, again forcing her aere was absolutely no dlssimula- jch." self to speak. about the man. There had been "Ie he one of those who loved you?" coquetry about her. He would "He said so. but" ?ly have failed entirely to underyou, did you love him?" fulness i what it was. He was as honest, "And him." "I hate Jrlnk. stmstraightforward, as absolute asked the man sternly. "Why?" ty and sincerity must ever be, he Injured you in some way?" "Had es wltlJ she had met him exactly on his "In the greatest way," she answered erfulne ground. It was Impossible, therewith deepening gravity. And here her ckgrounl for her to his misapprehend sense of justice pricked her. "But it that e casual interest was partly my fault." ;s brlgt i stood quietly studying the "And have you forgiven him?" he vessel. As she did so, it is practt e to her mind that there was some-- asked with a little softening of his id was q strangely familiar about the on- - voice. him nervou To forgiveness was as natural lug ship. She stared longer, and as breathing. In his inevitable )n. and conviction grew upon her. When did not realized it she clasped her hand ethics there was no other course. He about per heart with a sudden gasp and bad never had anything to forgive, be ule. I u! She was not so true red a white face upon him. He it remembered. Ich wou as the man she had to standards her all solicitude in an Instant. spell It '"hat is the matter?" he cried. taught. The pupil was more d 3 voted nld sit ir face Is white: you look so than the master. "There are some things," she re- Kely." y trout piled bitterly, "that a woman cannot Is a sudden pain," she gasped, ded to and dismay constricting her forgive, never forgives." "What things?" he persisted, won t. . made wavered. He thought she was dering ignorantly as to her meaning. i sooth "Don't ask me," she answered, im to fall. He stepped closer to iked tb "I told you I would tell you nd put his arm about her. patiently. ;d on and you will have to the story no!" she said, repulsing. s. was the first command she had wait until then. "But that comment of the world?" him in those bygone days when yes wo "You will hear it from that man's d stood dumbly before her. vas fou no!" she pushed him away. "I lips, If 1 mistake not," said the womwork ) be all right." an, wearily, "but you must press me tfow I 'd has the approach of men de-- no further. See, they are close to the take i me of the privilege of touch- reef. We must hasten." the otl m?" he asked, wistfully. "What- She drew her hand away from his that jy ran rapidly to the beach. Nat matter?" and ?tter, n't aBk me now," she answered. urally he followed, overtaking her in am less -- cannot a few swift steps and running as was uxplaln." enjoyl'j If he had vessel was nearer now and as his wont by ber side. In the to luxury of tared to Indulge a and It came stop stopped 9 t0 H he would have found broadside to the reef. There o Wellvi mistaking it. It was the South- - his feelings In such a turmoil of such f08g. She knew it as well as she strange emotions as would have defied i." her own face. The thing which classification and description. Of but letter o tin"' id dreuded so when she fled two things was he very clear; that he ( Cull 'hat vessel in the launch, which loved this womtif , and that in some A dreaded for a time in the way, for causes unfathomable and sot ;re $25 Ip 13 -- present to him, he hated the man or asked, an angry flush in bis face. the men In the boat off shore. "I don't know for certain," the By the woman's directions Just be- woman answered, "but I think his fore they reached the shore, the man name Picked up two fallen branches of "What has my name to do with it?" palm. They ran to the beach opposite the interrupted the man persistently. entrance and waved the palm branches "Will you answer my questions?" above their heads. It was too far for 'When I know who you are and by the voice to carry and there was too what right you put them, I will demuch noise from the breakers on the cide," was Langford's contemptuous reef if the dlstanPA hail hnnn hirt answer. But the men in the boat evidently The woman had never seen her comcaught sight of the signals and under- - panion in a temper, but he was perilsiooa mem, ror she was presently ously near the breaking point now, and about and In a few momenta thav aavr Langford, although he realized It not, her prow cut the blue waters of the had never been and would never be lagoon through the one entrance to the in so much danger 'as at that Instant barrier. The man and woman stood A swift glance showed her the man silently, a little apart, watching the strung to the very outbreaking point. swift approach. Unerringly steered, The woman laid her hand upon his the boat struck the gently shelving arm, a calming touch. beach bows on, and a last sturdy "In the world," she said, "people are pull drove her fairly out of the water. presented to one another." The man in the stern shppta rone. How she loathed Langford. She Stepped forward between the oarsmen thought for a moment that he bad and leaped out on the sand. only to say the word and her Island The present was in touch with the companion would tear him to pieces. past conventional faced the uncon She wondered how far after all she ventional, civilization and primitive had succeeded in Instilling Into his confronted one another. 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. suddenly acutely conscious of trivial "Mr. Langford, I believe this man's details and accurately responsible to name to be John Revell Charnock. I matters of no moment He stepped, believe him to be an American, a Virfor instance, near the 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 don't care what this man's 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 bad 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 disaposity 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." eppearance at least . "Oh, If you wish it" The glance that Langford gave the He turned without a word and led man was at once casual and Indiffer the way rapidly across the beach out ent His whole Interest was centered of 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 ber. 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 "Everything that concerns her concerns 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 bad no wish for vulgar brawling Langford turned and faced the man then. He turned to the woman. as these singular queries were put to "Katherlne," he said, "I have much him. to say to you. Can't you make this "Who is this man. Katharine?" he man hear reason?" is" . - 1 g ? 1 I In to-da- y , ', 1 - f I Stood 8ilsntly, t Llltlt Apart,' Watchlncj the 8wlft Approach. "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 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 to me whatever you" wish before this man," she said at last. "Why, 'tis Impossible." "Where have you lived," he cried, "that you don't know the meaning of 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 He!" 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 Ltngford, "Is it possible?" "It Is true," said the woman, finding voice at last -- and looking steadily from one to the other. Langford's 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 God's name?" be cried. Ever since I fled from "Nothing. the ship on tbat hateful night and landed on this Island, we have been friends, good friends. He was a cast away. He had forgotten his speech. 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 my self," answered the man. "And yes- "Woman, Shall I Throw Him Down terday, you might call it chance, but and Kill Him?" I call it God," said the man gravely, "discovered to us the love we bore was prepared for an attack, lie dealt each other and that Is all." a blow at the oncoming figure with all "Are you forgive the question," the force of his arm, and skill and said Langford, addressing the woman, training enabled him to put into it and there was agony In his voice, "as more than one would have fancied from the slightness of his figure. He you were when I left you?" "I am a different woman, thank struck the man fairly in the chest. God!," The blow apparently might have stag, "Different?" gered an ox, It had no effect whatever "Yes, but in the sense In which you upon the other. In an Instant Langmean the question, I am Just as I was, ford was caught as If In the grasp of a whirlwind. He was lifted from the save that I love this man." "But you had so right to love him earth and held high In the air. For or any one," burst forth Langford bit one tense moment unable to struggle, be hung upon uplifted arms. He heard terly. "And do you reproach me with a voice beneath him cry: that?" "Woman, shall I throw blm down, "Do I?" and kill him?" "Think of your wife." "Do him no hurt," said the woman, "She's dead," said the man hoarse "for what he has said, as he sees It, ly. ' "I have searched the world for is true." you. I have come back here to make amends, to own my fault to marry CHAPTER XVI. r'H you before God and man, to take you back, to do for you as long as I shall Confronted. live all that a man can do." words the At these appalling There was such genuine passion In strength seemd all at once to go out his voice and in his appeal that the of the man's arm. Heavily, but not most inimical and indifferent would with purposeful ungentleness, he have recognized it, but there was no slowly set Langford down upon his response to It in the woman's heart. feet on the sand. A greater love than his had come Into "You brute!" cried the other man, her soul. The whole current of her trembling with Impotent anger. being flowed to the man by her side. There was nothing that he could "No," she said. "Your words have do personally. If he had possessed a no appeal for me. They awaken no weapon he would have killed the isresponse in my heart I love this man, lander, but he was unarmed and helpnot you". less. Therefore he turned toward the "Have you thought," cried Langford beach and called to his men. They meaningly, "that you are not free to had seen the sudden attack and were love any one but me?" already running across the sands. "By heaven!" cried the man spring"No," said the woman, "that word ing forward,, "this time I will be an belongs to you. You have told the love to is she not free swered. Why truth, and yet not all." She turned mo or any one?" to her companion of the Island. "Because," said the other resolutely, "Man," she said, "you have loved me. "before she came into your life she You must hear what I have to say." belonged to me." "You have said that It was true," "Belonged to you?" he muttered, hoarsely. "Aud the man "Yes. to me." who has said It lives. Lives!" "And by what tie?" His voice rose to a cry. He turned Langford hesitated. He was furi toward Langford again. But by this ously wrought up. He saw that it was time the six blue Jackets who made a a make to break, rupture necessary the gig's crew were close at hand. between these two. He thought that up cried Langford to the cox"Haley," If he could do so, bis own suit might "seize that brute yonder, swain, In He was deadly the better prosper. earnest and therefore he took the risk. and" woman was still wearing the The How frightful It was, he had no preshe knife that carried. She habitually conception. He did not understand used It often and the blade bright kept a with was he that primitive dealing keen edge. She whipped it out man. How should he? He did not and of her civilization falling understand what passions slept be- on the Instant, discarded a like from her garment neath the surface. And perhaps If he had understood, to do him Justice, for when the man she loved was threathe was a fearless man, be would have ened. "Let no one lay hand upon him," ventured Just the same. "She was my mistress!" he said she cried, aflame to defend him. "I swear that I will drive It Into my own through his teeth. "Shame! Shame!" cried the woman, heart If he be touched." and thed fell silent, clasping her hands "Give me the knife," said her comand waiting for what might come. The panion, suddenly. hour of her travail was upon her. Before she could prevent him, he Langford flashed a look at her and whipped it out of her hand. then his gaze reverted to the man. The "And now," he said, springing toexpected outbreak did not instantly ward the huddled group of sailors, ths come. bright blade lifted, "which of you "Mistress!" said the other. "I know will touch me?" not what that means, but 'tis a word The men shrank back. There was of bitterness. Say further and more so furious In the aspect of something Intent." clearly your his the man, power was so evldont "Why, you fool!" "He that calleth his brother a fool and his temper as well that noue wished to precipitate the fray. shall be damned," said the man. him. stared at (TO BE CONTINUED.) Langford .,.' |
