The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-22


the gentle ripples of waves tapping lazily
along upon the soft white sand, Phil. could
hardly believe that so little time ago two
men had been done almost to their death.
He could scarcely stagger out into the wood
en- porch of the inn to breathe the cold sea-
scented air. And as for Joe, God only knew
what would befall him. He had been
brought back to life, bat not to conscious
ness. Polly had managed to get word to
the town physician, but the way was long,
and the saLd was heavy.
1t must have been about midnight Phil.
could not tell the exact time. His watch
was in his waistcoat, under Miss Mortimers
head in the bed of the landlady. Phil. had
told them not to awaken Miss Mortimer,
under any circumstances; he was so glad she
was asleep-and it would be impossible to
say how glad ne was. The latch of the door
He was afraid Miss Mortimer had, after all,
been awakened, But faltering, un-
certain step reached him, and the cold little
hand of Polly Barrett clutched his arm.
Any one but Phil. would never have known
her. The last remnant of her soft round
comeliness seemed swept away with the
storm. All her womanly crimps and "trip
peries were gone. She wore an ill-itting
gown of the landlady's. Her whole face was
of a wan gray pallor, like the waves under
the cold light of the stars
rs Joe better?' stammered Phil docs
be know"
HE knows everything, and perhaps he's
better. Oh, Phil Philip Polly depressed her
sobs and motioned Phil. to the door. He is
determined | shall try and get some sleep,
and that you shall watch with him for
awhile. AS If 1 could sleep! But go to him,
Phil; don't thwart him-go"
Phil. Went in to Joe. He will never forget
the low-ceiled room, the two wooden chairs,
the pine table, wherein a mop OF ragged
wick tiared from a saucer of oil; the bottle OF
liquor within reach, and the coarse green
glass; the grim old clock in the corner ticking
off the seconds, and Joe's CHASTITY face and
motiOnless form upon the camp cot in the
corner Joe tried TO stretch out his hand to
Phil, but it fell back heavily upon the patch
work quilt of the landlady.
''You did your best Phil" he said; "you
brought me ashore, but the trouble was done
out there something seized me, God knows
what-paralysis, cramps, palsy-who can
tell? Anyway, Pm done for, old man.
can't move a muscle below. It's a mere
question of time, Phil and we can't afford
to lose any,"
Il hope you're wrong, Joe; We'll know
better when the doctor comes. You were
right not to tell Polly But she must come
to you, joe"
Phil. would have gone at once for Polly,
but something in Joe's face held him back.
Hold on a bit, Phil, L didn't send for
you and drive Polly away to tell you some
thing that you'll both know soon enough.
There's burden on my conscience Phil; it's
been lying there like plummet OF lead all
these years. Listen to me- and don't inter-
rupt me it you can help it. Give me some
of that stuff from the bottle, and when l
grow weaker give me more"
Phil. lifted Joe's head and put the glass to
his lips; then he sat down upon the edge of
the cot, leaving his arm between Joe's neck
and the pillow Joe could feel Pills pulse
now, and the loyal heart of his friend beating
close to his own.
"Its twenty-five years, Phil" said Joe,
"since that night we drove down to the shore
here and had that talk together. You re-
member It, Philip
Eyes, joe"
"Ah! you've remembered it too we'll Phil;
I've tried hard enough, God knows to make
you forget The sun was shining over yonder
in the west, and sky and sea were ali aflame
Some t1eecy clouds dropped low over the
old shed where we had ordered some CLANS
[ remember when l Polly that night.
The dress she wore was like stab TO me; it
was of some soft floating material that re-
minded me of the woody clouds over the old
she'd You didn't eat the CLANS, Phil. You
dalled with the shells, and turned them over
with the queer old fork they had given you.
And all at once you put them aside, and
lighted a cigar, and turned your face to the
sea, and began to talk of women you secretly
loved. Now give me some wine, Phil"
Phil put the glass again to Joes lips.
Don't talk any more, joe" he said Let
me go for Polly"
Not yet" said Joe. you were a hand
some fellow. Phil, twenty five years ago As
you went on to talk of the woman YOU Sc
cretly loved, some sort of light shone upon
your face from the splendor in the west that
made it like that of an archangel. 1t seemed
to me that no woman could withstand you
My heart grew like lump of ice. My first
thought was TO walk out in the water and
Strangle myself; my next was worthy of
Judas Iscariot. 1t was to resolve to betray
you. | must have been tempted by the devil
for. as God is my Judge in this awful mo-
ment of my life, l never dreamed before that
night that you and l were in love with one
woman. [ got upon my feet and shouted
She is minel' glazing upon you with
logged and resolute stare. Have you, then,
asked her to marry your you said, and your
face still looked like an archangels while
mine must have. been infamed with the
passions that beset a man beyond his
strength. AS l repeated, She is my
promised wife the words seemed to
leap from a throat of fire; it was the
| first downright, hideous, malicious lie ever
uttered. for had not yet asked her-I had
not yet asked her. but when l did ask her,
upon that very night, the next lie slipped
easily from my perjured throat, though it
was worse one by far. For | told Polly
Phil told her before l asked her to marry
me-that you had confessed to me your love
for her friend, the poor little girl that after
ward became our bridesmaid. Whether it
was my guilty conscience, that makes hell
enough for any man, fanced | saw some
thing in Polly's eyes that told me- had it not
been for my treachery, your chance would
have been better than mine. Now take your
arm away from my neck, Phil. and curse me
if you will-my story is done"
The pulse at Joe's ear leaDed and tugged as
if ii would burst artery but Phil g vOice
had the old tender ring.
You might have spared yourself all this"
he said. Il think Polly has proved who it
was that she loved"
"Ah, after that night Phil, yes. Polly is
not the kind OF woman to make the misery