Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-10-31

said, with white lips. ''for He alone
| can"
She looked up at him with swim
ming eyes. II am glad did not go.
Paul. Think. if Inhad gone. I should
have taken some ones place-some
one would have been left to save me. ~
Don't Helen" he said, agonizedly,
''you don't know what you are saying.
Is this to be the end of all our wait
ing?"
What would you have done. Paule'
she said, unheedingly, ''if had gone
in that boat?"
II should have tried to save myself,
for your sake-if it came to the worst
to keep afoat on the chance Of being
picked up"
Then that is what you will do now. :"
she said with lightened face.
Il don't think I undo stand you.
Helen"
Il mean you have duties-not here.
Your mother and sisters-what will
they say, what will they do? You
must think of them before you think
of me-"
He only kissed her upturned face.
Remember that saw all it meant
for you-that it was harder for you to
live than for me to die. Won't it be
enough for you that understand and
sympathize? How could l wrong your
mother and sisters so. and let you
throw away your life for mel who
am so unworthy?"
"Are you sure you quite realize,
Helen he asked, slowly, "what it is
you are asking me to do?"
And she answered him: Eyes"
THAT is enough. then. If it should
come to that, will do it."
The last scene drew near, and each
knew it, though neither spoke. Once
he lifted her hand absently, and looked
at it as though something were want
ing.
You never wore ring for me.
Helen?n
She glanced down. '.No; it didn't
need that"
Slowly he drew off an old-fashioned
signet ring that had belonged to his
father, and placed it on her finger.
she watching dreamily the while. with
her head on his shoulder.
1--WE will have it now," he said;
'that is our understanding" and then.
SO near to death, could find no words
to say. With all our capability of ex-
preston. it is sad at times how little
we can do. After all, our language,
perfect though it may be, is singularly
incomplete. We feel its narrowness,
and know how impossible it is to ex-
press all that we could wish. There is
nothing we say but what may be mis-
construed or misinterpreted, and, were
it not for that higher communion be-
for which lips are mute. perfect COM
prehension would be rarely possible.
He stared at her in a dazed way.
What is it you are asking mo to do?'
Il want you to promise me that, be-
fore the last. when it may become i'm
possible for us both to be saved, you
will leave me and take care of your
self"
Il can not promise that" he said.
Not to make me happy"
''1t is asking too much, Helen" and
he turned away from her pleading.
After all these years you are mine
now, even if only for an hour, and l
dare not leave you"
''And yet you must, you must I
want you to do what is right 1 don't
want you to choose the easy way be-
cause it is easiest. Doesn't its very
difficulty show you that the other is
right?"
You are asking too much, Helen.
Life would be unbearable afterward."
but don't think of that" she said,
''only whether it is right now"
Il can't think of any thing but you;
it's impossible. impossible!'
She broke down for few minutes,
crying silently On his shoulder. You
must not, Paul; oh, you must not! l /
am not worth it. This is the last
thing | can ever ask you, the last
thing you can do for me. Would you
make my death miserable-make me
die feeling that had killed you?"
God forbid, Helen. 1 would do |
any thing for your happiness"
Then know that you ought to try
1t is right-for their sakes; and
whatever people may say afterward if |
you are. saved, do not heed them; re-
member only that l understood--wnl
YOUR
Then he held her hand in silence
till the last trial came.
Out Of the gloom came heavily
laden boat, the oars rising and falling
in the inky water. Here,
on the scene of the disaster-here,
where they had last seen the lights of
the doomed ship-they waited and
essaying to save any who
even now might survive TittIa m |