The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-12-06

I
homage to her sovereign; and then she pnt
her strong arm under his shoulder, still hold.
ing his right hand In hers, and looked in his
facc NO wooden crutches when nm by"
said she, in low voice, full of devotion.
HE stood surprised, and his eyes began to
Come" said she, in voice Of music And,
thus ai,l,'d, he went with her to her cavern.
As they went, she asked him tenderly where
the pain was.
ut was in my hip and knee" he said: "but
now it ia nowhere; for joy has come buck to
my heart
And to mine too" said Helen; "cxcept for
this"
The quarrel dispersed like cloud, under
this calamity. There WINS no formal recon.
clinton; no discussion: and this was the
wisest course: for the unhappy situation re-
SION could only fan the embeis ofdiscord and
misery gently. instead of fiercely.
The par SO strangely thrown together
commenced n new chapter of their existence.
II was not pntient ami nurse over again;
Hazel, though very lame, had too much spir.
1t left to accent that position. But still the
sexes became in a measure reversed-Helen
the fisherman and forager, Hazel the cook
and domestic.
He was an busy as ever. but in q narrow
circle; he found pearl oysters near the sunk
salleon, md, ere he had been lnme many
weeks, lie lind entirely lined the sides of the
cavern with mother-ofp enrl set in cement
and clOse MS mosaic.
Every day he passed on hour in Paradise:
for his living crutch made him take little
walk with her: her hand held his; her arm
supported liis shoulder her sweet tnce was
near his full of tender solicitudc; they seemed
to- be ono; and spoke in whispers to eacll
other. like thinking aloud. The causes Of
happiness were ever present: the causes of
unhappiness were out of sight. and showed
no signs Of approach.
And, OF the two, Helen was the MANIFEST.
Before a creature go pure rs this marries and
mas children, the great maternal in
it cnn get-first n doll, and then some
helpless creature or other. Too often she
waste her henrts milk on something grown
up, but aa selfish us a child. Helen was more
fortunate: her child was her hero now no
lame that he must lean on her to walk. Tho
days passed by, and the island WIS last be-
coming the world to those two, md as bright
world as ever shone ON two mortal crea.
lures.
1t was n happy dream.
She lent him her arm. and they went round
the Point; and there they saw cloud en-
t'rc'y different from anything they had ever
seen since they were on the island. 1t wns
like m enormous dark ribbon stretched
along the sky Mt some little height above tho
horizon. Notwithstanding it's prodigious
length it got larger before their very eyes.
Hazel started.
Helen felt linn start, and asked him, with
surprise, what was the matter,
Cloud" said he that il no cloud. Tint
IL smoke"
"Smoko!" echoed Helen, becoming agitatel
in her turn.
Yes; the breeze is northery, md carries
the smoke nearer to us; it is the smoke of q
steamboat"
CHAPTER XIV
Both were greatly moved; and after one
swift glance Helen stole ut him, neither look
ed mt tho other. They spoke in Hurried wins.
pcrs.
Can they sec the islnnd?"
~ don't know: it depends on how for the
boat liz to winiwartl OF her smoke"
How shall We know"
:" II she sees the island, she will make for it
that moment
Why do ships never pass IN unknown
islnnd?"
But why?'
AT this question Hazel hung his heud, and
ny Up Hniverrd. He answered her at last.
"Becnuse sl,e is looking for you."
Helen was struck dumb ut this.
lie gave his reasons. Steamers never
visit these waters. Love has brought the
steamer out: love that will not so unrew ard.
ed. Arthur Warllaw is on board that ship"
Hazel forced on kind ofdogged fortitude'
lie said. when the smoke ceases to elongate,
You will know they have changed their
course, and they will change their course the
moment the man Mt the masthead sees us. -
"oh! But how do you know they have a
man ut the mast-head?'
81 know by myself. should have n man
ut the must head night and day."
~; And now the situation was beyond worls..
They both watched, and watched, to see til
line OF smoke cease.
1t continued to increase, and spread east
ward; and that proved the steamer was co,
tinuing her course.
The sun drew close to the horizon.
They don't see us," said Helen, faintly,
mo, said Hazel; mot vet
And the sun is Just setting. 1t is all over. d
She put her handkerchief to her eyes q mo.
men., and then, after n sob or two, she sai,l al.
most chcer!nlly, well. dear friend. we were
lrt us try and lie Us happy now it is gone,
Don't smile like that. it makes me shudder':
Did smile? 1t must have been at YOUR
simplicity in thinking we have seen the last
OF that steamer"
"And so we have"
Not SO. In three hours she will be at on.
or in TINT bay"
why, what will bring herr"
~ shall bring her.
"By lighting my bonfire"
CHAPTER XLvL
Helen had forgotten all about the bonfire.
She now asked whether he was sure those on
board the steamer could SEQ the bonfire.
Then Hazel told her that it was now OF
prodigious size and height. Some six months
bef9rs he was crippled he had added and
added to it.
That BONFIRE" said he, Twill throw n
ru!ldy glare over the heavens, that they can't
n Itlfr I,f,n 1,no kx,.
hey are not on u course but on Il search,
they will certainly ruiz few miles s0utlward
to see what it liz. They will say it il either n
beacon or ship on fire; and. in either case.
they will turn the boats head this way.
Well, before they have run southwark hnlf n
dozen miles, their lookout willsee the bonfire,
and the island in it's light. Let US go to tho
boat, my lnciters are there"
She ieant him her arm to the boat. and
stood by while he made his prepnrations
They were very simple He took pine torch
and smoared it all over with pitch: then
put his lucifer-box in his bosom. and took
his crutch. Ills face was drawn pitiably but
his closed lips betrayed mistaken and un-
shaknble resolution. He shoul,lered Ills
crutch, and hobbied.up ns far as tho cavern.
Here Helen interposcd.
Don't you go toiling up tho HILL" snd
she; Give me tho lucifers and the torch,
and let me light the beacon. l shall be there
y
THANK you! thank you!" said Hazel
eagerly. not to say violently.
lie wanted it done but il killed him to do
it. He then gave her his instructions.
ut is as big us II haystack." said he, "nnd
as dry as II chip: and there are eight bundles
OF straw placed expressly. Light the bundles
to windward first, then the Others; it will
soon lie all in IL blaze"
Meanwhile" said Helen, "you prepare
our supper. ] feel quite faint-for want oft. :"
Hazel assented.
at is TIL" Tart wo SHALL he was going TO
say it was the last they would eat together:
but his voice failed him, and, he hobbled into
the cavern. md tried 10 smother his emotion
in work. He lighted the fire. and blew it in.
to 4 flame with ii palmetto-leaf, md then lie
sat down awhile. very sick Mt heart: then he
got up and did the cooking, signing all the
time: and, just when he was beginning to
wonder why Helen was SO long lighting eight
bundles ofstraw she came in, looking pale.
'ls it all right" said he.
Go and look" said she. mo, let us have
our snpper first"
Neither had any appetite: they sat and kept
casting strange looks ut one another.
To divert this anyhow, Hazel looked nm nt
the roof, aud said fnintly, "If / Ind known. i
would have made more haste, and set pearl
there as we'll"
What does that matter?' said Helen,
looking down.
Not much, indeed" replied he. sadly. 81
am a fool to utter such childish regrets: and.
more than that. am mean selfish cur to
have regret. Come. come, We can't eat: let
us go around the Point and see the waves
Redeemed by tho beacon that gives you back
to the world yon were born to embpllish,''
Helen said she would go directly. And her
IsttN I'll Al