Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-06

'l On NM
less InJed its proud head, saying, 81
am of your breath and of your life,"
and SO comforted her in her pain.
There was a crunching sound along
the gravel. Ralf again! He stopped
! and peered at the figure at the other
end of the porch.
Darling" he said softly.
Rosa started and came forward to
him. Madge waited no more. She
held her hands close over her heart and
crept around to the side door, and SO
silently in.
Not long after Rose came up. Madge
pretended sleep till the light was out;
| then she said tremblingly:
Rosa, God bless you, dear, and
make you happy"
And Rosa answered only, "Oh, yes"
But she thought to herself: II wish
she were on the haunted island, where
| should never hear of her again"
Rosa, won't you come out with me
| in my boat? You have never let mo
row you once since you have been
here" Madge spoke almost tear
fully"
"Yes, if you like"
Rosa had made up her mind that
Ralf might think better of her if she
| treated Madge a little more kindly,
| and having overreached herself little
In her statements to Madge she felt it
Us well to take every possible means
to make good her words. Virtue isn't
always its own reward. They had
| gone not so very far when the boat be-
| gan to take water. Neither of them
noticed it for some time. Finally the
water lifted the footboard little.
Don't be frightened, Rosa" Madge
urged. at isn't anything much. We
can run in at one of the islands and
get bailed out"
The leak proved bad one.
81 am afraid it won't do-not with
| two in," said Madge ruefullv.
"Leave me, do! How | wish had
| not come"
eve could borrow one of these big
| things here II only there was some one
| to ask"
Are you sure there b no one in the
house?"
Doesn't look much like it I can 90
| up and see. though"
"Oh, do; and hurry. I am getting
frightened. The sun is going down,
| too"
| Madge fastened up the shore TO the
house in sight There was no one
| there.
''Go up to the top Of the HILL" called
Rosa "1'm SO afraid to stay"
"There is nothing on the other side
of the hill, know" Madge objected.
LET us wait Somebody will surely
come soon"
But somebody did not come
II shall go crazy with fright"
moaned Rosa ''Oh. do soc IL there is
no house on the other side. You don't
know why am so frightened"
Indeed don't, but I will 60 II you
| like. know oil these islands. you
know. and these fisher huts are the
only houses on this one"
1t was a stiff climb TO the top of
the hill. The evening had turned
/ swiftly chill as the sun went down.
and a sharp wind blew cold in Msdges
face as she gained the hills
There is place. p" she called back.
and started swiftly down the other
side. II was queer place. and about
II hung the repellsDt air of desolstion.
Madge knocked briskly. Then she
knocked again. a. this the door
opened Suddenly and silently and a
man stood before her. mute and mensc-
/ ing
II beg your pardon, Madge managed
I 70 say, but r." He certainly was
an awful looking old man. His eyes
rolled toward her, but he made no
sound Il am sorry to trouble you.
went on Madse. stoutly, though some
how tse words stuck as she spoke, ''hut.
you see. my boat has sprung a lesk, a
bad one, and have 70 ask yoa 70 lend
me "a boat
The man shook his head snd ssde ss
II TO SHUT the door.
Z Oh xou uaasl, Yoa must I val