People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-06-01

"SiiDt Z Civ ittlAa pOOI A4LLlt uDE Oh
the blaekened grounI. Il had been a
fierce experience, but the WON. vas
yet to come, Tor with the drenching
and the fright there was eyerT thance
Of a serious illness for his loved one.
but how was he 70 get her home from
this now barren island without boat
and with two good miles Of shining
vater between her and her father
hc.lo.
The question was a difficult one. and
enc that Kitty. with all her womal's
ingenuity, was harlly able to answer.
1t last they sensibly decided that
ir2ction would not do, and slowly
ani carefully they made their way
along the very rlge OF the water in
an attempt to explore the entire
island, to find, if possible. some
stranded craft that might be baled AMI
caulkcd with withered moss sufficient
ly to enable them to risk the hon.
ward journey.
The fire stu ragged at one extremity
Of the island, but at the other the
blackened and dismantled trees stood
ont like skeletons among shoulder
ing underbrush and fallen branches.
Suddenly Kittie exclaimed with q
happy laugh, See, dearest. There is
Herbert Hilton's boat, How strange
it should be here without its owner"
and the face, at first illuminated with
a happy smile, was suddenly shaded
by an anxious look of terror.
1t is strange" Roy Dallas answered
hera little soberly, as the thought
flashed through his mind also that
! Hilton might have been either per-
petrator or victim of the sudden con-
tiagration, but without hesitation he
seized the painter and drawing the
boat up closely to the shore lifted
kittie in before even he glanced
about to see if any one was near him.
While her lover held the boat as
steadily as possible, Kittie made her
way carefully to the stern but before
she had fairly reached her seat the
sound Of blow fell upon her ear, and
turning, she was just in time to see
her lover fall head-foemost on the
| ground. when Herbert Hilton cut the
dangling rope and springing in pushed
the frail craft far out into the water.
kittie shrieked aloud in agony as
she saw her lover fall, but the man
who held the oars stood threateningly
before her and, grasping her wrists
firmly in his hands, he muttered
fercely between his teeth, ''Be still,
Miss Minturn, if you would save you,
own sweet life. saw you when yor
started for this afternoons excursion
and have followed solely to secure re-
venge for the misery you have brought
upon me.
Il loved you once and offered you
my heart and hand, which, as you re-
member, was refused by you with alb
solute Indifference.
Now I will have my turn! will
denouree you in the village and swear
that the blow i struck your lover was
solely to defend your weakening hon.
or! i will swear he cut his boat adrift
for the purpose of keeping you here
all night, and your fair name will be
smirehed forever, unless"-but Kittie
had endured enough without waiting
for his villainous conditions.
/ With one sharp wrench she tore hel
hands from his and threw herselt
across the boat in wild attempt t.
see her lover, and Herbert Hilton
moving quickly to preserve the bal
anee of the little craft, stumbled anC
fell elUmsily ahead and in anothel
moment was foundering in the water
Quick as thought Kittie seized tn,
oars anG pulled madly for the shore
and Hilton. recovering from the shock
struck out boldly as possible as h,
started after her in fierce pursuit.
The race was snort, but what woult
be the ending? Kittie turned her heaC
and saw her lover still lying helpless
on the sand. He could not defend he
from this angry man, and she gave ;
quick, despairing glance in the direc
ton of the swimmer. .
Another minute and he would reacl
the boat, for Kittie was unskilled a
the cars, but even as she felt he
strength give way, great, black oh
jeet rose upon the water immediately
, behind the struggling man and, drop
ping her oars with warning Shrek
the poor girl tainted at this added hor
ror.
A moment later the bay was tinge,
with blood where Herbert Hilton dis
appeared beneath the CLASSY water
Wind and tide alone drove Kittie'
boat upon the shore and grounded i
beside her injured lover, and when,
half hour later, party from tn
mainland, attracted by the smoke an,
, fire, came suddenly upon them iron
the. bay, it required much vigorou
| skill and action on their part to re
: store either Roy or Kittie to thei
| reason.
A few days later some one rowin,
. by the place discovered Herbert Hi
, tons body lying on the beach, an
when approached the awful fact wa
: revealed that both his legs had bee
| d.voured by shark, but no one eve
, knew the entire circumstance of hi
death; Cor Roy and Kittie, shudderini
: at his fate, decided he should rest il
, I r,aaea oftar 60 6aroo n ro4.;b,,.;o~