The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-04-12


 past on which he was gazing with the eyes of his soul He looked up and saw before him only the pillows of the ocean, over which lay the blue dome of the sky, and staff from which flut- tered a streamer of scarlet fiannel-a signal of distress that the wind had strlven many night to rend to tatters.
 How long it seemed since he, with two sailors, had been flung ashore like so much seaweed, and in the dawn had crouched miserably on the shore, watching the ocean as itswallowed the fragments of the wrecked steamer, and ignorant of the fate of the crowded boats that vanished from their sight in the stormy midnight!
 A box and cask or so were washed ashore, The island was not quite bar ren. But could not tell you how they lived unless had the space to write new Robinson Crusoe."
 One of the sailors had died within two weeks, and the other Douglas Deane had lately buried In the sea. He was alone now, no human eye to meet his own, no human voice to an swer his
 Do you ask what kept the flame of life and hope alive within him? l will tell you. Dora Darling's last words: ''l will be true to you forever, Douglas. How can you doubt me?"
 Looking at him, anyone would have said it would be over soon. He was mere skeleton-a thing as terrible to look updn as any specter.
 The fatal drowsiness, against which he constantly fought, was stealing over him again even now, and he longed to lapse back into his dreams But with a struggle he shook it off, stood up, looked to the east and saw only the sun, ball of fire low upon the horizon; looked to the west and north and saw only sky meeting water; turned to the Esouth and noted thin black cloud.
 Was it cloud? His heart began tc beat as though it would rend his body in twain as he began to understand that it was no cloud at all, but the drift | of black smoke from the tall pipes of steamer that even as he gazed came up from, that under world were ships hide themselves in midoceau.
 He grew blind, giddy. The joy al- most killed him as he understood that they saw him-that a boat had been sent out, that friendly hands grasped his, and that kind voices uttered words of comfort. A terror came upon him | lest all this should be but the vision of dream, and he only quite believed it true when actually on board the Nancy Hopper.
 His face washed, dressed in a suit of clothes, a world too wide to be sure, but still wholesome, decent garments, he sat a guest at the captains table, | drinking coffee-oh, wonderful, deli cious beverage-eating like Christian with knife and fork, spinning his yarn to sympathizing ears-he to whose la- ments only the moaning ocean had re- piled for so many days! In the midst of the tale of how the ship went down he suddenly paused, his eyes fixed on something that he alone could see. And she," he said aloud, "she said: T will be true to you forever, Douglas. How can you doubt meY" Then he flushed scarlet. i've got habit of talking to myself, I'm afraid" he fal- tered. But every sailor man who heard him understood that he was | thinking of his sweetheart And he saw it in their eyes and was ashamed no longer. He had a shock, though, in the morning when waking in his berth, with white linen against his cheek in- stead of the roughness of a rock, and limbs at ease that had wont to be cramped and chilled and aching. He lifted himself on his elbow and saw a strange, wild creature staring at him. It was like skeleton, and the skin upon its bones was dark as that of aD old negro From the deep hollows of the eye-sockets glared red-rirnmed eyes, and wild masses of hair fell over his shoulders and mingled with beard that reached to his waist. Was the strange being some madman? Did it mean him harm? Then, with a groan, he sank back upon his pillow. He was only looking at himself in mirror let into the cabin wall Three years of such life as he had led had changed full-cheeked, bright-eyed, well-groomed 1OuuH lndu IO Jlllo " lANl VI
 For little while he despaired; but there were scissors and razors to be had. The ships barber took him in hand, and three meals day did won ders. He got back his own looks won derfully during the voyage.
 But how long those few weeks seemed that yet kept him from his Dora Dar- ling! And still, as he leaned over the side of the ship, sending his heart homeward, he whispered to himself: "I'll be true to you forever, Douglas, How can you doubt me?"
 At last the voyage was over, his thanks and adieus ts his preservers ut tered He had even reached the sea- side village and the gate of the garden that surrounded Capt. Darlings house.
 It was evening. There was no moon, but the sky was studded with stars, and through the windows of the cot tage fell the lamplight' His heart was beating again as it had when he first caught sight of the smoke-drift upon