The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-02

almost exhausted, Roy Dallas crept
ashore and laid poor Kittie down on
the blaclxened ground. 1t had been a
fierce experience, but the worst was
yet to come, for with the drenching
and the fright there was every chance
Of serious illness for his loved one,
but how was he to get her home from
this now barren island without a boat
and with two good miles of shining
water between her and her fathers
home.
The question was a difficult one, and
one that Kitty, with all her wOman's
ingenuity. was hardly able to answer
At last they sensibly decided that
inaction would not do, and slowly
and carefully they made their way
along the very edge of the water in
an attempt to explore the entire
island, to find, if possible, some
stranded craft that might be baled and
caulked with withered moss sufficient
ly to enable them to risk the home
ward journey.
The fire still ragged at one extremity
of the island, but at the other the
blackened and dismantled trees stood
out like skeletons among shoulder
ing underbrush and fallen branches.
Suddenly Kittie exclaimed with a
happy laugh, ''See, dearestl There is
Herbert Hilton's boati 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.
cit is strange Roy Dallas answered
her little soberly, as the thought
flashed through his mind also that
Hilton might have been either per
II Il
hagration, 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 foremost 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 overwhelmingly
before her and, grasping her wrists
firmly in his hands, he muttered
Miss Minturn, if you would save your
own sweet life! I saw you when you
started for this afternoons excursion
and have followed solely to secure re-
venge for the misery you have brought
upon me.
81 loved you once and offered you
my heart and hand, which, as you re-
member, was refused by you with abb
solute indifference.
ssNow I will have my turnl I will
denounce you in the village and swear
that the blow 1 struck your lover was
solely to defend your weakening hon
orr 1 will swear he cut his boat adrift
for the purpose of keeping you here
all night, and your fair name will be
smirched forever, unless''--but Kittie
had endured enough without waiting
for his villainous conditions.
With one sharp wrench she tore her
hands from his and threw herself
across the boat in wild attempt to
see her lover, and Herbert Hilton,
moving quickly to preserve the bal
ance of the little craft, stumbled and
fell clumsily ahead and in another
moment was Laundering in the water.
Quick as thought Kittie seized the
oars ana pulled madly for the shore,
and Hilton, recover ring from the shock,
struck out boldly as possible as he
started after her in fierce pursuit.
The race was short, but what would
be the ending? Kittie turned her head
and saw her lover. still lying helpless
on the sand. He could not defend her
from this angry man, and she gave
quick, dcspairing glance in the direc-
ton of the swimmer.
Another minute and he would reach
the boat, for Kittie was unsl1illed ct
the oars, but even as she felt her
strength give way, a great, black OBJ
ject rose upon the water Immediately
behind the struggling man and, drop
ping her oars with a warning shrek,
the poor girl tainted at this added hor-
ror.
moment later the bay was tinged
with blood where Herbert Hilton dis
appeared beneath the CLASSY water
Wind and tide alone drove Kittie's
boat upon the shore and grounded ft
beside her injured lover, and when, g
half hour later, a party from the
mainland, attracted by the smoke and
fire, came suddenly upon them from
the bay, it required much vigorous
skill and action on their part to re-
store either Roy or Kittie to their
reason.
few days later some one rowing
by the place discovered Herbert Hill
toms body lying on the beach, and
when approached the awful fact was
revealed that both his legs had been
devoured by shark, but no one ever
knew the entire circumstance Of his
death; for Roy and Kittie, shuddering
a 4 his fate deci3ed he should rest in