The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-08-29
and waves.


Come here with mel" Jim cried
hoarsely as he reached for the shiverlng
bundle with the flying hair and fright
ened eyes. He drew Meg toward him,
all the time keeping firm hold on the
line that prevented the sail from flap
ping more desperately.
Above the roar of the water he heard
her nervous laugh, and once she said,
Il think I'd be right scared if it WASH t
for our getting caught i'll these squalls
so often.
The boat was careening like a live
creature maddened with pain. The wa
ter dashed over the little dory that was
scudding toward the shore at an unprec-
edented speed Crowds of curious
watchers lined the beach where they
would land AS they neared the shore
Jim said tremblingly: '"This is the
worst fix we've been in yet. Well be
dashed to pieces on the logs unless they
try to help us. ~
He folded his strong arms around the
small girl, and he pressed her hands
fondly and whispered words of hope and
courage.
''Tell me just once that you do care
for me Just little bit, and that you
won't back out of marrying me at the
end of three years." he said. "Our
chances for getting out of this alive are
few, and l know if you don't answer
now you never will. Please, please,
please, Megr' His voice was pitched
loudly and shrilly.
II can't promise for sure, Jim. l
can't even now I'm SO frightened. l
know we're both going to die. The
waves never scared me before. - And
the rest was lost as all enormous roll Of
water deluged them.
No other word was said. A moment
later there was a wild crashing and
creaking of timber.
The anxious watchers saw the boat
tossed in among nest Of logs that lined
the beach.
Like crowd of stupid senseless be-
ings, they gaZed and wrung their hands.
Then they saw tall form raise itself
up i'll the stern of the boat. He had
something in his arms that looked like
a woman swathed in piece Of tarpau-
lin. The boat was only few rods from
the shore and was just ready to fall to
pieces. Suddenly the tall figure leaped
into the water, with his helpless burden
in one arm, while with the other he
fought his way among the pillows and
rolling logs. The watchers rushed to his
assistance They saw him whirled and
buffeted around much as mouse being
leased by frolicsome minded cat. He
had nearly reached the shore when an
enormous log flung itself against him.
With a mighty effort he threw his bur-
den toward the frantic assembly of
people.
Then he sank and was seen no more
until the next day, when his crushed
and mangled body foated gently on the
now restful waves, which finally de-
posted his remains at the foot of the lit
tie dock where the dory had always
tugged and pulled at its anchor ropes
And that Is the reason why woman
considered clever and gifted by the
worlds critics is always sad and heart
sick when she hears the moaning of the
winds Or the roaring of beating, restless
water Fame and fortune have come to
her.
She is no longer a crude, uncultured
creature with flying black hair and
rough fingers. The world bows down in
reverence to her, for her stories are read
by thousands and her pictures received
most favorably by all She laughs, and
her friends declare her to be the jolliest
person in Christendom. But when a
storm comes up, and the skies darken,
and the air is filled with dire forebod-
ing, she sinks into sad, lifeless being,
whose eyes are heavy with unshed tears
and whose throat is choked with sobs.
At these times her friends depart and
murmur soft words of plying tender
ness among themselves. Chicago News.