Smyrna times., 1899-06-14

which had taken her from him. He
mumbled like an old man robbed, as
tears splaShed his face.
At last he reached the boat In the
bottom Was piece of cedar chip tied
10 her handkerchief. Leaping at it
fiercely, he grasped it with shaking
hand. Then he rolled up his eyes, his
fingers fImbling with the knot. his lips
dlawn white. Scrawled on the chip
with Il pencil was Il message: I've
gone for good. You were kind, but |
could not abide you or the country.
I've gone with one as will take me all
over the world"
With his mouth working tenScly he
started to drag himself back His
brain was flying high up and down
again. Darting lights played before
his eyes. The wLirling ground leaped
away from him. Crawling on, he
reached the door, where. down on all
fourS. like dog. he flung up his head
aud looked around the rooms wildly.
Everything in them spoke with Il trum-
pet voice of her. He let his head fall
tll Allt sill. Itll Al Ntiillt uCtlN llN
from his lips. and he was calm.
| The next week Il new captain came
on the river steamer.
The birds flying acro-s the river on
! their way to the south saw womau
dressed gauGily and in vulgar fashion.
making her Nay from the landing to
the little house on Nance's island. At
the door Il gaun, man watched her.
With IA dazrd stumbling he walked
forth u little way to meet her.
Il have come back after these years"
she said. loo ing up to the little home,
which. small and poor as it WAS. seem
ed to hold ont hope of peace to her.
But he said nothing, only staring at
her with eyes in which burned Il faint
spark. Once he shivcrcd at the croak-
ing notes in her voice.
Into the house She followed him dog
gedly She picked up her duties where
she had left them years before, touch
ing Il chair here and moving something
there. She took Il broom and fell to
sweeping fcveriShly. until she flung it
down contemptuouSly and sank into Il
chair with gasp. He had watched
her silently with slow burning eyes.
why don't you speak" she cried.
Her rising voice was hard and craze
king. There was fiaunt on her lips.
Her hands on her hips conveyed an in
science of bOldnesS.
Il have come back to you in kind
ness" she said, her tones going higher
and her voice growing more raSping.
Il know the worth of a woman like
me. When my captain died. | could
have had many a fair chance, but
thought of you. and somehow | wanted
to come here. Aren't you going to
make up?" she cried angrily.
God. what difference in those
years. His lips pressed together stern.
ly.
why don't you speak," she scream
ed. How dare you treat me like
like She paused and then laughed
with her brazen notes.
But the dancing lights were in his
, brain again and before his eyes ant
; around him boiling flame that rOared
: The room was whirlng. He saw it al
streaked and spangled with fierce cOlOl
: the floor. the chairs, the fiat stove
| the utensils of tin. and among them he
| face the lips leering the eyes staring
l Staggering to his feet. he grOped witt
!, his arms. His hands clutched at some
2 thing soft and warm that yielded unde
2 his contracting fingers. They clOse'
: tightly, gripping hard to stop the whirl
l ing of the earth. The flame shot III
4 madly. and, blinded in the dark, he fel
I lying stretched on the floor
Years later, the upper end of the is
: land settled. pity still endured anon
the people for the lonely man who liz
ed on the lower end. They told straI
/ gers touching there of the young wifi
e whom he had ne Yer seen from the da
' she ran away with the captain of tn
: river steamer and he was left to hi
II solitude. No one knew the whole unt
y n young farmer went to ask aid of Ill
old man at the harvesting. No r,
spOnse coming to his knocks, he lifte
l. the latch and entered. The old ma
II was half kneeling against n chair h
le dead eyes thrust out in their socket
- Before him, where the planks of Il