Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-01-15

VOASo. n4OnC-tblOuC-uuu FnllD cone.
Mother, mother, look down upon your un-
happy ohildr' and Anime frantically
threw herself down SO near to the edge Of
the raft that her long hair, which had
fallen down, foated on tho wave.
All me! where am II" cried Anime,
after remaining in state of torpor for
some hours. The sun glared fercely upon
her, and dazzled her eyes as she opened
them-she cast them on the blue wave
close by her, and beheld large shark mo.
tionless by the side of the raft, waiting for
his prey. Reooiling from the edge she
started up. She turned round and beheld
the raft vacant, and the truth flashed ON
her. "oh, Philip, Philip" cried she,
"then it is true, and you are gone forever!
I thought it was only dream; reoollect
all now. Yes-all-allr' And Anime
sunk down again upon her cot, which had
been placed In the center Of the raft, and
remained motionless for some time.
But tho demand for water became i'm.
perious; she seized one Of the bottles, and
drank. yet why should I drink or eate
Why should I wish to preserve lifes" She
rose, and looked round the horizon. "Sky
and water, nothing more. Is this the
death I am to die-the cruel death proph-
esied by schriften-a lingering death un-
der q burning SUM- while my vitals are
parched within9 Be it so! Fate, dare
thee to thy worst-we can die but once
and without him, what care I to liver
But yet may see him again." continued
Anime, hurriedly, after pause. eyes, 1
may-who knows9 Then welcome life;
I'll nurse thee for that bare hope-bare
indeed, with naught to feed on. Let me
see-is 1t here stills" Anime looked at
her zone, and perceived her dagger was
still in It, "Well, then, will live since
death Is at my command and be guardful
Of life for my dear husbands sake" And
Anime threw herself on her resting place
that she might forget everything. She did:
from that morning till the noon of the
next day she remained in a state of torpor.
When she again rose, she was faint;
again she looked round her-there were
but sky and water to be seen.
The night closed in, and with the gloom
rose heavy clouds; the lightning darted
through the armament, ever and anon
lighting up the raft. At last the flashes
were % rapid, not following each other
but darling down from every quarter at
once, that the whole ornament appeared
as If on fire, and the thunder rolled along
the heavens, now near and loud, then
rumbling in the distance The breeze rose
up fresh, and the waves tossed the raft,
and washed occasionally even to Amine's
feet, as she stood in the center of it.
II like this-this is far better than that
calm and whitening heat-this rouses
me" said Anime, as she cast her eyes up
and watched the forked lightning till her
vision became obscured. Eyes, this is as
1t should be. Lightning, strike me if you
please-waves, wash me off and bury me
In briny tomb-pour the wrath of the
whole elements upon this devoted head
I care not, laugh at, defy it all. Thou
canst but kill, this little steel can do as
much. Let those who hoard up wealth.
those who live in splendor-those that are
happy-those who have husbands, chill
dren, aught to love-let them tremble; !
have nothing. Elements! be ye fire, OF
water, or earth, or air, Anime defies yolt!
and yet-no, deceive not thyself. Anime,
there is no hope; thus will I mount my
funeral bier, and watt the will of des
tiny" And Anime regained the secure
place which Philip had fitted up for her il
the center Of the raft, threw herself dow,
upon her bed, and shut her eyes.
The thunder and lightning were follow
ed up by torrents of heavy rain, which fel.
TILL daylight the wind still continued
fresh, but the sky was clear, and the sun
shone out. Anime remained shiyering in
her wet garments: the heat of the sun
proved too powerful for her exhausted
state, and her brain wandered. She rose
up in sitting posture, looked around her
saw verdant fields in every direction, the
cocosnuts waving to the wind,-imagined
even that she saw her own Philip in the
distance fastening to her; she held out
her arms; strove to get up and run tc
meet him, but her limbs refused theil
Office; she called to him, she screamed,
and sank back exhausted on her resting
place.
ITO be continued