The Washington times., 1902-12-23
A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC.


light again Or tifis side there IS a deep
cut or gully that has been carved out
by the water running down 20 the sea
level for so many ages. Under your
fathers direction that ravine was en-
larged. and the natives have kept their
canoes there. and the old long boat OF
the Juan Fernandez, and a larger boat
they have recently built. I was cast
ashore and they found me. That was the
first they had known OF the wreck OF
the Nadia
We'll, it was a long time before I
could tell your father about our mis-
fortune Then he was not willing TO go
outside in broad daylight. He did not
wanu all those sailors in here. When
we finally discovered how matters stood
and that father was shot, Mr.. ThOrne
went out and brought aim in You we're
all away from the cave at the time.
saw the fight between the mates and At
we'll from the top Of the cliff. and saw
you driven into the cave But father
told us an armed man could hold the
cave a week. so Mr.. Tharne did not so
back. fearing that in the dark you might
mistake him for an enemy went with
him the next morning. and we arrived
just IN time 10 save you from Atwell-
And what mas become Of the scoun-
dreI and his men,"
Your father disarmed them and took
the long boat away from them. Then he
carried them 20 another part Of. the
tsIand-outsidc Of the clifs. Of course
and built them a hut, gave them seeds
and the gardening tools you saved from
the wreck. and a chance to earn their
livelihood. Father and have told him
all about your coming from America 10
dnd him. and he has agreed to go back
with us-for a year when he returns
he viii take steps 10 send Atwen and
the others back to their homes He IS
getting ready the new vessel-it is real
Iy a nice little schooner-to take Us
to Valparaiso. The mates and Jessop
and Shields viii man it,
.'Aud-aud Monckton?"
He is going with us. she said,
g-avely "He is rePentant, having had
a fearful experience with that company
OF cutthroats- I'm sorry TO say that my
father is still so bitter against him
that he wants him left behind with At
we'll: but begged Mr.. Thorne, and
he will take him 10 Valparaiso You
don't mind. do 80 90
Not nowl" replied Thorne, with en-
ergy. clasping her hand again
Less than a month later, at the end
OF the short rainy season, the roomy
schooner. built by Edgar Thorne and
his native helpers. and rigged by the
mates Of the Nadia and Jessop and
Shields. set sail from the island which
Tor twenty years had been Thorne's
home And il would always be his home.
He had little interest beyond the con-
fines Of its towering coral cliffs.
Il 90 only to please YOU. my SON.
he said, standing by Howard's side and
gazing reSretfully at the lone isle. and
TO assure Underclih OF my forgiveness
Ny heart is here. where the harsh world
cannot reach it,"
Having scarcely experienced a day of
unpleasant weather. the little vessel ar
rived at Valparaiso. Monckton left
them. sailing at once in a tramp steamer
for san Francisco. thence to take rsil for
Boston Captain Latlner's party went
home by way of the Horn. When they
reached Boston they found that Carter
Monckton had arrived before them. aud
from something he told his father the
elder -doncEton lad hurriedly sold his ia
terest in the shipping firm and both had
left the city. There was little doubt,
even in Mr.. UndercHus mind. as to he
manner in which the money for the rob-
berry OF which Edgar Thorne was unjust
ly accused mad first disappeared from
the company's safe and then reappearcd.
But despite the fact that his name was
uRs;ained before all mem and that
friends welcomed him on every hand,
Edgar Thornc was not cnateuted. His
heart, as he had said. was In his little
coral kingdom, and before a year had
passed he sailed for Valparaiso. And two
sorrowing young people saw him of on
the steamer.
But then, it was only for a little while.
Thorne viii take his degree this juno.
and in the fall he and Sydney viii visit
his father in the Pacific island-on their
wedding journey.
THF END.