The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-01-01

when finished, 1 launched n anchOr-
ed In the placid bay behind the coral
reefs. Day by day thereafter during
the whole OF Christmas week I carried
down clothing, provisions. arms and
ammunition until at last our frail craft
was laden with everything necessary |
for a voyage.
Four days passed after we were
ready before we saw O sail upon the
ocean. 1t was late In the afternoon OF
the last day of December, when, sit
ting I'm the shade Of the cave, olivia
pointed out n speck upon the waves.
She looked long and earnestly, then
said:
dearest, II is a ship. and IL is coming
toward our island"
"Wil you venture" I asked.
Certainly" she answered, smiling
into my eyes. but first let us be In
deed sure 1t Ia approaching"
1t drew nearer, neareR rising higher,
higher, until, as the sun sank behind
the hill crest, the white sails were IL
lumined by its rays. Then. no longer
doubtful, we went ut once to the shore.
But as we embarked the maid refused
to risk the voyage and chose to return
to brave the wrath of Don Amadeo. So
she M her mistress babe each other n
fearful farewell. and we set sail with
out her. We had n fair wind. and l.
laid n course for the bark, which. as 1t
was sailing slowly, 1 hoped to overhaul
within an hour or two.
Half the distance had been traversed.
and, though darkness now overspread
| the ocean, we could still make out the
ships position by her lights. Tho\sea
became rougher and more turbulent,
and suddenly 1 sensed n new danger.
While I was watching the foam crested
pillows sweeping toward us In order to
Ia old them l saw In their dark hollows
rapidly moving freaks of %phosphor-
escencc.
We were beset by sharks! Their
flaming fins were cleaving the water
] all about us. The black waves were
| alive with them.
But the bark was looming steadily
before us. In another half hour we
should be within ha. ven II she did
not sooner see us anu lower n boat.
Perhaps 1 was made too confident by
this assurances; but, without warning, q
fierce wave assailed us, and the raft
| WuS overturned. Liz uule WuNG IL
ried my sweetheart away into the dark
ness, but l swan swiftly to her side
md thrust out an arm to draw her to
my shoulder for support.
But that instant, M her eyes looked
lovingly into mine, n cry burst from
her lips, ard she sank beneath the
waves. 1 clutched Mt her dress and
strove to raise her, but my strength
was unavailing as against that Of the
monster that had seized her.
Down. down, below the turmoil Of
waves aud roaring pillows we sank to-
gether. l wrcnched my knife from its
sheath. and in my fury plunged It. into
the man caters body, gray and CHASTITY,
alongside OF me. Tie grim jaws re-
Taxed their hold. and, dragging h APP
parcntly lifclcss form to the surface, 1
bore 1t to II raft and cast myself down
beside her. There. while the waves
swept over lis. while the fin Of the
sharks Kissed and CLEANED In the foam
ing waters. | called to her, bent owe
her. pressed my Fps to hers.
Ti,n. overcome by fatigue and de-
SPAR. | swoonod by her side.
=
fioi IL hI''iiiii'SS oieep, liOh hoNSh-
ing III the borders of oblivion, l was
awakened by strange voices. vas on
the deck Of II ship. ! saw forms Of
men pass vaguely before me, INT by
my ~s'Gr-ycS. there ~alive-sat one whom
| had iaonght no longer living.
Her shining eyes looked into mine
again, and then she told me Of our res
cue from the waves. The night had
passed. and now the dawn had come,
and with It's coming the fluttering of
sails and The rattling of anchor chain
Informed us that n port was reached.
1t vas that of Grand Cayman, to the
southeast of Isle Of Pines, a neutral
port, and we were safe.
We were married that day at noon.
and thus was achieved the consumma-
ton of our happiness. And the captain
of tie bark. who himself had taken
I, olivia from the raft, said solemnly as
he placed her hand In mine:
"Her life belongs to me, for I saved
1t, but 1t is also yours because she gave
1t to you. That was yesterday, and
hence last year; this IL today, and hence
the new year. That which persisted I'm
the old year the new year secs restored
to life. God bless you uotli and .anr,i
fy this New Years gift EuiTulu Ever.