Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-09-11

Helen looked across at me pityingly,
and shook her head. With an anguished
cry | hid my face in my hands.
I'VE found the cask stove in and the
bottles broken to atoms"
Did WEI" | muttered. ~vacantly. II
had forgotten"
without food and water"
water, water everywhere, and not
q drop to drink!'" | gibbered.
For three days we have drifted over
a cruel, CLASSY sea, under a burning
pitiless sky"
"Pitiless sky" I echoed, with parched
lips.
And yet--and yet through IL all
there has been one thing to comfort us,
one bright spot in the darkness of do
spair."
] looked toward her eagerly. II
knew it! | knew it! There was one
bottle saved! He had hidden 1t In his
bunk!"
"Hush," she said.
I sank back again, weak and dispir-
tied.
And that" she continued, with
wrapt, dreamy expression in her eyes,
land that was our love for each other
"Eh?"
and that was our love for each
other repeated Helen, softly.
"Oh-er-ycs; that, OF course" l
said, hurricdly.
What though We had known each
other less than a fortnight? Love-
What thought" | murmured.
Love is not born of time. 1t may
blossom in a day, an hour, a minute.'
"A second"
$50 with our love" She paused, and
looked dreamily over the sea. Was she.
too, thinking of luncheon? But no.
I'VE loved each other at first sight"
I'VE did" | affirmed heartily.
Helen faltcrcd; her eyclids tluttercd;
a tinge Of pink crept over her hunger
pallid checks.
Yet you would never have spoken
had not Fate thrown us alone together
here thousands of miles from shore"
| glanced startledly toward the
beach. 1t was not there. In a panic
my eyes swept the horizon. Thank
heaven! IL was over my left shoulder!
The tide had swung the dory around.
For there was Il gulf between u.s."
Helen continued. Il was an heiress,
and you were merely "A second officer"
"Oh. | say" | demurred.
But danger brought us together.
Position, wealth. all else was forgotten.
We loved each other; that was
enough"
Quite" | said. with satisfaction.
There, with the tempest bowling
III our ears, tossed about by the angry
waves, alone on the ocean, the seal OF
silence was broken. Danger drew us
together. You spoke. Wrapped in
each others arms, for a time all was
forgotten. Love held our souls"
"Er-did that is, well. did | kiss
you?"
NO" said Helen sharply.
"Oh." | considered. Not even one
tiny, little kiss?'
NO" Helen considered. "WelI,
perhaps onc very, very small one
she allowed.
II thought | remembered It," | an.
swered. brightly. And did YOU
cr--"
"Eut thcn came the awakening
she hurried on.
"Oh, we woke up?" | asked.
suddenly a gust OF wind forced us
| apart"
Cruel wind" | sighed, Golorously.
And with a loud report the sail was
torn into r%ibbOns.'
"A ribbon sale?" | inquired.
The rain fell in torrents, the light
ming flashed across the sky. At the
| mercy of tho elements, our frail bark
was borne onward at awful speed.
Suddenly above the sound of wind
and wave the roaring of the surf upon
the shore reached oar ears. The mo-
ment Of supreme peril was at hand!
a flash of lightning, 0 intense
than any heretofore, lighted up the
scene. Before us, scarce n cables
length away, rose a towering cliff Of
Jagged rock. Below it the surf
dashed high, as though hungry"
"Eh?"
CAS- though hungry for its prey.
And in the weird light | saw your face.
All. never shall I forget It! 1t was"
Maybe ! hadn't shaved" muir.
INJURED, eAtennatinply.
Calm with a high and noble cour-
| age
"Ah."
you took me In your arms. Our
lips met in one last, long kiss. Terror
passed from my heart. | was content
a.. l,r, "a 80, s,naptl,, vas, r,ott,l