Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-09-16

I say? waved hand carelessly, and
smoothed my tie.
"While there's life there's hope"
murmured.
"You babe me keep up my courage
All, I needed your comfort then! Life
was very empty for while. You
"Nyell, you had me-" / reminded.
"Then-then the food gave out"
"What?"
starvation stared us in the face"
"No, no!r' I cried. "Not that! Any.
thing but that!'
THE barrel which we lad believed
held-held plulnduff and-and-"
"Deviled kidneys"
lizard tack"
"Ohw
"We discovered to be filled only
with"
"Crullers," said, imploringly.
"With-with dumb-bells!"
"Dumb-bclls? Why dumb-bells?"
asked. coldly.
For m instant she looked non
plussed. Then she said, falteringly,
II don't know. They-they were part
of the cargo, think"
Maybe she's training-ship," 1 sug-
gested.
Helen blinked.
starvation stared U.s.
"You said that once"
"With groan you covered your
face with your hands"
Eyes, yes" I cried. "Then. like 4
flash, I remembered that in the cap
tains cabin 1 had seen box of beef
steak and onions. With an cXclama-
ton of joy I dashed headlong down
the companionway. The box was still
there. Scizing large, thick steak,
I hurried to the galley"
You're quite wrong" interrupted
Helen, inexorably. Hunger has gone
to your brain. You've had nothing to
eat for three days, and
"No, no, please! Not three days!
One, if you must, but not"
"For three weary days." she insisted
I groaned aloud and passed trem-
bling hand across the front of my
shirt. 1t was true! The pangs of hun
tger were already biting. 1 looked long
!'ingly toward the shore.
"But that was not the worst!!'
"Stop, stopw I besceched.
"The next day we drank the last
Of our meagrc store of water. Then
indeed Death hovered nigh"
"Tell me one thing" 1 begged. In
broken whispers. "The-the cask OF
Burgundy. vintage of rs. and the two
dozen bottles of Scotch whisky In the
captains cupboard, they-they were
still there?"
Helen looked across at me pityingly,
and shook her head. With an an
guished cry l hid my face In my hands.
1--WE found the cask stove In and
the bottles broken to atoms"
"Did we?" I muttered, vacantly. Il
had forgotten"
"Without food and water"
"Water, water everywhere. and not
drop to drink!' gibbered.
"For three days We have drifted over
cruel, CLASSY sea, under q burning,
pitiless sky"
"Pitiless sky" 1 echoed, with parched
lips.
"And yet-and yet through it all
there has been one thing to comfort
us, one bright spot in the darkness
of despair"
I looked toward her eagerly. 81
knew it! 1 knew 1t! There was ono
bottle saved! Hc had hidden 1t in bis
bunk"
"Hushw she said.
I sank back again, weak and dlsplr.
tied.
"And that" she continued. with O
wrapt, dreamy expression in her eyes
"and that was our love for each
other"
"Ehp
"And that was our love for eacl
othep," repeated Helen, softly.
"Oh-er-yes; that OF course"
said hurriedly.
"What though we had known cacl
other less than fortnight? Love
"What though?' I murmured.
"Love is not born of time. It may
blossom in a day, an hour, minute"
ga secondT
$50 with our love-" She paused, and
looked dreamily over the sea. Wa:
she, too, thinking Of luncheon? But
no. 1--WE loved each other at first
sight"
1--WE did," affirmed. heartily.
Helen faltered; her eyelids fiuttered
tlnge of pink crept over her hunger
pallid cheeks.
"Yet you would never have spoken
had not Fate thrown us alone together
! here thousands of miles from shore"
glanced startledly towards the
beach. 1t was not there! In a panic
my eyes swept the horizon. Thanl
heaven! 1t was over my left shoulder
The tide had swung the dory around.
"For there was q gulf between u.s.
Helen continued. II was an heiress
and you were merely q second officer ,
"Oh, 1 say" I demurred.
"But danger brought US together
Position, wealth, all else was forgotten
We loved each other; that wal
enough"
"Quite," I said, with satisfaction.
"There, with the tempest bowling II
our ears, tossed about by the angry
waves, alone on the ocean, the seal Of
silence was broken. Danger drew u:
together. You spoke. Wrapped II
each others arms, for time all wa:
forgotten. Love held our souls"
"Eh-did THAT is, well, did I kis'
you?"
mo-" said Helen sharply.
ooh" / considered. "Not even ont
tiny, little kiss?"
"No." Helen considered. "Well
perhaps one very, very small one" sh'
allowed.