The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-01-01
refreshed BY a siesta she Joined n. !.

refreshed by a siesta she Joined me at
the caves mouth, where we sat hand
IN hana until the plain below was all
~ shadow, only the white TRUNKS OF
.ne PAINS standing out pallid as ghosts
III the gathering gloom.
During the week that followed Olivia
ana hne ner maid occupied the inner cham
per OF the cave, which was sacred to
their privacy, while I guarded the
caves mouth and the outer room. We
Dotn knew well our lives were in tho
nands Of the authorities when her ia
!ner, Don Amadeo, should overcome
ms pride n command the Inevitable
seareh for his daughter. Tt could not
1e long deferred, n s o we, lived in
daily apprehension Of capture and sep
aration, yet were happy.
The knowledge OF impending sorrow
, only gave present joys a keener zest.
=. seemed impossible to escape from
me Island, closely guarded as 1t was.
!et l made my preparations. Far
ooWn below us was the solitary shore
OF Q Ian locked bay, beyond which
were lnnumerable days, and still far
tner on the ocean. Neither sea nor
snore was often visited, save now and
'nen by a smuggler or %flibuster.
Every day at sunrise, Olivia and her
-, A41S WCuL UONH 10
the land-locled harbor and worked
upon a great raft Of bamboo, which,
When finished, I launched and anchored
IN the placid bay behind the coral reefs.
a BY day thereafter during the whole
OF Christmas week I carried down
clothing, provisions, arms and ammu-
milton until at last our frail craft was
laden with everything necessary for a
| voyage.
-Four 61Va M ccaI .E offar we r1,o~~
ready before we saw a sail upon the
ocean. 1t was late in the afternoon OF
the last day Of December, when, sit
ting In the shade of the cave, Olivia
pointed out a speck upon the waves.
She looked long and earnestly, then
said:
Dearest, it is a ship, and it is COM
Ing toward our island"
VIII you venture?" ] asked.
Certainly" she answered, smiling
n my eyes. But first let me be in
DEED sure it is ap~proaching."
Half the distance had been traversed.
and, though darkness now overspread
the ocean,, we could still make out the
ships position by her lights. The sea
became rougher and more turbulent
and suddenly I sensed a new danger.
( While I was watching the foam crested
pillows sweeping toward Us In order to
avoid them I saw in their dark hoEows
rapidly moving streaks Of p~hosphores-
| cence.
We were beset by sharks! Their
flaming fins We're cleaving the water
all about us. The black waves We're
alive with them.
before us. In another half hour we
should be within hail even If she did
not sooner see us and lower a boat.
Perhaps l was made too confident by
this assurance; but, without warning, a
fierce wave assailed us, and the raft
was overturned. The same wave car
ried ny sweetheart away into the
darkness, but I swan swiftly to her
side and thrust out an arm to draw her
to my shoulder for support.
But that instant, as her eyes looked
lovingly into mine, ascry burst from
her lips, and she sank beneath the
waves. 1 clutched- at 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 and roaring pillows we sank to-
gether. 1 wrenched my knife from its
sheath. and in my fury plunged it into
the man-eater's body, gray and ghast-
ly, alongside Of me. The grim jaws re-
Taxed their hold, and, dragging the APP
parently ~lifeless form to the surface, I
bore 1t to the raft and cast myself
down beside her. There while the
waves swept over us, while the fins OF
the sharks Kissed and cleaned in the
foaming waters, 1 called to her, bent
over her, pressed my lips to hers.
Then, overcome by fatigue and de-
SPAR | swooned by her side.
From a dreamless sleep, from hover
ing on the borders Of oblivion. l was
awakened by strange voices. I was on
the deck of a ship. I saw forms Of
men pass vaguely before me, and by
my side-yes, there alive-sat one
whom I had thought 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,
n with Its coming the fluttering Of
sails and the rafting of anchor chain
informed us that a port vas reached.
1t vas that Of Grand Cayman, to the
southeast Of Isle Of Pines, a neutral
port, and we were safe.
We were married tina day at noon,
and thus was achieved the
ton of our happiness. And the cap
tain of the bark, who himself had TAX
en- 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
it to you. That was yesterday, and
hence last year; this is today, and
hence the new year. That which per-
ished in the old year the new year sees
restored to life. God bless you both
| and sanctify this New Years gift
Buffalo Evening News.
1+e.-E=EE .aH H. AI-ov. YYrnrtl,