The Cairo bulletin., 1904-04-01

Two set Tue ~, uSluS JlD anu St-'J
sails
The fore ana main sails were already
drawing, and under all the spread of
her canvas the Bertha raced back 20
ward tie shore
But by the time she was within the
head of the bay her stern had settled
to such an extent that the forefoot was
clear Of the water, the bowsprit point
ing high into the heavens. Moran vas
at the wheel, her Scowl thicker than
ever, her eyes measuring the strength
of water that lay between the schooner
and the shore.
shell never make it in the world"
she muttered as she listened to the
wash of the water In the cabin I'M
der her feet. In the hold empty bar
rels were afoat, knocking holloway
against each other. Were in a bad
way mate"
III it comes to that" returned viii
bur, surprised to see her thus easily
downcast who was usually so indomi-
table-"if it comes to that, we can
swim for tia couple of planks'-
SWIM she echoed TIA not think
ing Of that, OF course we could
swim"
"What them"
"rhc sharksr'
Wilburs teeth clicked sharply togeth-
I Il f,,I. ,,r III =,
As the water gained between decks
the schooncr's speed dwindlod, and at
the same time as she approached the
shore the wind, shut off by the land,
fell away. Ry this time the ocean was
not four inches below the stern rail,
Two miles away was the nearest sand
spit Wilbur broke out a distress sig
nal on the foremost in the hope that
Charlie and the descrters might send
off the dory to their assistance, but the
deserters were nowhere in sight.
what became of the junk" he de-
manded suddenly Of Moran. She mo-
toned TO the westward with her head.
"Still lying outside"
Twenty minutes passed. Once only
Moran spoke.
"Vhen she begins 10 So" she said,
shell so with rush. Jump pretty
wlle, or you'll get caught in the sue
ton
The two had given up ali hope. No
ran held grilnly to tho wheel as d mere
matter of form. Wilbur stood at her
sillo his clinched fists thrust into his
pockets. The eyes of both were fixed
on the yellow line of the distant beach
BY aad by Moran turned TO him with
an odd smile
Were strange pair to die togeth-
err" she said Wilbur met her eyes an
instant but. finding no reply. put his
chin IN the air as though lie would
have told her she might wei say that
"a strange pair 20 die together" Mo-
ran repeated, but We can Go that bet
ter than we could have" she looked
away from him" could have lived to-
gethcr." she finished and smiled again
"And yet" said Wilbur, these last
few weeks hero on board the schooner
we have been through good deal to-
gether | don't know" he went on
clumsily-'I don't know when I've
becn-when I've had--l'va been hap
pier than these last weeks 1t is queer.
isn't til know, of course. what you'll
say. I've said it to myself often Of
late | belong to the city and to my
life there, and you YOU belong TO the
ocean. | never knew a girl like YOU
never knew a girl could be like you.
You don't know how extraordinary it
all seems 10 me- You swear like Il
man. and you dress like il man, and
don't suppose you've ever been aSSO-
ciatcd with other women. aud you're
strong know you are rs strong rs
am. You have no idea how different you
are from the kind Of girl I've known.
Imagine my Kind Of girl standing up
before IIoang and those cutthroat
bcacbcombers with their knives and
hatchets Maybe it's because you are
so unlike my Kind Of girl that that
things are az they are with me. |
don't know It's q queer situation. \
month or so ago WAS at ten in San
Francisco. and now I'm aboard q shark
fishing schooner sinking in Magdacna
bay. and I'm with girl that that /
that well. I'm with you. ana, well.
you Know how it is / might as well
say til love you more than imagin-
ed | ever could love a girl
Morans frown came back to her
forehead.
Il don't Ike that kind Of talk" she
said Il am rot used to It, and don't
know how 70 take it. Relieve me-" she
said. with a half laugh, Its all vast
ed. I never could love u man. I'm not
made for men"
No" said Wilbur, nor for other
women either"
Nor for other women either"
Wilbur fell silent In that instant be
had 4 distinct vision of Mor9n's life
and character. stunning men and
Stunned Of women. strange, lonely
creature. solitary as the ocean wherein
size lived: beautiful after her fashion;
as yet without sex. proud. unnamed,
splendid is her savage primal indie
peudenee-a thing untouched and Nm
sllied by civilization Size seemed TO
him some Bradamanje. some mythical
B~unehild. some Nalkvrie Of the leg