The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-07
THE CAsTAwAYs.


CHANGED that the wind carried six pas
sengers to one of the islands, while
current bore the same number to the
other island. In one case the half
dozen survivors were men, in the other
they were women.
Now, these islands We're just too far
apart to be visible one from the other.
and both We're far out Of the ordinary
course of vessels. The castaways ac-
cOrdingly lived on for long time, with
no nope of rescue, those on the other
island, OF course, unaware of the exist
ence of the others
Neither party found difficulty in
maintaining itself, since food was plen-
tiful and shelter unnecessary, beyond
that AFFORDED by the spreading boughs
of the trees.
OF the women it must be confessed
that they got on i'll enough in some
ways. They soon fell out, and bicker-
ings and harsh words were common.
1t was the constant practice almost
every day for two of them to strike
truce; the pair would then spend the
hours gossiping about the others, who
were doing precisely the same thing In
the end they would quarrel and the
next Gay form new alliances.
As for the men, it can be said that
usually they got on much more pleas
antly. They lived together in one
place and We're, as a rule. on good
1t would happen frequently, however,
that two of them would disagree on
some subject, when they would fall to
and hight viciously, the others looking
on with interest.
Just before they killed each other
they would be separated, and after
they had recovered sufficiently to stand,
they would shake hands and become
friends again.
In the course of time another ship
was wrecked as the first had been. and
in the same place; all therein persisted
except young man and young
woman.
By strange chance the young man
was thrown, half dead, on the wom-
ems island. Instantly they forgot
their indifferences and hocked round
him. They bore him to a sheltered
place and finally nursed him back to
life.
When he realized the circumstances.
he took it all as a matter of course
and pointed out several things which
they could do for him. In fact. he
he was quite recovered He proved to
be q handsome fellow.
One day the women approached
him, and one who had been appointed
to speak for all said:
AS you know, we are upon an
island where we can never hope for
rescue. We have accordingly decided
that it is meet you marry one of us
usual ceremony. but the situation is
so extraordinary that it certainly JUS
titles a union by mutual consent under
the great law of nature. Arise, then,
and make choice among US"
The man smiled cOmplacently and
rooled his eyes about at the women in
a superior manner. Then he said:
your plan is good, so far as it goes,
but it does not go far enough. The
situation is so extraordinary that it
certainly justifies plurality in wives,
and under the great law of nature I,
by these oral presents. do hereby mar
ry the six of you y
He rose with the intention of seal
ing the wholesale proceedings with a
half dozen kisses; but the women, be-
ing good women, he'd. Tor stopped till
they had hidden Lhs.usa. yes in a re-
mote part of the Islam.
Here. being truly and deeply in love
with the man, each died of a broken
heart. The man promptly relapsed in
to solitary barbarism.
1t happened when the second wreck
occurred that the surviving young wo-
man was cast unconscious upon the
island inhabited by the men,
They found her. and though giving
one another some black looks, carried
her to a safe place. built her a COM
Portable shelter, and nursed her much
more gently than you might have ex-
pected, knowing what you do about
them.
She gained slowly but at last she
was fully recovered; and she was GER
tainly a very beautiful woman indeed.
The men by this time were upon
very i'll terms among themselves, and
the energy with which each glared at
his companions was only equaled by
the industry which he showed in smil-
ing at the woman.
1t was finally seen that something
must be done, so they retired to a Sc
Guided spot to talk it over amicably,
each casually, and as if by accident,
taking along a big club.
The conference being declared open,
one of the men, who CHANGED to be the
smallest. but a handsome and pleasant
fellow, said:
Il am sure we are agreed that this
young woman should marry, and l. for
one. feel certain that she will not be
found averse to the plan. Now, what l
propose is that we go to her and let
her make choice of a husband among
US
ed and said:
This is not my notion at all. This
conference in fact. is all poppycock.
have known from the first what is 60
ing to happen, and 1 came out mere
simply to make a quorum I shall go
back to the woman and offer myself TO
her. When she has refused me. some
thing which I don't think will happen
it will be time enough for you Fellows
to put yourselves on the counter.
As the large man said this he BRAN
dished his club. But in his excitement
he did not notice that one Of his com
panions stood n little behind him
This man promptly raised his own
club and struck the big man n mighty
blow on the head and instantly they
all plunged into a general fight, the end
Of which found not one of them alive.
On learning of this the young Wo-
man fell into very low spirits and be-
gan dragging out an unhappy exist
ence.
So matters stood for a long time, till
one day the young woman, while fish
ing from a raft which the men had left.
was carried out to sea by the wind and
finally landed on a very small and al