Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-03
Copyright. l903, by Edward J. Clode

them to. take further risks. I will make it a part of the bargain that they first supply you with plenty of water. Then you, unaided, could keep them at bay for many days. We lose nothing; we can gain a great deal by eudeavoring to pacify them"
 "Iris.'' he gasped what are you saying:"
 The unexpected sound of her name on his lips almost unnerved her. But no martyr ever went to the stake with more settled purpose than this pure woman, resolved to immolate herself for the sake of the man she loved. He had dared all for her, faced death in many shapes. Now it was her turn. Her eyes were lit with seraphic fire her sweet face resigned as that of an angel
 T have thought it out she mur- mured, gazing at him steadily, yet scarce seeing him. Tt is worth try ing as last expedient. We are aban- doned by all save the Lord. and it does not appear.tp be his holy will to help us on earth. We can struggle on here until we die Is that right when one of us may llve?"
 Her very candor had betrayed her. She would go away with these mon strous captors. endure them. even fat ter them. until she and they were far removed from the island and then she would kill herself. In her inno- cence she imagined that self destruc- ton under such circumstances was a pardonabie offense. She only gave a life to save life. and greater love than this is not known to God or man.
 The sailor, in tempest of wrath and compel her into reason-to shake her as one shakes wayward child.
 He rose to his knees with this half formed notion in his fevered brain; then he looked at her and a mist seemed to shut her out from his sight. Was she lost to him already? Was all that had gone before an idle dream of joy and grief, wizards glimpse of mirrored happiness and vague perils? Was Iris. the crystal souled. thrown to him by the storm lashed wave. to be snatched away by some irresistible and malign influence;
 In the mere physical effort to assure himself that she was still near to him he gathered her ID in his strong hands. Yes. she was there breathing. wonder ing. palpitating He folded her closely to his breast and. yielding to the pas sionate longngs of his tired heart, whispered to her:
 My darling, do you think can sur vive your loss? You are life itself to me. If we have to die, sweet one. let us die together"
 Then Iris fiung her arms around his neck.
 Il am quite. quite happy now" she sobbed brokenly. 'I didn't-imagine-- it would come this way. butt am thankful-it has come.'
 For little while they yielded to the amid the chaos of eternity each soul had found its mate There was no need for words. Love. tremendous in it's power. unfathomable in its mystery, had cast its spell over them. They were garbed in light. throned in pal ace built by fairy hands. On all sides squatted the ghouls of privation. mis- cry. danger. even grim death; but they needed not the inferno: they had ere ated paradise in an earthly hell.
 Then Iris withdrew herself from the mans embrace She was delightfully."- shy and timid now
 So you really do love mel" she whis- pered. crimson faced. with shining eyes and parted lips
 He fondled her hair and gently rub he'd her cheek with his rough fingers. The sudden sense of ownership of this fair woman was entrancing. It almost bewildered him to find Iris nestling close. clinging to him in utter conf dence and trust.
 But I knew. I knew" she murmur ed. You betrayed yourself so many times. You wrote your secret to me. and though you did not tell me. found your dear words on the sands and have treasured them next my heart"
 What zirllsh romance was this? He held her away gingerly. just so far that he could look into her eyes.
 ooh. it is true. quite true. she cried, drawing the locket frous her neck. Don't you recognize your own hand writing. or were you not certain. just then. that you really did love mel"
 Dear. dear. How often would she re- peat thst vondrous phrase, Together they bent over the tiny slips of paper. There 1t was again. ''I love you" twice blszo1ed in magic symbols. With bIushIng esgerness she told him how. by mere accident of course. she caught sight of her own name It was not very wrong uss fl. tn pick ID that tiny srrsp or those others. which she -ould no, help seeing and which un- folded their simple tale sn trIthfully; Wrong. It was so delightfully."- right inst he must kiS her s9sin to emphs- size his convictions.
 They grew cslmsT. more srdsts. It -ss so Hndenisblv true thev loved one another that the fscr was becoming venerable with sge Iris vss perhaps the first to recoznire it's os1te. certain U-
 -As I cannot get you to talk reason