The Red Cloud chief., 1905-08-25
(CONTINCED.)

o''u '"ItoIS, e1uuTc IncW, even fiat
ter them, until she and they were far
removed from the island, and then
she would kill herself. In her limo.
cence she imagined that self destruc.
ton under such circumstances WINS n
pardonable offense. She only gave a
life to save a life. and greater love
than this is not known to God or man.
The sailor, in tempest OF wrath and
wild emotion, had it in his mind to
compel her into r~eason-to shake her as
one shakes a hayward child.
He rose to his knees with this half
formed notion In his fevered brain:
ahen he looked at her, and q mist
seemed to shut her out from his sight.
Was she lost to him already? Was NJ,
that had gone before an idle dream OF
10y and grief, a wizards glimpse Of
fmirrored happiness and vague perils?
WAS Iris, the crystal souled, thrown
ITO him by the storm dashed 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 up 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 longings Of his tired heart,
whispered to her:
MY darling, do you think I can sur
vive your loss? You are life itself to
me. II we have to die, sweet one, let
ms die together"
Then Iris flung her arms around his
neck.
IL am quite, quite happy now" she
eobbed brokenly. IL didn't-imagine-
It would cOme-this way, butt am
thankfui-it has come"
For a little while they yielded to the
glamour of the divine knowledge that
amid the chaos Of eternity each soul
had found its mate. There was no need
for words. Love, tremendous In its
power, unfathomable In Its mystery,
had east its spell over them. They
were CARRIED in light, throned In a pal
ace built by fairy hands. On all sides
sauatted the ghouls Of prlvation, mis-
cry, danger, ever grim death; but they
needed not the inferno; they had Gre
ated a paradise in an earthly hell.
Then Iris withdrew herself from the
mans embrace. She was delightfully."-
shy and timid now.
$50 YOU really do love me?" she whis-
pered, crimson faced, with shining eyes
and parted lips.
He fondled her hair and gently rub
bed her cheek with his rough fingers.
The sudden sense of ownership Of this
fair woman was enhancing. 1t almost
bewildered him to find Iris nesting
close, clinging to him In utter conf
fence and trust.
But l 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 girlish romance was this? He
held her away %gingerly, just 50 fai
that he could hook into her eyes.
ooh, 1t is true, quite true" she cried
drawing the locket from her neck
I'Don't you recognize your own hand
writing, or were you not certain, JUS
then. that you really did love met"
Dear. dear! How often would she re
peat that wondrous phrase! Togethel
they BEN over the tiny slips Of paper
There 1t was again, IL love you twic'
blazoDed In magic symbols. VIII
blushing eagerness she told him how
nv mere accident, OF course, she caugh
sight of her own name. 1t was no
very wrong, was 1t, to pick up tina
tiny scrap or those others, which sh
could not help seeing and which un
folded their simple tale SO truthfully
Wrong! 1t was so delightfully."- righ
that he must kiss her again to empha
size his convictions.
They grew calmer, more sedate l
was 80 ~undeniably true they loved on
another that the fact was becomin
venerable with age. Iris was perhap
the first to recognize its quiet certain
~.
"As / cannot get you to talk reason
ably" she protested, IL nus apes
TO your sympathy. / am hungry, ant
oh, 80 thirsty"
The girl had hardly eaten q mors'
for her midday meal. Then she wa
Respondent, utterly broken hearte'
Now she was filed with new hop
There was a fresh motive In existenc
n whether destined to live an hour {
* half a century she would never, nev'
leave him, nor, of course could he eve
ouo, iaoua bor Soma things wei