The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-06-21
6be Wings ef the
Morning

By LOUIS
TRACY
Copyright. 1905. by
Edward }. CIode

"You must be mad to even dream of
such a thing. Don't you understand
what it means to you-and to me? 1t
is q ruseto trap US. They are ungov-
erned savages Once they had you in
their power they would laugh at a
promise made to me-
"You may be mistaken. They must
have some sense of fair dealing. Even
assuming that such was their inten-
ton, they may depart from it. They
have already lost a great many men.
Their chief, having gained his main
object, might not be able to persuade
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, unafded, could keep them at bay
for many days. We lose nothing; we
can gain a great deal by endeavoring
to pacify them"
Girls" he gasped, "what are you
saying?"
The unexpected sound of her name
Ou LIS 1lDS dl01OS( QAdC4f fC0 ACAs OoC
no martyr ever went to the stake with
more settled purpose than this pure
woman, resolved to immediate 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
81 have thought it out" she MUIR
INJURED, gazing at him steadily, yet
scarce seeing him. "It is worth try
ingSas last expedient. We are aban-
doned by all save the Lord, and it does
not appear to 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 live"
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-
tion under such circumstances was a
pardonabIe 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 a tempest Of wrath and
wild emotion, had it in his mind to
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 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, a wizards glimpse OF
nlirrored happiness and vague perils:
Was Iris, the crystal souled. thrown
to him by the storm lashed wayc. to
ba 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, palpitashg. He folded her closely
to his breast and. yielding to tie pas
sionate longings of his tired heart.
whispered to her:
My darling. do you think l can sur,
vive your loss? You are life itself t.
me. If we have TO die. sweet one, lei
US die together
Then Iris flung her arms around hi.
neck.
Il am quite. quite happy now" sh.
.sobbed brokenly. Il didn't-imaSine-
it would come-this way. butt al;
thankful-it has come"
For q little While they yielded to the
glamour of the divine knowledge that
amid the chaos of eternity each soa!
had found it's mate There was no need
for words Love, tremendous in its
power. unfathomable in its mystery
had cast it's spell over them. They
were garbed in light. throned in pal
ace built by fairy hands. On all sices
souatted the ghouls Of privation. mis-
cry, danger. even grim death; but they
needed not the inferno: they had Gre
ated paradise in an earthly he'll.
Then Iris withdrew herself from the
| mans embrace She was delightfully."-
shy and timid now.
so you really do love me:' she whis-
pered, crimson faced, with shining eyes
and parted lips.
He fondied her hair and gently ruo
bed Eers cheek with his rough fingers.
Tie sudden sense of ownership Of this
fair woman was enhancing. 1t almost
bewiidered him to find Iris nesting
close. ci;neing to Linn in utter conf,
ieuee and trust.
But knew. 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 Gear WORDS on tae sands
and have treasured them next my
heart
N-Lat @ir!.s.i romance was snis? lie
held her away gingerly. just so far
that be could look into her eyes.
..nI, ;+ &c, t~,,o ,,,,ito fr,1a' cho cr;a6