The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-10-19

his wistful voice that under its COM
polling influence she slowly turned and
looked toward the other door from
whence the sound had come. Then as
she saw him, lifting one hand to her
head while the other unconsciously
sought her heart, she shrank back
against the wall and stared at him in
voiceless terror. He dropped INSTEAD
lily to his knee. us if to worship at a.
shrine
ooh, do not go awayy' he whispered.
II know it is only dream of mine, so
many times have seen you ever since
the night the frigate struck and sent
you to your death on that rocky pass
in that beating sea. Aye, in the long
hours Of the feyer-but you did not
shrink away from me then; you listen
ed to me say love you, and you an
swered." He stretched out his hand
toward her in tender appeal. She bent
forward toward him. He rose to his
feet, half in terror.
s"Kate," he said uncertainty, lis it in
deed you? Are you alive again?'
She was nearer now. One glad cry
broke from her lips. He was in her
arms again and she was clasped to his
heart-a real woman and no dream, no
vision! What the wind could only
family shadow forth upon her cheek,
sprang into life under the touch Of his
fevered lips, and color flooded them
like wave. Laughing, crying, Sob
bling, she chung to him, kissed him with
little incoherent murmurs, gazed at
him, wept over him, kissed him again
All the troubles of the intervening days
of sadness and privation faded away
from her like a disused chrysalis, and
she sparkled with life and love like a
butterfly new born.
He that was dead was alive again;
he had come back and he was here!
AS for him, in fearful surprise, he held
her to his breast once more, still unbe-
lieving. She noticed then an empty
sleeve and raised it tenderly to her lips.
II lost it after an action with the
British ship Yarmouth. It was only a
flesh wound at first. We were long in
reaching Charleston. The arm had to
be amputated- 1t was a fearful ac-
ton"
II know it." she interrupted. II was
there
''You, Katharine! All, that woman
on the ship! was not deceived then,
and yet could not believe it."
eyes, twas I. I gloried in your
bravery until saw you lying, as I
thought, dead On the deck. Oh, John,
the horror of that moment! Then
called you and you did not answer.
Then wanted to die, too, but now 1
am alive again and so happy-but for
this;;" she lifted the empty sleeve to her
lips. 'sHow you must have suffered,
my poor darling" she went on, her
eyes filling with tears, her heart yearn-
ing over him. "And how i'll you look,
and l keep you standing here chow
thoughtless! Come to the bench here
and sit down. Lean on me.''
NAY; but, Kate, you, too, have suf-
fered. See!" He lifted her arm; the
loose sleeve fell back. ooh, how thin
it is, and how smooth and round and
plump 1t was when kissed it lastv'
he said as he raised it tenderly again
to his lips.
1T is nothing, John. l shall be all
right now that you are here You poor
shattered lover, how you must have
sufferedv' she went on, with sob in
her voice. ...-
"Ch, Katharine, this" looking down
at his empty sleeve, "was nothing to
what I suffered before, when thought
I had killed your 49,. .. e.
when you thought you had killed
mel" she said in surprise They were
sitting close together now, and she had
his hand in both her own. "How,
when, was that?''
And then he told her rapidly about
the loss Of the Radnor and the idea
which her note had given that she was
on board of it.
"And you led that ship down to de-
structicn, believing was on her! How
could you do it. John?' she said re-
proachfully.
1T was my duty, darling Kate" he
said desperately. z..r-
And did you love your duty more
than me?"
Love it? hated it! But had to
do 1t, dearest" he went on pleadingly.
"Honor-you told me so yourself, here,
IN this very spot; remember your
words. Do you not recall them? If L
stood IN the pathway of liberty for a
single instant should despise the man
who would not sweep me aside with
out moments hesitation Don't YOU
Know you said that, Katharine?'
Did I say it? All, but that was be-
fore I loved you so and you swept me
aside. Well, love you still, and, John.
honor you for it, too, but could not
DO it. You see, I am only woman"
kate, don't say only woman that
way. What else would I have YOU.
pray? But tell me Of yourself
Briefly she recited the events that
had occurred to her, dwelling much I'D
on Desborough's courage and devotion
to her in the first days Of her captivity.
the death Of JOhnSon Tho b,,,,, "a