The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-11-10

IL was 10 turn Dack now; trled II
convey to her some of his owl
%eagerness for wealth, and his con
idence in the scheme which he was
so anxious to help test. As he
talked she became calmer, but SHE
was not entirely convinced. The
next day a feet of six ships slow
~ arose in the air, their wing-like
sails h~uttering against the breeze,
Milka stood on the porch of her
fathers house, and watched them
until they slowly disappeared be.
yond the northern horizon, then
signing sadly she wandered into
the garden.
Six weeks later, the maiden sat
on the seat in the garden where
she had last talked with her lover.
Her hands were clasped tightly
before her, her face was drawn
with suspense. Two messages
bad she received from the rovers,
the last from the far north, and
she knew she would not receive
another soon. as it would be too
cold to send the pigeons. She
was more restless to-day than
usual; she had walked about, had
tried to read, had visited her ia.
vorite plants, and now, after
watching the ocean for awhile,
she Sprang up neryously, walked
rapidly to a pavilion at one end of
the garden, where, after some
preparation, she let loose her own
pretty, white winged air-boat,
which arose gracefully. She was
seated in the center of the she'll,
and started to steer toward the
north; just then such a current of
air toward the south struck the
boat that it remained stationary.
Milka tried again to steer, but
was unsuccessful; this frightened
her, for the machinery had always
been obcdient TO her manage.
ment. She looked beneath her, in
tending to let the boat down.
a cry of horrorescaped her lips;
the beautiful island was rocking
and thitheT on the bosom of
the ocean. She could see the in.
habitants tossed about, their
agonized faces appear.
everywhere as they tried to
something stationary;their
cries reached her ears,
but she was not able to go to their
assistance. After one violent
the land with all its inhab.
was swallowed mp by the
ocean. Great waves came rolling
and carried the poor natives
who came % the surface far away
her sight.
She coyeed her face with her
hands and called aloud for her
and lover, although she
knew they we're far from her. The
Wind took hold of the pretty boat
and bore it rapidly toward the
south. She Crouched in the bot
tom of the craft, closing her eyes
Is if to keep out the sight of the
destruction of those who, but a
short time before, had been her
%leighbors. ,
She was aroused to action by
Ter own rapid flight. She tried to
'eduCe the speed, but to her con.
formation she found she had lost
Ill control of the machinery. The
Iir was biting cold; fortunately,
ONE wraps had been left in the
'oat for emergencies; she bun
He'd herself up in them and curled
own in the bottom of the boat.
Darkness came on, still she flew
trough the vast solitude at a
'reat velocity. For awhile she
Watched the moon and stars in the I
old, blue sky. but at last, over. ;
ONE by fatigue, she slept.
The next morning, faint from i
and want of food and
rink, she sat up trying to deter. /
nine where she was, but she saw I
othing but the ocean beneath t
She remembered some pro. ;
isions in Il box and found them: {
fter eating a little she sank wear
Y back among the wraps. She [
i'd not know how long her flight ,
Dntinued, but one day she awoke
, find herself surrounded by ,
dusky maidens who were :
Ding all in their power to make '
ar comfortable. Her body was i,