The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-11-10
THE LOST ISLAND.
BY ANNA GIRMUS.

age ddrtpn hltncf ana lnlthel
from branch, TO branch. Brigh
flowers were seen on all sides. Tai
paImsca their cool shadows owe
the soft, thick grass. Hammocks
with their loads of cushions, in
? yited the weary one to rest, ant
the s%plashing Of "A fountain sound
ed sIeepiiy on the warm air. !
was an ideal spot, and man mus.
surely be happy here.
The tail, fair maiden walking
slowly over the soft grass seemed
to pay but little attention to the
beauty surroundinghcr Heritage,
clearbluecycs were fixed thought.
fully on the ocean before her, yet
their expression indicated that
she did not see it.
"MiIka," called a clear, manly
voice, and a tall, noble looking
youth joined the maiden. 81 have
been searching for you,' he con
tinucd.
"IIow did the council cnd?' she
inquired, ]auXiously.
"Oh. We shall start on the cx,
petition Immediately; everything
is ready" Then, in gentle tones,
as he noticed the worried look
creep into her eyes: You surely
would not want MS to turn back
now, after all the planning?
Think of the wealth We shall gain,
of the glory that will be ours"
The two had reached a seat fac.
ing the ocean.
"But what if an accident hap
pens to the expeditions she
asked, cor if the professor made
some mistake in his calculations,
and when YOU reach the pole you
will find that your journey is all in
vain. | am troubled over the IN,
d%ertaking, more troubled than |
can tell The girls gentle eyes
sought his, a%nxiously,
Nothing can happen, dear. The
winged ships are perfectly rcIi-
able; the machinery is the best;
the company consists of the most
accurate scientists and shrewdist
business men of the island, The
professor is thoroughly convinced
that the expedition will be Il
grand success, and you know that
he is not easily influenced, that he
is one of the wisest and coolest
men Of the community" The
young man leaned eagerly toward
her.
There was a moments silence.
"You and my father both intend
to join the expedition"
Eyes, we wish to be among the
at the place. You see if the
professors calculations are cor
rect, as soon as the explosion
takes place, the jar will cause the
narth's axis to become inclined
another degree or two, and that
will produce such a change in the
climate on the lands north of us.
hat the ice sheet will melt, and ii
will be possible to cultivate all
sorts of produce on the soil that
IS now covered with ice and snow.
In fact, the professor assures us
that the climate will be almost as
mild as this. We wish to take up
arge tracts of that land, then we
will come back rich men. Your
has to-day given his con.
sent to u marriage on the day Of
our return"
The young man took her hand
md gently drew her to him. Thus
sat watching the sun disap
Dear beyond the ocean, but the
troubled look did not leave the
girls eyes.
"lou carry the explosives with
iou; will that not be dangerous?"
mo, they are carefully packed;
he professor himself takes charge
them. If could only e you
more cheerful, | would not leave
.o-morrow with a heavy heart"
"What? Tomorrow? So soon?"
md the maiden's face became
leathly pale, her eyes dark with
'ain, as she drew more closely
him.
surely one ought to be happy {
ere on this island of ours. a eli. |
late made mild and agreeable by
he ocean breezes, a soil so fertile
hat it produces everything we {
God tho ~pifiypnS iba mnof onl;nbt