Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-20
tcoNTISuEp.l

THAT man. the interpreter" she said,
told you that if were given up to the
chief lie and his followers would 90
away and molest you no more"
His forehead scanned with sudden
anger.
a mere bait" he protested. I'm any
event it is hardly worth discussion"
And the answer came, clear and res
olute:
81 think will agree to those terms"
At first lie regarded her with undis-
guised and wordless amazement. Then
the appalling thought darted through
his brain that she contemplated this
supreme sacrifice in order to save him.
A clammy sweat bedewed his brow,
but by sheer will power he cOntrived
to say:
You must be mad to even dream Of
such thing. Don't you understand
what it means to you-aId to me? 1t
is ruse to trap us. hey are ungov-
erned savages. Once they had You in
their power they woubl laugh ut a
promise made to me-"
You may be mistaken. They must
have some sense of fair dealing. Even
assuming that such was their inten-
tion, they may depart from 1t. They
have already lost great many men.
Their chief, having gained his main
object, might not be able to persuade
them to take further risks. will make
1t part of the bargain that they first
supply you with plenty of water. Then
you, unaided, could keep them at bay
for many days. We lose nothing; we
can gain great deal by endeavoring
to pacify them"
Iris" he gasped. "what are you
saying?'
The unexpected sound Of her name
on his lips almost unnerved her. But
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 1t was her turn.
Her eyes were lit with seraphic fire,
he- sweet face resigned as that Of an
angel.
II have thought it out" she mur-
INJURED, gazing at him steadily, yet
scarce seeing him. 1T is worth try
ing as last expedient. We are aban-
doned by all save the Lord, and 1t 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 liver"
Her very candor had betrayed her.
She would go away with these mon
strous captOrs. endure them, even fiat
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
pardonable offense. She only gave a
life to save 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 a wayward child.
He rose to his knees with this half
| formed notion in his fevered brain;
then he looked ut her, and a mist
seemed to shut her out from his sight.
Was she lost to him already? Was all
| that had gone before an idIc dream OF
10Y and grief. wizards glimpse of
mirrored happiness and vague perils
Was Iris, the crystal souled, thrown
to him by the storm dashed wave. II
be slatched away by some irresistible
| and malign influence!
In the mere physical effort to assure
| himself that she was still near to him
| ne gathered her up in his strong lands
| 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 l can sur
vive Your loss? You are life itself tc
me. If we have to die. sweet one. lei
II
lis die together"
Then Iris flung her arms around Ills
neck.
II am quite, quite happy now she
sobbed brokenly. II didn't-imaslhe-
il would come--this way. butt an
thankful-it has come.
For little while they yielded to the
glamour Of the divine knowledge tna'
amid the chaos of eternity each sou
had found it's mate. There was no need
for words. Love, tremendous III It's
power. unfathOmable In its mystery
had cast its spell over them. TIE!
were garbed in light, throncd IN pal
zee built by fairy hands. On all sides
s,uattcd tie ghouls of privntion. mis-
pry, danger. even grim death; but the!
hcc,lcL not the inferno: they Ead.Gre
atel paradise in an earthly lc!l.
Then Iris withdrew herself from tht
mans embrace. She was deiiShtfuli!
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 entrancing. 1t almos
bewildered him to find Iris nesting
close. clinging to him in utter conf
dence and trust.
But l knew, knew" she murmur
ed. "You betrayed yourself so man!
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 m!
, heart"
What girlish romance was this? III
held her away gingerly. just so ia
that he could look into her eyes.
"Oh, 1t Is true, quite true" she. cried
drawing the locket from her neck
Don't you recognize your own hand
a writing, or were you not certain, jus
then. that you really did love me?'
81 Dear. dear! How often would she re
J pe,t that wondrous phrase! Togethe
they bent over the tiny slips Of paper
, There it was again. 81 love you" twic
blazoned in magic symbols. Wit
! blushing eagerness she told him how
! by mere accident, of course, she caugh
I sight of her own name. 1t was nc
! very wrong, was 1t, to pick up tha
!, tiny scrap or those others, which sh
D co,,ld not holm seeing and which VI