Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-08

couId Iris Withstand the exposure, tha
strain, the heartbreaking misery Of
the rock?
lie shook rcstlessly, not aware that
the girrs sorrowful glance. luminou,
with love and pain. was Fixed upou
him. Summary dismssing these girls
~ phantoms Of the mind. he asked
himself what the Mohammcdnn sxgct.
~ meant by warning him against tho
trees on the right and the Silent
death" that might come from them IT.
was about TO crawl forth TO tho lin ~
the rock and investigate matters 4,
that locality when Iris, who also was
busy with her thoughts, restrained him.
wait little while" she said "Non,
Of the Dyaks will venture into the omen
until night falls. And I have some.
thing to say TO YOU"
There was quiet solemnity in her
voice that jerks had never heard be-
fore. It chilled him. His heart no.
knowlcdgcd quick sense Of evil omen.
He raised himself slightly and turned
toward her. Her face. beautiful and
serene beneath its disfgurements, wure
an expression of settled purpose For
the life of him he dared not question
her.
THAT man, the interpreter" she said.
told you that if were given up 10 tho
chief he and his followers would 90
away aud modest you no more"
His forehead scanned with sudden
anger.
"A mere bait he protested. an any
event it is hardly worth discussions"
And the answer came, clear and rcs-
olute:
Il think will agree to those terms
Al first lie regarded her with un1i..
guiscd and wOrdess amazcmcnt. Then
the appalling thought darted through
his brain that she contemplated this
supreme sacrifice in order to save him
y clammy sweat bedewed his brow
but by sheer will power he contrlved
to say:
You must be mad to even dream OF
such a thing. Don't You understand
what it means to you--and to me? I,
is n ruse to trap us. They are ungov.
erned savages. once they had you in
their power they would laugh at q
promise made to me"
You may be mistaken. They must
have some sense of fair dealing Even
assuming that such was thair inten.
ton, they may depart from it. They
have already lost Il great many men.
Their chief, having gained his main
object, might not be able TO persuade
them 70 take further risks. | will make
it part of the bargain that they first
supply you with plenty of water The
you, unaided, could keep them at bay
for many days. We lose nothing; we
can gain great deal by endeavorine
to paCify them"
Iris" he gasped what are Won
saving
The unexpected sound OF her name
on his lips almost unnerved her. But
no martyr ever went TO the stake VIII
more settled purpose than this pura
woman, resolved 10 immediate herself
for the sake of the man she loved II
had dared all for her. faced death il
many shapes. Now it was her turn
Her eyes were lit with a seraphic ire.
her sweet face resigned as that OF an
angel.
Il have thought it out" she muir.
INJURED, gazing at him steadily, yet
scarce seeing him 1T is worth try,
ing as a last eXpcdient. We are aban.
doned by all save the Lord. and it does
not appear to he his holy viii to help
us on earth. We can struggle on hers
until We die. Is that right when one
of rs may liyef"
Her very candor had betrayed her.
She would 60 away with these mon
ktroUS Captors, endure them. even fiat.
Ger them. until she and they We're fal
removed from the island. aud then
she would kill herself In her in1a-
renee she imagined that self destrur-
ton under such circumstances was =
pardonablo offense, She only gave u
life TO save life, and greater love
than this is not known 10 God or man
The sailor, in a tempest Of wrath anil
Wild emotion. had it in his mind to
compel her into reason 10 shake her as
one shakes a hayward child
He rose to his knees with this hall
formed notion in his fevered brain
then he looked at her and a mist
seemed u shut her ont froTn his sight.
Was she lost to him aIready? Was all
that had gone before an idle dream cl
JOY and grief, a wizards glimpse OF
mirrored happiness and vague perils
Was Iris, the crystal souled thrown
to him by the storm dashed wave, to
be snatched away by some Irresistible
and maiign 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, 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 | can sur
vive your loss? You are life itself to
me. II we have to die sweet one, let
us die together
Then Iris dung her arms around his
neck.
Il am quite, quite happy now" she
sobbed brokenly. Il didn't-imagine-
it would come-thiS way, butt am
thankful-it has come"
For little while they yielded 10 the
glamour OF the divine knowledge that
amid the chaos of eternity each soul