The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-12-14

In the fullness OF their lives there
comes to many an hour, day or a
week when the dead weight OF black
despair brushes the last hope and the
thought OF earthly existence fills them
with a WEAKNESS unutterable. Then
Il Is that certain natures walk to the
Brink, and half.fascinated by It's aw
ful mystery. stand staring into the
silent depths, while the Icy sweat
gathers on their brows and their limb
shake like wind.thrummed reeds.
So 1t came about that Kent stood
looking from the black doorway OF
the warehouse into the carly night
1t was long time since Kent had
been happy, so long. in fact, that he
sometimes doubted that he ever had
been. Still. his experience was but
the story Of a man--bttercr than
most mems. possibly-yet common
place enough to make the details un
necessary telling. Suffice to say, he
had looked from sunset until dawn
into the muzzle OF his own gun. and
now was telling himself that he had
seen enough OF this thing called Life
and that ne would have no more OF
It. 1t was not worth its suffering.
He turned up his collar and looked
from the doorway again. Coming
down the empty street that led to the
wharYes he saw woman who leaned
far forward as she forced her slender
form against the burly strength OF
the wind
You are going to boat" he in
QuIred.
She looked at his face for the first
time and answered him rapidly: Yes,
the Senator 1t sails at nine and
must hurry" She stepped to the
pavement and Kent stood watching
her fighting against the wind A wild
impulse surgcd within him.
What better way to end It all than
a plunge from the deck? 4 brief
struggle with the waves. n dream OF
fields and music and then the last
great Inconsistencies. No one would
ever know what had become Of him.
GossipinC tongues could say no more
than that he had disappeared.
81 am going to tho Senator also, "
he shouted, hurrying to her side.
Take my arm and hang on hard"
She stopped short, shot him quick
upward glance and thea he felt her
fingers close upon his sleeve. Flushed
and breathing heavily they crossed
the EanCway and stood before the
office Of the purscr.
Yes, the ship is going to sail to.
night" said that official in matter
Of fact tole. The cargo has got ia
go, gale or no gale But all our pas
sengers have Cancelled their berths
and You two will have the salon ia
yourselves. OF course you under,
stand It is going to be pretty rough
outside"
She nodded and both made their
way to the salon.
From ont of the great northeast
there swept that night a gale that
whipped itself into hurricane.
Hr-cr and more huge rose the steep
hills before the laboring Senator,
black, solid, battcrlng her front with
hcrculean blows, twisting her steel
frame like a giant wrestler
From the depths of his big chair In
the salon Kent watched the girl as
she sat nearly opposite him. She had
listlcssly thrown aside her hat and
under the lights Of the cabin the
dark masses Of her hair shonc with
the lustcr Of polished ebony.
Then suddenly she arose and glanc.
Ing neither to right or left went with.
In a statcroom, while the man. sinking
lower in the chair, let his cyclids fall
Endlessly the huge rollers came
laundering over the wallowing Sen.
ator burylnG her beneath their
black weight. crushing her down into
the depths, but each time she arose
like some half drowned thing and
shudderingly shook herself free.
For an hour KentG eyes swept the
length of the dim cabin listlessly-
then suddenly he leaned forward
From her staterOom the girl came
creeping and, with one hand against
the wall to steady her, she slowly
made her way towards where he sat
The man caught his breath and drew
further into the shadow as she passed
him in the half darkness. A moment
later her fingers closed upon the knob
of the door leading to the deck as
she twisted and tugged at 1t vainly.
"Oh. OH" she cried as she turned
away and covered her face with her
hands. A sudden lurch of the ship
threw her towards him and. springing
to his feet. Kent caught her by the
arm.
Kent knew that one motive only
could have actuated her to seek that
surge-swept deck; and her motive had
been his motive OF the hour before
But for a woman like her! He grew
cold at the thought
GO back to your stateroom!" he
began sternly, then caught her a sec
md time for her knpeS had prnwu