The daily sentinel., 1907-01-30
DARKNESS AND
DAWN
=. HARRY IRVING GREENE
]'.''rIrbt. by Joseph B. BowIes)

H. euIIupss of their lives lHeIe
70 many an hour. a day or a
fOHle7 hon the dead weight of black
49, 49, crrshes the last hope and the
9.~bt nj earthly existence fills them
.-,h A WEAKNESS unutteraoie- ihen
that certain natures walk TO the
~ and half-fascinated by It's aw'
ll'Aa a,ystery. stand staring into the
'a n,,. depths. while the icy sweat
- on their brows and their limbs
So IKE wind.thrummed reeds.
., came about that Kent stood
,,otirg from the black doorway OF
~ warehouse into the early night.
Il VAS a long time since Kent had
40, bappv. so long. in fact. that he
4 eo,etimes doubted that he ever had
IAN still. his experience was but
~ story OF a man-bltterer than
mo.t mems, possibly-yet common
E. '.i,ca enough to make the details un-
ro,asslrv telling. Suffice to say, he
nod looked from sunset until dawn
,ato the muzzle of his own gun. and
nav was telling himself that he had
-san enough of this thing called Life.
opd that ne would have no more of
4, It was not worth its suffering.
He turned up his collar and looked
com the doorway again. Coming
d,wn the empty street that led to the
vbaryes he saw a woman who leaned
nr forward as she forced her slender
form against the burly strength OF
the wind
you are going to a boat?" he in
qured
She looked at his face for the first
. lime and answered him rapidly: Yes,
the Senator. It sails at nine and
|must hurry She stepped to the
.payement and Kent stood watching
|.her fighting against the wind. A wild
Elimpulse surged within him.
What better way to end it all than
IA plunge from the deck? A brief
struggle with the waves, a dream of
&lfelis and music. and then the last
great unconsciousness. No one would
lever know what had become of him.
GOsspng tongues could say no more
||than that he had disappeared.
1. Il am eoing to the Senator also"
be shouted hurrying to her side.
Take my arm and hang on hard"
She stopped short, shot him a quick
.llpward glance and then he felt her
Ringers close upon his sleeve. Flushed
ani breathing heavily they crossed
ihe gangway and stood before the
offce Of the purser.
Yes, the ship is going to sail to-
Nnight,' said that official in matter
of fact tole. The cargo has got to
go gale or no gale But all our pas
fengers have cancelled their berths
Ind you two will have the salon to
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 out of the great northeast
there swept that night a gale that
fThlpped itself into a hurricane.
Hnger and more huge rose the steep
bills before the laboring Senator.
black, solid, battering her front with
herculean blows. twisting her steel
frame like a giant wrestler.
From the depths OF his big chair in
he salon Kent watched the girl as
she sat nearly opposite him. She had
hslessly thrown aside her hat and
lnder the lights of the cabin the
larA masses of her hair shone with
lie uster of polished ebony.
Then suddenly she arose and glanc.
iag neither to right or left went with
a stateroom, while the man. sinking
power In the chair, let his eyelids fall.
hhllessly the huge rollers came
numbering over the wallowing Sen
alor burying her beneath their
yaeA weight, crushing her down into
ae depths, but each time she arose
Ae some half drowned thing and
huulderlnsly shook herself free.
'or an hour Kent's eyes swept the
,sas'h of the dim cabin listlessly-
ieh suddenly he leaned forward.
.oH her stateroOm the girl came
,.seplng and with one hand against
wall to steady her, she slowly
m -lle her way towards where he sat.
s ulan caught his breath and drew |
4 lAef INTO the shadow as she passed
l'I 'a The half darkness. A moment
o '' ner hngers closed upon the knob |
'ae door leading to the deck as
~, visited and tugged at it vainly.
i ,,, oH' On she cried. as she turned |
s,.9 sg and covered her face with her
~ -l- sudden lurch of the shin /
4 a'eH ner towards him and. Swinging
im N'''' caught her by the
.,l,, Heni knew that one motive only
.9,.a r'a nave actnated her to seek that |
4 ~ ssswepl deck; and her motive had
M, u's motive OF the hour before
IN 'or q woman like her, He grew
''il at the thought
70 back to YOUR stateroom h.
ooS 4l 9'enly then caught her n sec.
lImr .' ulle' for her knees had grown
NJ, siu m She was slipping to the floor
/ - ~ as he looked about the decl, rose
Nd tSa nls feet in mighty upheaval
10, 1y sy Gnll crash of rent wood and
D-, "l'ed his ears. Rendered awls.
,rin1. O5 his burden Kent's feet
he,y,-' upon a threshold and he fell
nma.s lorward dimly conscious that
M, uolns mad struck him violently
he .bt' i'eua. And the next roll OF
hn T'Y any banging the door shut left
less n,.a. ."e one he had borne motion.
uon Tue hoor OF the smolSina