The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-03-28

the sun.
"Do you think we'll make it!' she
asked quietly.
"We1l try he answered, with equal
repression. Their eyes met in the I'M
derstanding of a common peril. There
was much against them, but wind and
tide were with them, and when the
CULTS Wing sank it was within few
feet of the islands shore.
Peyton stepped out and carried Miss
Ainsley to land. Then he pulled in the
boat as far as he could and made it
fast.
"MarooneG.' cried Miss Ainsley
lightly. She did not refer to their pa It
danger, nor did be. save to say solici-
tously. Miss Ainsley, you're soaking
wetv'
$50 are you. But the SUMS stron~
and hot on this little beach, and Wen
soon dry. When do you think they'll
come for us:''
I'm afraid we won't be missed til
nightfall, and it's only 3 o'clock now.
Thank heaven my matches aren't
damp, and we can build fire!''
"Crusoe the secondw laughed Miss
Ainsley. DO you think the wreck vii!
yield us anything? 1t should, accord
ing TO the best story books.
Nothing but the bailing pail and q
coffeepot and two tin cups in the
stern locker"
"Get them," she besought ''We'!!
use them to cook with
Cook what:"
Miss Ainsley's eyes danced. On,
Crusoe, Crusoe! Haven't you any i'm
agination? Don't you know there's al
ways food on a desert island-Sea
gulls' eggs and things like that? Come
along and let's explore"
There! 1 told you." she exclaimed
as their wanderings brought them to
little spring. isn't that pretty, the
way it bubbles up between the moss
and ferns? And 1 do believe there's
been picnic here Look at that bit
of orange peel"
Eyes. and see this!" cried Peyton
emerging from a thicket with brown
paper parcel in his hand.
Something the picnickers forgot!
cried Miss Ainsley ecstatically. open
it. quickr'
Peyton caught the fire of her en-
thusiasm. "Tea and sugar and Loaf
of bread he laughed.
Bread exclaimed Miss Ainsley
do you think that it's stale" She
/ Il; nf lon
and nibbled it furtively. NO! Its
fresh. There must have been a picnic
here this morning. Wen have a feast
a regular feast"
Time went swiftly in preparing it
Peyton found some blackberries, and
Miss Ainslie made plates of leaves
They built a fire of driftwood on the
beach. and over a pile of stones the
coffeepot sang pleasantly. 1t was
sunset when they seated themselves
luxuriousIy on the sand and ate what
Viola Ainslie called the fruits OF theil
toll.
'"This tea is the best 1 ever tasted
| Peyton declared.
You didn't know | was such a good
cook. did you?'' Miss Ainslie inquired
as she sat opposite him poking at the
fire.
"They will be coming for us soon,
| said Peyton "and then our day will be
over
eyes" said Miss Ainslie with some
thing strangely like sigh.
Behind them the woods of the little
| island were deepening into the shad
ow: the waves broke softly on the
beach: the rosy flames of the fire shonf
brightly out into the gathering dusk.
Listen" she added. In the distance
could be heard the faint, steady puff
ing of steam launch. They've seer
the fire." she exclaimed, shielding hel
eyes with her hand.
There's McNugget, cried Peytor
almost savagely, "and suppose you're
glad He was kneeling on the Sane
picking up the tin cups.
Miss Ainsley smiled "Oh, Robinson
Crusoe,'' she said softly, "how very
blind you are"'
Peyton dropped the cups and stare
at her. 'eYou mean he breathed
81 mean that-this afternoon when
thought that perhaps we've wouldn''
reach the shore-t didn't seem as il
the other things mattered at all.
knew then what really counted most
I knew that wealth was nothing ant
that I only wanted you = you - you!
The last words were almost inaudible
and Peyton had to lean very near t.
catch them. Then the voice of the mil
lionaire McNugget reached then
through the megaphone.
Coming cried Miss Ainslie in an
swer. Hurry up, Crusoe Why OF
earth are you carrying that old coffee
pot under your armT'
Its a trophy" said Peyton, 'of
shipwreck that has made me the hap
! piest man on earth.