River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-05-14

IL WdG u VIII mQiGA dCJy anu bAlC
rising wind sang in the rigging Of the
ships. The weather horizon, dark and
brilliant, in Ominous alterations
showed a sky Of piled-up cloud inter-
5persed with inky patches where
squalls were bursting. To leeWard
the broad lagoon, stretching for q
dozen miles to the tree-topped rim Of
reef, smoked with the haze Of an i'm
pending gale Ashore, the palms bent
Ike grass in the succeeding gusts, and
tie ocean beaches reverberated with
d furious surf The great atoll Of
Maxim, no higher than a man, no
wider than couple Of furlongs, but
in circumference a sinuous giant Of 80
miles or more, lay like a snake on the
b0ster0u2 waters Of the equator and
defed the sea ard storm.
Within the lagoon, and not far of
the settlement, two ships rocked at
anchor One, the Northern Light,
was a powerful topsail schooner Of q
hundred tons; straight bowed, low in
the water, built on fine lines and yet
spared for safety, the sort of vessel
that does well under plain sail, and
when pressed can fly. The other the
EdelWeiss, was a miniature fore and
after Of about 20 tons, toy of deli
cacy and grace, betraying at q glance
that she had been designed a yacht,
and in spite Of fallen fortunes, was
still sailed as one. The man that laid
her lee rail under would get danger as
well as speed for his pains, and i'll
time would be likely to satisfy a
taste for both by making swift trip
To the bottom.
The deck of the Northern Light
was empty save for the single tall fig
IRE Of Gregory Cole, captain and
owner, who was leaning over the rail
gazing at the EdelWeiss. He was a
man Of about 80, his tanned, hand
some face overcast and somber, his
eyes, with their characteristic hunted
look, fixed in an uneasy stare on his
smaller neighbor.
He had never known how passion
ately lie had loved Madge Blanchard
until he had lost her; until after that
wild quarrel on Non0otch, when her
father had called him a SLAYER to his
face, and they had parted on either
side in anger; until he had beaten up
from westward to find her the month
old wife of Joe Horrible. Somehow, in
the course of those long, miserable
months, he had never thought Of her
marrying; he felt 50 confident of
that fierce love she had so often con-
fessed for him; he had come back re-
pentant, ashamed Of the burning Of
Tense he had then taken, determined
to let bygones be bygones, and to be-
gin, if need be, a new and a more
blameless way of life.
He had to see her. He was mad to
see her. The thought of her tortured
and tempted him without end Sup
pose she, too had learned that love
is stronger than oneself; that the
mouth can say Yes when the heart
within is breaking; that she, like him
self, had found the time to repent her
folly? Was he the man to leave
her thus; to acquiesce tamely in a
decision that was doubtless already
abhorrent to her; to remain with IN
lifted hands when she might be on
fire for the sign to come to him?
No, never! he'd beg her forgiveness
and offer her the choice. Yes or no!
1t was for her to choose.
he jumped into the dinghy and
pulled over to the schooner. Small
at a distance. she seemed to shrink as
he drew near her, 50 that when he
stood up he was surprised to find his
head above the rail. So this was
Horrible, this coarse, red-faced trader,
with the pug nose, the fat hands, the
faded blue eyes that met his own so
sourly.
Capt Horble?" said Gregory Cole.
Glad to see you aboard" said
Horrible
They shook hands and sat side by
side on the rail-
Where's Madge?" said Gregory.
Mrs Horble's ashore said the cap
tain.
I'm afraid | can never call her any
thing but Madge, said Gregory, de-
tecting the covert reproach in the
others voice.
Horrible was plainly i'll at ease. His
face turned a deeper red. He was
on the edge of hurting out dis
agreeable remark. and then hesitated,
making an inarticulate sound in his
threat. Like everybody else, he was
afraid Of the labor captain.
Crews ashore, too said Gregory,
glancing about the empty deck.
There amt no crew. muttered
Horrible.
Thunder" cried Gregory. do
you do it with electricity, or what?'
Me and Madge runs her." returned
Horrible.
DO you mean to say she pully-
hauls your damn ropes?' exclaimed
Gregory
Yes" said Horrible. What's 20
tons between the two of u.s."
And cooks?" said Gregory.
And cooks" said Horrible.
4 know she can sail a boat against
anybody" said Gregory, wincing at
the remark
Horrible spat in the water and said
nothing. His fat. broad back said
palmer than words: You're an in
truder! Get OUT"
4 believe she's aboard this very
minute" said Gregory, with strange
smile.
She's ashore, tell YOU" said Hor
Bile. sullenly.