Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-06-10

get Into Your Boat"
He was so weak that she soon got the
better OF him-so weak and dizzy that
he did not guard himself as she struck
him on the mouth with her little
doubled-up fist.
He put his hand to his lip and
found 1t bleeding. He showed her
what she had done. She drew back.
and regarded him with mingled pity
and exultation.
Now will you let me GOT" she
cried.
"Madge." he returned. "Joe's drunk
in his berth. made him drunk.
Madge. 1 had to talk to you. alone,
and there was no other way"
She was stung to the quick. Her
husbands shame was hers. and It was
somehow plain that Horrible had been
at fault before. She never thought
to doubt Gregs word, though his cal.
lousness revolted her.
What is 1t you want to say?" she
said at last In an altered voice.
ITO ask you to forgive me-"
For what? for taking advantage Of
Joe's one failing?"
mo; for leaving you the way /
did"
I'll never do that, Greg-never,
never, never!"
Your father"
Don't try to blame my father,
Greg"
II blame only myself"
why have you come back to tor
ture me?" she exclaimed. you said
1t was forever You cast me off, when
/ cried and tried to keep you You
said I'd never see you again"
II was a fool, Madge."
Then accept the consequences. and
leave me alone"
And IL / can't"
She looked him squarely in the
eyes. IL am Joe's wife," she said.
"Madge," he said, IL am not try
| ing to defend myself. I'm throwing
myself on your mercy. I'm begging
| you, on my knees, for what threw
away. L"
You've broken my heart" she
said; "why should I mind II you
break yours?"
"Madge," he cried, 'in ten minutes
we can be aboard the Northern
Light and under weigh in an hour
we can be outside the reef; In two
and this cursed island will sink for
ever behind us, and no one here will
ever see us again or know whittier we
have gone. Let us follow the gale,
and push into new seas, among new
people-TahitI. Marquesas. the Pearl
islands-where we shall win back our
lost happiness, and find our love only
the stronger for what we've suf-
fered."
She pointed 10 the windward sky.
Il think / know the port we'd make"
Then make IT," he cried, land go
down to 1t in each others arms"
For a moment she looked at him in
a sort OF exaltation. She seemed TO
hesitate no longer. Her hot hands
reached for his, and he felt in her
quick and tumultuous breath the first
token OF her surrender. Herself
child Of the sea, brought up from I'm
fancy among boats and ships, her
hand as true on the tiller, her spark
ling eyes as keen TO watch the luy OF
Ball NJ any mdn y, bne knew as
well as Gregory the hell that await.
ed them outside. To accept so ter
rible an ordeal seemed like a purifi-
cation OF her dishonor. If she died.
she would die unstained; II she lived.
IL would be after such a bridal that
would obliterate her tie TO the sot
below. Then, on the eve OF her Civ
ing way, as every line in her body
showed her longing, as her head
dropped as though to find a resting
place on the breast OF the man she
loved. she suddenly called up all her
resolution and tore herself free.
I'm Joe's wife!" she said.
Gregory faltered as he tried again
to plead with her; but in his minds
eye ne saw that stiffsnlng corpse be.
low. lying stark and cold on the cabin
floor.
You gave me TO him." she burst
out I'm his. Greg. will not be-
tray my husband for any man."
Again be besought her to go with