The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-05-15

"Get Into Your Boat"
lie 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
doublcd.up fist
He put his hand to his lip and
found 1t bleeding lie showed her
what she had done. She drew back,
and regarded him with mingled pity
and exultation.
Now will you let me go?" she
cried
"Madge." he returned. "Joe's drunk
In his berth. made him drunk,
MadGc had to talk to you. alone.
and there was no other way"
She was stung to the quick, Her
husbands shame was hers and II was
somehow plain that Horrible had been
ut fault before. she never thought
to doubt Grog's word. though his cal.
lousness reyotod her.
What Is 1t you want to sny?" she
said at last In an altered voice.
ITO ask you to forgive me"
For what? for taking advantage of
Jocs one falling?"
NO; for leaving you the way
did"
I'm never do that, Greg-never.
never, never"
"Your father"
Don't try to blame my father.
Greg"
Il blame only myself
Why have you como back to tor
ture me-" she exclaimed. you said
It was forever. You cast me off, when
| cried and tried to keep you. You
said I'd never see you again"
II was fool, Madge."
Then accept the consequences. and
leave me alone"
And II can't"
She looked him squarely in the
eyes. Il am Joe's wife," she said.
"Madge," he said. II am not try.
ing to defend myself. I'm throwing
myself on your mercy. I'm begging
you, on my knees, for what l 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-Tahitl, Marquesas. the Pearl
islands-whore we shall win back our
lost happiness. and find our love only
the stronger for what we've suf
fered."
She pointed to the windward sky.
Il think know the port we'd make"
Then make It" he cried, land so
down to It In each others arms"
For moment she looked at him In
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 In.
fancy among boats and ships. her
hand as true on the tiller, her spark.
ling eyes as keen to watch the luff Of
a sail as any mans, she knew as
we'll as Gregory the hell that await.
cd them outside. To accept 80 ter
rible an ordeal seemed like purif.
cation of her dlshonor. II she died.
she would die unstained II she lived,
II would be after such a bridal that
would obllterate 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 q 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 he saw that stiffening 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 he besought her to 70 with