The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-11-19
THE LAST MOMENT
BY J. OLIVER cURwooo
Copyright. by Bobbs-MerrIn Coz

/ ing. For an instant Il flashed into
his mind that he might use them. AS
quickly the thought passed from him.
They would only prolong their misery
a little longer. and the woman-he
shuddered as he pictured what those
few minutes of life battling in the sea
would mean for her. The end would
come easier in the cabin. In the last
minute she would understand, and
would love him for It, SO he passed
out. closing the door carefully behind
him, and scanned the deck for Flick.
For few moments he listened for
the sound under his feet But he
heard and felt only the Earring OF
the ship which came Of the seas
pounding against her. With his eyes
on Flick he went TO the midship hatch
and thrust an arm through the hole
that had been made for pump. He
did not expect to touch water. The
fact that he did brought him to his
feet as though something had bitten
him. Flick had seen him, and stood
huddled just out of the sheets of spray
that shot over the bow. watching as
II the sight OF the man rising from
his knees was curious and interesting.
Connolly beckoned to him.
A great shudder ran through the
schooner. II she had possessed a
tight hold Connolly would have
thought that she had struck rock.
The leeward drift that had won these
last hours of existence for her against
the rushes Of the sea seemed sudden
ly stopped. as II she had steadied her
self for the final engulfment. Connolly
turned and ran for the cabin. He
heard Flick's cry behind him and
caught a glimpse of the little man as
he staggered out of the mess forward.
But 1t was too late to stop. even to
give last word to Flick Over his
shoulder he saw the starboard rail
hidden in a mass OF seething water,
and as he reached the door 1t swished
about him ankle deep and followed
him In a torrent into the cabin. Again
he heard that cry of Flicks, but he
shut the door. as he had planned, and
bolted it to give himself few last
moments of life with the woman.
When he turned to her with the
tragedy that had overtaken them
written in his face. his outstretched
arms dropped slowly to his side. Only
her name fell from his lips. The
words that he had meant to say were
left unspoken. The woman was
asleep. Her face was toward him, and
in the dim lamp glow he saw deepen
| ing in her cheeks the flush of return
ing fever One white hand had fallen
over the side of the cot and on II
cleaned their wedding ring Like an
animal Connolly fell upon his knees.
The water trlckled about his fingers
as he crept to her. At the bedside he
stretched an arm over her, so gently
that she did not awaken. Then he
turned his face to the door. grim with
terror OF this last moment, but filled
with the splendid sanity OF his resolve
The sea would not get the best of him.
He would have the woman. at the last
and so firmly that the hell of thou
sand seas could not separate them.
But 1t would not be until the last
the very last. Then she would awaken
only to know that he was there, and
would die before the misery and the
terror of II all came to her. The
man fancied that he heard the beat
| ing of water against the panelsl his
staring eyes saw It pouring faster un.
der the door--he heard It straining
against the cabin walls. The fiooI
seemed lifting him up. Bow first, the
schooner was diving to her doom. His
are grew heavier over the woman.
His other slipped under her head.
Then came another shock. longer than
the one that had preceded 1t, and
after that there was absolute quiet,
There came knock from outside.
again and again. and then a sudden
pressure that burst OF the bolt. and
Flick stood there, babbling words that
seemed TO have no meaning. He went
as suddenly as he came. and Connolly
could hear his sobbing voice dying
from the woman and followed. At
the door he paused for a moment,
then slipped out.
The woman's fever-stricken face
moved little. Her eyellds trembled.
and after a moment she opened them
"Jim!" she called weakly.
A gust of wind slammed the door.
Jim, where are you?"
She drew herself up on an elbow,
frightened, and saw the water run
ming black and ugly on the floor.
"Jim-Jim--Jim-"
A man sprang through the door. II
was Connolly. He wrapped her close
to his wet breast. and the laugh that
fell from his lips was filled with an
insane joy Over his shoulder. stand.
ing in the doorway, the woman saw
Flick
Had quite time of it. but it's all
over now, sweetheart" whispered
Connolly. Where do you think the
old tub is? Couldn't guess. Ell? Well,
she's settled as soundly as the Rock
of Ages somewhere on the Thunder
bay shore. Tried to fight her of, but
we couldn't do 1t. Now all we've got
to do is to eat and sleep until some.
h.d., o,nnaa IN null ne on Esh