The Elbert County tribune., 1908-05-14

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-
spersed with inky patches where
squalls were bursting. To leeward
the broad lagoon, stretching for
dozen miles to the tree-topped rim of
reef. smoked with the haze of an i'm
pending gale. Ashore, the palms bent
like grass in the succeeding gusts. and
the ocean beaches reverberated with
a furious surf. The great atoll of
Maxim, no higher than a man, no
wider than couple of furlongs, but
In circumference sinuous giant of 80
miles or more, lay like snake on the
boisterous waters of the equator and
defied the sea and storm.
Within the lagoon, and not far off
the settlement, two ships rocked at
anchor. One, the Northern Light,
was powerful topsail schooner Of
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 a 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 in
time would be likely to satisfy
taste for both by making a swift trip
to the bottom.
The deck of the Northern Light
was empty save for the single tall fig
ure 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 he had loved Madge Blanchard
until he had lost her; until after that
wild quarrel on Nonootch, when her
father had called him 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 SO confident of
that fierce love she had so often con-
fessed for him; he had come back re-
pentant, ashamed of the burning Of
fense he had then taken, determined
to let bygones be bygones, and to be-
gin. II need be, 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
decision that was doubtless already
abhorrent to her; to remain with un-
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 mol
1t was for her to choose.
He jumped into the dinghy and
pulled over to the schooner. Small
at distance, she seemed to shrink as
he drew near her, so thet 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
sourlyl
Capt. Horble?' said Gregory Cole.
Glad to see you aboard" said
Horrible.
They shook hands and sat side by
side on the rail.
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