The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-11-24
THE LAST MOMENT
BY J. OLIVER cuRwooo
Ccopyrlght, BY sobbs-Merrin Coz


the sound under his feet But be
heard and felt only the EARRING OF
the ship which came of the seas
pounding against her. With his eyes
on Flick he went 10 the midship hatch
and thrust an arm through the hole
that had been made for pump. he
did not expect 20 touch water The
fact that he did brought him TO his
feet as though something had bltten
him. Flick had seen him. and stood
huddled Just out of the sheets OF spray
that shut over the bow. watching a.
II the sight OF the man rising from
hts knees was curious and intores;iay
Connoly beckoncd 10 him.
A great shadder ran through the
schooner II she had POSSESSED n
tight hold Connolly would have
thought that she had struck a rock
The leeward drift that had won these
last hours Of existence for her against
the PUSHES OF the sea seemed sudden.
~ stopped, as II she had steadied her
self for the final engulfment C0nnoly
turned and ran for the cabin He
heard Flick's cry behind him and
caught n glimpse OF the little man as
he staggered out OF the mess forward
But II was too late TO stop. even TO
give a 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 Il swisaea
about him ankle deep and followed
him in a torrent into the cabin AeRln
he heard that cry OF Flicks. but he
shut the door. as he had planned. aud
bolted Il to give himself few last
moments OF life with the woman.
When he turned 10 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 10 say were
left unspoken. The woman VAS
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, aud on Il
cleaned their wedding ring. Like an
animal Connolly fell upon his knees.
The water trickled about his fingers
as he crept 10 her. At the bedside be
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 bat filed
with the splendid sanity OF his resolve.
The sea would not get the best OF him.
He would have the woman, al the last
and so firmly that the hell OF n thou
sand seas could not separate tliom.
But II would not be until the lfst--
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 panels his
staring eyes saw Il pouring faster UNI
der the door--he heard Il straining
| against the cabin walls. The door
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 II, 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 Cohn0ly
could hear his sobbing voice dying
away on deck He drew HIS arms
from the woman and followed. At
the door he paused for a moment.
then slipped out
The womans fever-stricken face
moved little. Her eyelids trembled.
and after moment she opened them.
Jim" she called weakly.
A gust of wind slammed the door
Jim, where are your"
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
Ia 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 4, but It's al
over now. sweetheart" whispered
Connoly. Where do you think the
old tub is? Couldn't guess. chr Wei,
she's settled as stcndly as the Rock
of Ages somewhere on the Thunder
bay Bhorel Tried 10 Ugh, her on, bat
we couldn't do H. Now all we've got
to do is to eat and sleep until some
body comes 20 pull us on Eth,
Flick?"
Flick had gone Out on deck. with
his face turned TO the ndistinct out.
line OF the shore. and the CLEANS Of
sunlight bursting through the ragged
clouds, he bowed his gray head and
softly whispered what little he could
remember OF the Lords Prayer