Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-12-15

the exercises of the gymnasium and
the field, but her strength was no
match for his. One ray of safety APP
peared in the fact that she believed
him ignorant alike of the extent of his
power or of the possibilities of the
situation. She wondered what strange
thoughts were going on in that latent
brain over which by the use of moral
force and courage she was striving to
establish domination. She rejoiced to
find that even in the midst of her anx-
ieties she could think so clearly about
the situation.
Did he know his lesson, she won
dered. She could only hope. If she
only had weapon, she thought, the
weakness of sex might be equalized.
There was nothing. Yes, her thought
reverted to the womanly pair of scis-
sors. With trembling hand she drew
them forth and clenched the little tool
of steel tightly. 1t was poor depend
ence but the best she had. And then
she drew quietly back into the re-
cesses OF the cave and sat down lean.
ing against the wall, her eyes bright
with dread, anticipation and curiosity.
She watched and waited, resolved If
necessary to remain awake the long
night through.
Outside the man had stood motion
less long time after the final repulse.
The dusk had not yet melted into dark
out there and he was easily visible
against the sky framed by the opening
as a dim picture. She was hardly
aware OF the intensity with which she
watched him and she was greatly sur
prised when she saw him at last kneel
down upon the sands. She saw that
the palms of his hands were pressed
together in front of him; that his
head was bowed, that his attitude was
that of prayer! He was saying some
thing She could hear him without
difficulty. She could distinguish no
words in the rude succession of
sounds that seemed to come from his
lips. but her acute and quickened per-
ception seemed to recognize nearer
resemblance to articulate speech than
anything she had yet heard from him.
What was he doing? In a flash the
woman realized that the man was
praying. The realization smote her
like blow, for this woman had long
since put away prayer. In her philoso-
ply of life there was no place for God;
in her scheme of affairs the Divine
was unimminent. And yet alone on
that island, in the darkness, despite
her attempt to mock away the con-
! seriousness, she was relieved at that
sight
The little ritual on the sand ended
with the one word her pupil knew.
Mani" he said striking his breast
again and staring upward toward the
heavens. Mani" he cried as If in his
: new consciousness he would fain in
troddoe himself to his Maker, the
woman thought His Maker!" her
lips writhed into bitter smile that
was half sheer.
What would he do next? He rose
to his feet and peeped toward the
door. She grasped the scissors tight
1 er and held her breath. But he had
| learned his lesson. With understandable
/ relief she saw him turn aside and cast
himself down upon the sand where he
lay motionless. If she had had any
faith she would have breathed THANK
Cod" AS it was, she was very glad
She watched him long time. spec
ulating on the questions she had asked
him on the hill In the morning; who
he was what he was; whence he
came: where he had learned that bah
BILE Of prayer; why he was devoid o.
speech: what was the God to whom
he prayed? She would study those
things. The problems fascinated her
The desolation and loneliness of the
island might have crushed her. Re
lieved from her immediate apprehen
sions the man delighted her. She
would investigate him, analyze him
synthesize him, teach him. She would
motaer him as woman child. Nc
such opportunity as was hers had ever