Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-07-15

fore going about and must surely pass
so near that they would be sighted.
Dick looked at Tom ana then at
Kate, while battle ragged IN his soul.
The excitement which had sustained
the sick man during the morning had
passed, and Dick could see plainly
enough that the reaction was tugging
hard upon the frail strand of life. Yet
he understood that he had at command
MS potent stimulant as was ever com
pounded by Il pharmacist.
II was hope
In an hour or two the approaching
vessel would be within hailing dis
lance. Another hour or two meant life
or death to Tom. IL he knew that res
cue, food. drink and comfortable quar-
ters were but Il few dwlndIing miles
away existence would grow sweeter
to the wealthy shipowuer and Inn
porter, and the innate love of life
might buoy him through the crisis.
"Shall / spcak?' he asked of him
self.
If Tom died! But he tried to put that
out of his mind. How he loved and
had longed for the woman he faced!
A hickering spark was all that kept
them apart. Should he fan 1t into a
blaze or let IT go out forever
At last Tom again opened his eyes,
and. looking him in the face with a
pitiful, pleading expression, he feebIy
put forth his hand.
Forgive me-" be whispered In
voice of utter weakness, Kate bent
over and kissed hfnl--kissed him as q
mother might her child.
Dick drew a long breath, and a ire
NOR shook him like an ague spasm.
IA sail!' he cried hoarsely and rose
unsteadlly. For moment he swayed
with the rocking Of the boat, pointing
straight ahead, and then he sank upon
his knees and took Tomis hand in his
own.
"TOm." he said, "rouse' up, man, and
listen to me. There's ship coming
She's not five miles away. Think Of 1t,
man-somethlng to drink and plenty
to eat. Don't weaken now after all
you've been through. Let the past be
bygones. Live it out and be happy"
"a ship In sightw gasped Tom, "Oh,
let me see her"
1t taxed Dicks failing strength to
the utmost, but he lifted him to his
knees and held him thus while he
looked longingly at the distant sail.
For brief space the luster Of hope
rekindled the fire of failing vision, but
it was only for moment. A film be-
clouded his eye again, and he sank
back to the bottom of the boat with a
gasp
TOO late" be murmured-"toO late
for mer'
When Dick looked up be met Rates
gaze. 1t was a calm, steady look she
gave him and the first since Tom be-
gan his story Dick felt meaner and
guiltier than he had ever felt before.
He had to do something to distract her
eyes.
1.-THE sail" he said, pointing over the
waters. "Why don't you look?"
81 saw it." said she. "two hours
ago"
"And you were waiting for me to
tell Tom of it?'
Eyes" replied Kate, "and how l
should have despised you if you had
not"
The ships crew answered Dicks
faint hail with shouts of encourage
ment, and the vessel luffed up into the
wind with Tapping sails. A boat skip
pered by the mate was lowered and
towed the castaways alongside the
ships quarter
How are they?" asked the captain
as he leaned over the rail and looked
down upon the recumbent figures III
the boat, for Dick had collapsed.
zone man is gone, l think, sir" said
the mate after holding his hand over
Toms heart.
Yes" said Kate, "my husband is
dead"