The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-11-20
CHAPTER v.
The Voices Of the Past.

The Voices of the Past.
1t rained hard during most of the
night. The woman slept lightly and
whenever she woke she could hear
outside. of her sanctuary the roar Of
the storm. The man, as usual, slept
the long hours through as undisturbed
by the commotion as a child. 1t was
apparent to her that he had absolutely
no fear. Whether this was due to ig-
norance or temperament she could
not say. Was fear, after ALL under the
conditions in which his life had been
lived, purely artificial quality, or was
1t natural and inherent? He had
avoidances, abhorrences, antipathies,
as the skeletons in the coppice which
she had buried. Was that avoidance
fear or was it something else? Was
it instinct or did it arise from recol-
lection? She rather fancied the last.
If SO, it was evident that the man had
been on the island long time. 1t
would have taken years for the metal
that must have been about that
woman's person to rust away, for the
steel clasps of the dogs collar entire
ly to disappear.
Upon that faint memory that he
cherished, upon that prayer that he
prayed, she could build the foundation
of his education. She had been so sue
cessfui in training him and in restrain
ing him. in influencing him and sway.
Ing him SO far that she had abundant
confidence in her ability to do SO to
the end. 1t was quite evident that life
would be easily supported under the
conditions in which 1t must be lived
on that island She need have no
| physical concern as to her material
well being or comfort, and here was
mental education and stimulus which
made her for the time being forget
the rest Of the world.
Indeed, she thought bitterly, as she
lay awake during the long watches Of
the night, that the rest of the world
was nothing to her and that she hated
it. She, therefore, not only was be-
coming resigned to her situation, but
was rejoicing in it. She would teach
this man all she knew. She would
teach him to think, to reflect, to rea-
son. She would teach him to talk
Since she had a book, albeit sorry
one, she would teach him to read.
The rain fell more softly now. Her
eyes dropped.
She slept again only to wake and
muse once more. She could have
slept better had he been outside. How
could he lie there in the complete and
sleeping insensibility of slumber? Hell
hand fell against her breast There
was the treasure trove of her exist
ence the day before. What would they
tell her? She could scarcely wait un
til morning to look. So she woke ant
slept and woke and slept until the
day broke.
1t was bright and sunshiny out, al
though there were omincus clouds al
about the western horizon. 1t wal
probable that the rainy season was a
hand, If not upon them. She re
GREETED that she had not given more
time to the study of nature, to the
fauna and fora Of the South seas. t.
the conditions Of wind and weather
under which life was lived there. Mucl
philosophy would she gladly hav'
parted with for such practical infor
nation. She had to piece her idea
of affairs out from scraps and tags o
knowledge, unclassified, incoherent
from vague recollections of childhood
stories and romances; from carelessl.
scanned collections of voyages, book
of travel and adventure. The result
was unsatisfactory. In some particu
lars the instructive man before he
was her master. At the things whicl
/, went to make up physical comfort AM
we'll being in state of absolute ns
ture he certainly surpassed her.
! She was thankful when she wake
, abroad that she had the shelter of tn
, cave, for everything was drenche
from the terrific downpour. If it wa
> the beginning of the wet season sh
| knew that the rains would soon com
. again. Still she luxuriated in wha
freedom she had Without removin
, her single garment she plunged int
, the lagoon for a refreshing bath. Tn
9 man followed her and swan about he
\ moving slowly, with less skill tina
!. she, but as easily as a porpois
; plunges about the bow of a progress
a ing ship.
\