The Irish standard., 1909-06-12

"Get Into Your Boat"
He was so weak that she soon got the
better Of him-so weak and dizzy that
he did not guard himself as she struck
him on the mouth with her little
doubled-up fist
He put his hand to his lip and
found it bleeding. He showed her
what she had done. She drew back,
and regarded him with mingled pity
and exultation.
Now will you let me go?" she
cried.
"Madge," he returned, "Joes drunk
in his berth. ! made him drunk.
Madge I had to talk to you. alone,
and there was no other way"
She was stung to the quick. Her
somehow plain that Horrible had been
at fault before. She never thought
to doubt Greg's word, though his cal
lousness revolted her.
What is 1t you want to say?" she
said at last in an altered voice.
~ dom vou W lol SlFe IllC.
For what? for taking advantage of
Joes one failing?"
mo; for leaving you the way ]
did"
"1'll never do that, Greg-never,
never, never"
"Your father"
Don't try to blame my father,
Greg"
81 blame only myself"
why have you come back to tor
ture me?' she exclaimed. You said
it was forever. You cast me off, when
cried and tried to keep you. You
said Id never see you again."
II was a fool. Madge'
"Then accept the consequences, and
leave me alone
"And If ] can't"
She looked him squarely in the
eyes. u am Joe's wife," she said.
"Madge," he said. ~ am not try
ing to defend myself. I'm throwing
myself on your mercy. I'm begging
you. on my knees, for what threw
away. L"
you've broken my heart" she
said; why should I mind II you
break yours?"
"Madge." he cried, I'm ten minutes
we can be aboard the Northern
Light and under weigh; in an hour
we can he outside the reef: In two,
and this cursed island will sink for
ever behind us, and no one here will
ever see us again or know whittier we
have gone. Let us follow the gale,
and push into new seas, among new
people-Tahiti, Marqnesas. the Pearl
islands-where we shall win back our
lost happiness, and find our love only
the stronger for what we've suf.
fered."
She pointed to the windward sky.
81 think I know the port we'd make"
Then make It," he cried, land go
down to 1t in each others arms"
For moment she looked at him In
sort Of exaltation. She seemed to
hesitate no longer. Her hot hands
reached for his, and he felt in her
quick and tumultuous breath the fret
token of her surrender. Herself q
child Of the sea, brought up from in.
fancy among boats and ships, her
hand AZ true on the tiller, her spark.
ling eyes as keen to watch the huff OF
q sail as any mans, she knew rs
we'll as Gregory the hell that await
ed them outside. To accept 80 ter.
rible an ordeal seemed like a purifl.
cation Of her dishonor. II she died,
she would die unstained; II she lived,
1t would be after such a bridal that
would obliterate her tie to the sot
below. Then, on the eve Of her Civ.
ing way. as every line in her body
showed her longing, as her head
dropped as though to find a resting
place on the breast Of the man she
loved, she suddenly called up all her
resolution and tore herself free.
I'm Joe's wife," she said.
Gregory faltered as he tried again
to plead with her; but in his mind &
eye he saw that stiffening corpse be-
low, lying stark and cold on the cabin
floor.
"You gave me to him., she burst
out I'm his, Greg. will not be-
tray my husband for any man.
Again he besougAt her to 60 with