The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-11

10 Sun ~ bettlu8. Tnero would n
no twilight Darkness would come
swiftly. II she did not light that bea
con the ship would pass in the night
II she did light 1t, the darkness would
lend force and efficiency to It. Nc
ship would disregard such q light In
such quarter. Should she do it!
In one swift moment her resolution
was taken. She dropped the glass,
turned to the box of matches which
she had boarded for this very purpose,
knelt down, struck one of them.
watched the blue fame develop and
swell out in the still air, paused for q
moment hesitant, touched the light to
the infammable mass of dead wood at
the base of the pile. In one instant
the flames were roaring amid the
larger timbers as they had roared on
that morning nearly two years ago.
For one instant she would have torn
down the pyre and scattered the
fame, but it was not within her DOW.
er. Nothing could stop that raging
blaze now.
AS the flames cracked up through
the wood, roaring and catching, the
sun sank and the darkness fell. Her
last &c. ere the Gun tain Of night shut
her in had been to fix her glass upon
the faint blur of smoke Now she could
see nothing. 1t was a moonless night,
but bright with stars. She moved
away from the fire and sat down as
she had sat before, sheltered by the
peak. to watch the sea. Now that she
had done what she had sworn not to
do, she was eager for the success Of
her attempt. Indeed, she thought that
If yon ship did not see that fire and
did not come to the island and take
her of, this time she would really die;
she could not stand another disap-
pointment. Son
And 20 she waited wondering
through long hours while the flames
exhausted themselves and by and by
fell to heap Of glowing ashes. Sud-
denly there leaped out through the
darkness q distant twinkle of light. It
was too low for . star. Feeling for
the telescope. she found 1t and with
difficulty focused 1t on the tiny spark.
1t was . red light. the light Of ship!
The vessel had seen the signal. 1t was
nearer. much nearer now. She knew
about how far such . light could be
seen. The khip was coming toward
her. She almost tainted from the re-
vulsion of feeling from hope to GER
tainty. from anxiety to assurance.
1t was close at hand now. She must
20 down to the beach to meet 1t. She
rose to her feet and started down the
hill. She went slowly, cautiously at
first. but finally she broke into a
reckless run. She strayed from the
path in her excitement, her foot caught
In projecting root. A sharp. excru-
ciating pain shot through her. Some
thing seemed to break in her ankle.
She pitched forward on her face and
lay still.
When she came to her senses light
was shining in her eyes. Men stood
about her holding ships lanterns.
Some one bent over her as some one
had bent over her five years before
when she lay senseless on the sand.
A voice she knew called to her; arms
to whose touch she thrilled gathered
her up; she felt a heart beat against
her own. He had come back. He was
there
Woman" said the man, II have
come back to you"
Man." returned the woman, oblivi-
GUS of those who stood around, hold
ing the lights, to whom she gave no
single thought-indeed they were
those who knew her well-"Man," she
asked, true to her resolution, do you
love me as much as on-that night?"
More, thousand times!"
And do you think me worthy"
do not ask! 1t is I who am un-
worthy Of you"
II can die now" said the woman
softly, lasping into unconsciousness
again.
Great God!" cried the man, strain
ng her to his breast again, have I
'ound her only to lose her!"
Let me look" said the surgeon,
whom by good chance they had picked
Up at San Francisco. "She didn't |
ook like a dying woman a moment |
ince. Lay her down. man, and stand
Jack"
Whitaker and the chaplain pulled |
Jharnock aside. The surgeon took his
lace by the PROSTATE figure.
Lights here!" he cried. He made
UGH rapid examination as he could,
eeing in moment one foot lying In
TT. out of place, and helpless. "She's
My tainted" he said. Its her ankle.
hes broken it in the darkness COM
ne to meet us. We will take her to
he ship"
NO" said the man, "she must come
I her own free will. Send to the ship
Or bandages and whatever you re-
dire"
Very WELL" said the surgeon, rising
nd comforting hastily with Mr.. Whit
aker. Meanwhile, your handker.
hiefs. gentlemen, and some cold
rater."
There 10 spring hereabouts," said
be man, ION the other side of the
ILL.,"
81 will fetch the water" said the
haplain.