The Hattiesburg news., 1909-12-03

"No," said the man Of the island
addressing the lieutenant commando
for the first time. you and these mel
are the world. I want the story told
where all the world may hear"
| Whittaker's surprise at this remark
was scarcely less than he had expe
r1enced when the woman addressed
him. Who was this splendid. godlike
form of man standing glooming by the
woman's side, silent. eager listener
to all that transpired? What had he
to do with the question that he as.
sumed this tone and manner of au.
thority? The officer turned toward the
woman.
Il think" said he quietly, that the
lady should be allowed to decide"
my wish is my friends wish" said
the woman laying her hand softly
upon the mans arm.
Whitaker observed that the man
shook 1t OF nervously. but the point
being settled, there was no further ap-
peal.
Pray proceed with your story, Mr..
Langford," he continued.
mo- let me take up the tale" cried
the woman. Believing that I was
right. believing that the education
and training which had made me
what I was were sound. believing that
this man was as free as to choose
his course and order his life, knowing
nothing Of his wife, yielded to his
pleadings. thought it was a noble
and splendid opportunity vouchsafed
me and. in measure, vouchsafed him
to show the world that we did really
believe what we said. Had I believed
in God then I should have said his
meeting with me, his conversion to
my theories, his passion for me, his
willingness to abide by my decision
were Providental. was glad to con.
secrate my life to the truth, with his
aid to take the final step in attesta.
tion Of my belief. to convince the
world that one woman at least had
the courage Of her convictions. II was
. mistake. frightful mistake. an ir.
reparable mistake. for which I SUD-
pose that must suffer to the end Of
time"
NO" cried Langford. II am here
to repair the blunder."
There is no power on earth" said
the woman. passionately, that can
put me where I was: that can give me
back that have lost"
Kate. Kate!" cried LAngford, you
don't understand"
Il understand too well. Why con-
tinue the sorry story? Mr.. Whitaker.
and you that are men beyond. that
have wives and children and sweet
hearts, that have been taught to love
God, to believe in him, and to observe
his laws. that have submitted your.
selves gladly to the conventions Of 80
ciety-or If any be among you who
have outraged these and gone against
them, taken the law into your own
hands-you will understand sooner or
later what came to me. discovered
that there was nothing high or holy
In this mans regard for me; that he
himself that he believed as
simply to get possession Of me. II
awoke to dreaded realisation. alone
with him on that yacht. He was not
kind to me. He acted according to
his lights"
Il will confess IT," said Laneford.
II was a brute to her. drank; I ac-
knowledged that had a wife; I said
she was In my power; I called her
vile names"
There was low growl, q muttered |
roar from the men behind Whitaker.
Even Langford's own men, in his own |
pay. shrank back from him. The man
was frightfully pale, yet he went on
resolutely, Whitaker stilling the tu-
multi with upraised hand.
mo one" he cried, can think more
hatefully Of human being than I
think Of myself now. have not
earned her philosophy; I have learned
another and q better. In some sort
If a way at least know that l can
never be happy until have made her
happy. know that l love her now
ss I should have loved her then:
hat I have hunted these seas for her
ceasing since she left me In
drunken stupor one night"
Left you how" asked the lieuten-
mt commander.
Il am not quite clear. I must have
descended very low," said Langford.
I remember some sort of a scene at
upper, and when awoke in the
morning, or l didn't wake for six
months, they found me in the morn
ng with fractured skull on the cab
floor, and they took me back to the
United States. 1t was year or more
'efore l could begin the search for
er."
He said things to me that night"
aid the woman, that no woman could
ndure or forgive. He came toward
ne. I threw him from me with such
orce and violence am a strong wo-
he lay senseless in the
abin. The motor launch had been
ot overheard for trial and was
railing astern. l got In it, drifted
way, started the motor and ran It
ntfl the gasoline was gone. l brought
bod and water from the cabin table.
lived a week in the boat, bearing
a1y tho tiuno hv r,norc | ,