Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-06-11

Drought the uny craft alongside OF us.
They're watching the house closely,
Mr.. Felix" he said. ut was all could
do to get down to the river without their
following"
The canoe had brought US hot coffee,
eggs and rolls. We breakfasted in state
in the cabin, with Charles to wait upon
US. He had little news, beyond the fact
that the pines were patrolled by a num-
Der Of men.
After breakfast we passed the time as
best we could, but the morning went
slowly, and we were glad when lunch was
ready. This was a meagre meal, made
up of the scraps Of the provisions Bar
bara had brought US. / told Charles that
l preferred to have him stay with us, as
there was no telling when we should
need every able-bodied man we could find,
and so he brought the canoe on board,
slowed her On the after-deck, and devoted
himself to the small duties on his new
housekeeping.
Duponceau and Islip had slept little the
| night before, and shortly after lunch they
took up their hunks to nap. I was on
guard on the forward deck when l heard
voice call, ship ahop!" and looked up
to see Barbara on the cliff.
l called to Charles to take my place
for a few moments and sailed forth to
shore. Barbara joined me at the foot
Of the headland.
"Well?' she asked eagerly.
I told her the adventures of the pre-
vious night, and when I came to the ear
ly morning swim her eyes danced as she
clapped her hands with delight. "Oh, I
wish had been out there with you !" she
cried. 1--WE always wanted to try a swim
| in the dark"
"It's just as we'll you weren't" I an
swered sagely.
She looked somewhat longingly out to
sea. What a beautiful afternoon And
are the rest of the crew working?"
''The rest of the crew are sleeping.
They had too much coffee for dinner last
night, and it kept them awake"
"And what is Charles DOING"
I pointed to the deck. Hes ON guard.
That's the reason I'm here"
"Oh, that's it, is it? l thought you
came to see me-"
And so l did. Suppose we sit here at
the foot of the cliff, where we can look
out to sea and can't be seen. There's a
little nook 1 know Of"
I found the place that I sought-a Sc
cret crevice in the rocks-and there we
sat and watched the tide do its best to
reach us as 1T bounded landward. The
afternoon drifted past, and we, borne on
! it's tranquility, were now laxative, now
silent Barbara rolled her sleeves above
her elbows, and played with the water in
little pool beside our ledge Of rocks.
Her dreaming eyes brooded over the
ocean. I watched her, tried to turn my
eyes seward felt the irresistible call, and
came back to watching her. TIE time
had come when l could think only the
enc thought.
The sun was low, Barbara was hum
ming a little French song. The whole
world was adorable.
Barbara, I love you -
The words were out, spoken without
volition, all of themselves.
She looked up her singing stopped,
and the deep blush-rose crept into her
face, while her eyes shrank.
Barbara, love you. have loved you
since l first found you on the Ship. and
I shall go on loving you until 1 die. 1
can't help it; it's not only conscious, it's
partly unconscious; it's just you calling
to me. Barbara dear, you are all my
hope in the world. You are the world.
Will you marry me?"
was leaning forward, thinking only
of that sweet, that infinitely sweet face
opposite.
She smiled, her eyes turning o,gwatch
the waves, and l waited spellbound for
her answer.
"I haven't known you very long, she
added, her voice low; ''and what do you
know of me?"
Everything. All could ever know
that you are the one woman in the
world"
"But it's summer, and it's easy to say
such things in summer. It's all part of
the setting. l told you once you were a
dreamer. Dreamers are apt to romance,
and that is probably why you are now in
! love with the waves and the sunshine and
with me- The last words were just q
whisper She raised her eyes to mine for
feeting second then dropped her lashes.
| believe me- Barbara, it's not that; it's
the truth-the truest thing in the world"
| She played with the water In the pool
at her side.
ST like you-but, then, 1 like many.
| There's Rodney 1 like also. Perhaps I
like you better because l have never seen
you in town, nor anywhere but in your
chosen country. But can't forget that
there are other treasures in the sea
how can you be sure you won't come up
on another and a finer? Then, too, l
like men who do things, men who fight
and win out-and so you see" she fin
ished, with a slight smile, "it's not that
I like any one in particular less, but the
infinite possibilities more"
''Then," said stubbornly, Il will wait,
| and prove my meaning TO YOU
She raised her eyes frankly to mine. 81
like that" she said.
After a time we walked back to her
path and said good-by. The beach was
empty. Islip was sitting on the Ships
daol- end Rarhera wayad TO him and he