Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-10-15

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| shook my head. Il gave that ques-
ton us some time ago. How about break
fast?"
Il was thinking of that myself" said
Rodney. 81 don't mind being hero, but
prefer to play the part on full stom-
ach."
III signal Charles" l went up On
deck, and found that the sun was high
up, and shining on glorious summer
world. l fastened napkin to the broken
stump of the mast.
Fifteen minutes later we saw my canoe
steal cautiously about the point of the
cliff beyond my house and poke its nose
IN the direction of the Ship. Charles
brought the tiny craft alongside of u.s.
They're watching the house closely,
Mr.. Felix" he said. 1T 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. l told Charles that
| 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. | 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.
"WellF she asked eagerly.
l told her the adventures of the pre-
vious night, and when l came to the ear
ly morning swim her eyes danced as she
clapped her hands with delight. "Oh.
wish l had been out there with you - she
cried. i've always wanted to try a swim
in the dark"
Its just as well you weren't" an
swered sagely.
She looked somewhat longingly out to
sea. What beautiful afternoon And
are the rest of the crew working?"
''Iha pf tha claa,N;pr
They had too much coffee for dinner last
night, and it kept them awake"
"And what is Charles doing"
| pointed to the deck. He's on guard
That's the reason I'm here"
"Oh, that's it, is it? l thought you
came to see me-"
"And so did. Suppose we sit here at
the foot of the cliff, where we can look
out 10 sea and can't be seen. There's a
little nook | know Of"
| found the place that l sought-a se-
cret crevice in the rocks-and there we
sat and watched the tide do its best to
reach us as it bounded landward. The
afternoon drifted past, and we, borne on
its tranquility, were now talkative, 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. l watched her, tried tc turn my
eyes seaward, felt the irresistible call, and
came back to watching her. Tie time
haG come when l coull think only the
cne thought.
The sun was low, Barbara was hun
ming little French song. The whole
world was adorable.
Barbara, 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. l have loved you
since | first found you on the Ship, and
| shall go on loving you until die.
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 to watch
the waves, and waited spellbound for
her answer.
81 haven't known you very long" she
added, her voice low land what do you
know Of met"
Everything. All l 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. | told you once you were
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
whisper. She raised her eyes to mine for
a fleeting second, then dropped her lashes.
"Relieve me. Barbara. It's not that; it's