The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-12-07

She ResoIutely Set Herself to Wade
Into the Deeper Sea.
moment have maintained their erect
position. The woman knew in that
moment how such things could be.
But love you STILL" said the man.
"And still want you for my Wife"
Last night" went on the woman,
as If in dream, II seemed to you
the embodiment Of every excellence
that humanity can possess short of
the divine"
"Yes," said the man, 81 loved you
| as"
do l still possess those qualities
in your eyes?"
He hesitated. He strove to speak.
"The truth! The truth" whispered
the woman. Nothing else, so help
! you Cod"
mo-" said the man, "but love you
still, and you ought to marry me, you
| must. Can't you understands
/ Listen" said the woman. fiercely.
II did not 60 to that man yonder, al
though he offered me everything that
honor could dictate and that true af-
lection could suggest, I do believe, be-
{ cause did not love him, although
| have since come to respect him, after
have thought 1t over 1t is not duty.
T! but love. which is the compelling mo-
tive in this matter. And l won't take
you; would not take an angel from
| heaven nnlpcc ho thought in
cry particular all that woman
should be to a man, unless he loved
me with his whole heart and soul alb
solutely, unfeignedly, completely. You
don't. l don't even think that l love
you now. You have been tried and
tested, and you have failed. Gentle
men, will you take him away?"
Il stay here" said the man, blunt
ly, drawing apart from the others,
I land l will kill with my own hands
the man who lays finger upon me-"
Sir" said the captain, this land, l
take it, is the United States AS the
ranking officer present, represent its
law. 1t is under my rule. AS to
your choice, l have nothing to say,
but as far as regards other things, you
will have to obey me here as any
other citizen Of our country"
And know nothing of the United
States or its laws" answered the man,
proudly. II am law unto myself"
THE first lesson that the world
will teach you, SIR" returned the cap
TAIN pointedly, rs that that position
cannot be maintained; that the whole
fabric of civilization depends upon
concession by individuals of natural
rights and upon the enforcement of
these concessions by other individuals
to whom has been delegated that
power"
II don't wish to learn it, and that is
why l will not leave this island" per-
sisted the man.
1t was the woman who interviewed
She stepped close to the man and
laid her hand upon his arm.
You said that in some fashion you
loved me-" she urged.
"In some fashion l do" he replied.
ut grows late. Captain, can your
ship lie by the island until morning?"
IF you wish, certainly" returned
the captain.
VERY well. Man, will you then go
aboard the ship with these gentlemen
and leave me alone here for the
night?"
alone, madam" exclaimed the cap
tain.
Certainly, SIR" returned the wom-
an. There is not harmful thing
upon the island. You can come back
in the morning and we will discuss
then what is best to be done. Really,
gentlemen" she went on, with a pite-
Gus tremble of her lip, for one mo-
ment losing her control, 81 have been
tried beyond the strength of woman
to-day. If l can have quiet rest, If
in the morning"
THAT is reasonable" said the sur.
geon. "The lady is in no state for
this discussion, nor, indeed, are you
sir" he continued, looking hard at
the man.
Very WELL" said the captain Come
Mr.. Charnock. you cannot refuse that
request; gentlemen. Madam, good
night"
He turned away, followed by the
others. Charnock for the moment hes
; itated
, II give you one more chance" whis
pered the woman in his ear II thinl
myself At for the wife Of any m.Sa, dc
you think so! Do you love me-? 90
) you care for me as you did last night
, | - III A.