Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-09-29

] ~ foA NANaAtAA oAA Ah0N -
should be to a man, unless he loved
me with his whole heart and soul alb
solutely, unfeignedly, completely. You
don't don't even think that I 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
~, drawing apart from the others,
''and will kill with my own hands
the man who lays a finger upon me-"
Sir" said the captain, this land,
take It, Is the United States. As the
ranking officer present, 1 represent its
law. II is under my rule. AS to
your choice, I 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 a law unto myself"
THE first lesson that the world
will teach you, sir" returned the cap
tain, pointedly, ''is 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"
81 don't wish to learn It, and that is
why will not leave this island" per-
sisted the man.
1t was the woman who interviewed.
Che az - hA
laid her hand upon his arm.
you said that in some fashion you
loyed me-" she urged.
In some fashion do" he replied.
1T 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 pite-
Gus tremble of her lip, for one mo-
ment losing her control, II have been
tried beyond the strength of woman
| to-day. If I can have quiet rest, II
in the morning"
THAT is reasonable" said the sur
geon. 1.-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.
Il give you one more chance" whis-
pered the woman in his ear II think
myself fit for the wife of any man, do
you think SO? Do you love me? Do
you care for me as you did last night?
Can you think of me as all that is
sweet and lovely and noble and pure,
and worthy of any mans affection?"
She bent closer toward him in the
intensity of her feelings. The words
rushed from her. The man passed his
hand over his forehead.
81 can only say what said before,
that love you still, that will marry
you, and that you ought to be-"
THAT is enough" interrupted the
woman. "Good-by"
She drew instantly apart from him.
"Mr. Charnock," rang the captains
voice, imperatively.
Slowly the islander turned and made
his way to the sea after the others.
The woman, thus left alone upon
the island, was face to face with a
crisis which could only be met in two
ways Either she must go away with
the man, or they must both remain ON
the island. II was possible that the
captain might be induced to use force
to take the man away, but that was
not likely, and IL II were attempted,
| she believed, with much foundation
for her belief, that the man who had
never been coerced by human being
except her would fight until he died
She could not go away with him; she
could not live with him on the island.
A future opened before him. She
had learned that afternoon on the sand
that If his identity could be estab-
lished be would be a man Of great
wealth, a power, a factor In the
worlds affairs. She had had her ex-
perience in life, her taste Of power It
did not matter about her. 1t mattsred
greatly about him.
She had given him nnal chance.
He did not love her as she would be
loved. He could not love her. Il was
evident to her that he never would
She had nothing to live for, nothing
to hope for, nothing TO dream about.
There was one way Of cutting the
Gordian knot; she could die. And yet,
somehow, the instinct OF life was
strong in her heart.
She crossed the island ~ her side,