Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-06-09
CHAPTER XII.
rhs shlp on the Horizon.

CHAPTER XII.
The Ship on the Horizon.
Yesterday morning she had been
awakened by an earthquake. To-day
it was the call of a voice, his voice.
There was none other On the island.
1t came to her through the open door
way. By turning her head she could
see the bright expanse of sand and
sea and sky beyond. Yet nc figure
darkened the entrance. He stood out
of sight, but within hearing, calling her
name. She rose to her feet, gathered
the tunic about her waist by a cine
ture of plated grass, thrust the knife
within a rude sheath she had made for
it, and stepped out upon the sand. She
had an instinct that something UNI
usual had happened, for Eve before
had he ventured to come to the cave
and thus awaken her. The change in
their relations might have moved him
to this extraordinary course, yet she
did not believe that 1t had. She found
him in a great state of excitement.
AS she cleared the entrance he raj
toward her waving his hands.
There is something" he cried, his
voice thrilling with new and strange
emotions, ION the other side of the
island"
rs it something of enough impor-
, tance," she said, softly, laying her
had upon his shoulder, ito keep you
from kissing me good morning?"
Evidently whatever it was, it was
not, she thought for a happy moment,
as he swept her to his breast at once.
That had been his first instinct, that
had been his burning desire the night
long, to have her in his arms was
his constant thought; but he was new
to lovers ways, unused to loves GUS
toms, and, besides, he had sworn that
the advances must come from her
But once the advance was made, the
signal was displayed, the permission
was given, he more than did his part
Pressing back her head he fed his full
upon her lips. No, not that, he could
never do that, but he kissed her long
and for a moment forgot what he
had to tell. 1t was she who first re
membered.
"And what Is it," she asked, ION the
other side of the island?"
II forgot it for the moment" he an
severed, passionately, "as l forget
everything with you in my arms"
She laughed at this bold assertion
"You love-" she said, "as If you had
been taught to do it from the begin
ming"
1.-THE sight of you, your touch, the
air that hangs about your person
they have taught me, and I am only
beginning now to show you how mucf
| love you"
"If this be the beginning" sh'
laughed, what will be the end?"
"There is no end" he replied laugh
ing in his turn.
"But you came here to tell me some
thing else"
when / started from the other sid
of the island it seemed the creates
thing that | could tell, but since / hay'
seen you"
Man, man." she cried, with pleas
ant impatience, what is it that yol
saw"
81 think it is a ship" he answered
with sudden gravity.
"a ship!" she cried.
She laid her hand upon her hear
and sank down upon a near by boul
der. If his words were true, wha
would it mean to them both?
81 have never seen a ship, but Their
is a dark object yonder," he point
ed across the island toward the farthe
horizon, "too far away for me to dis
tinguish what it Is; but smoke rise
from It,"
LET us go!"
She rose to her feet and eXtende
her hand. He took 1t and they bega.
to rum. They ran as often as the
walked, except in the greater heat Q
midday. 1.-the, free-limbed, light
clad, deep chested and strong, in thi
emergency they headed straigh
across the hill instead of taking tn
! longer way around the sands. TIL
distance was not great. There was
sort of rude path which they ha
) made and often %traversed, and in
few moments they stood painting