Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-07-15

I'VE shall see,' returned the wo-
looking boldly at him. The clash
of wills almost struck fire within the
eyes of the two who thus crossed
swords. MEANWHILE" she turned to
Langford, IF you will leave the is
land and go back to your ship, l shall
can do here. You have nothing to
gain by remaining"
Kate" he cried, lone last appeal"
1T is as ~unavailing IS the first"
She looked at him steadily. He saw
that within her face and bearing
which convinced him that what b
said was true.
"At least" he said. with the dignity
of sorrow and disappointment, IF |
have played the part OF the fool, l
have done my best to play the man
He turned slowly away. In a step
the woman was by his side.
You have" she said. Whoever
else has failed me in this hour. 1t has
not been you. I am sorry that I do
not love you,t that l lever did love you
and thai I cannot owe you" She
reached her hand out. 'Good-by."
"Good-by," he said, "f you think of
me, remember that l did my best to
make amends and If you ever
change"
II shall not change" said the wo-
man. "Good-by."
He moved off down the strand,
called his sailors to him, got into his
boat, showed off and was rowed owe
the blue lagoon and through b open
ing in the barrier toward the yacht
tossing slowly upon the long swells Of
the Pacific.
LAS for you, sir" said the woman,
after she had watched Langford a lit
tie while in silence, will you go back
and bring some officers ashore to hear
my story"
at your wish, Miss B%renton." said
the ueutenant-commander gravely.
The woman turned to her compan-
ion.
will you go with them?"
And leave you here alone?" cried
the man.
Il shall be here when you come
back, l give you my word upon 1t. l
do not break my word. You know
whatever else you may have against
me, I have always told o the truth.
II o will remember, l said but yes
terday hat l was not worthy Of you"
She smiled bitterly.
And in that, madam" said Whitta-
ker, give me leave to say hat you
broke your record for veractty."
IT'S good of you to say So" h re-
turned. believe me l have taken
more comfort from o u words and &C
lions in this dreadful hour than l had
dreamed 1t possible for men to give.
Now, If you will all go away and leave
me and not come back until evening |
shall be so glad and thankful"
Come, sir" said the lieutenant-com-
mander, not unkindly, touching the
man upon the shoulder. LAS a gentle
man o cannot do less thar accede
to the lady's request"
Suffering himself thus to be per
suaded, the nan followed the officer
into the boat, in which the whole par.
ty embarked and was rowed away
from the island. His first touch with
the world had separated him from
the woman he loved and who loved
aim. Nay, his own frightfuI folly, his
own blindness, his own criminal and
heartless decision had done that. And
the world upon which humanity loves
to load the blame of its transgres
sions, and with which 1t would fam
share the consequences of it's OWL
~follies, had nothing whatever to dc
with 1t. In fact, 1t was because he
was so ignorant of the world, so utter
ly unable to see things in their rela
tive values-and In relation we ascer
tain truth-that he had taken the
tone that he had used and entered
upon the course which he had fol
lowed.
He could only see n thing, tina
this woman who he supposed belonged
SO completely and entirely and abso
lutely to him, who vas as fresh anC
~unspotted from the world as he was
who had been his own as he had be
longed entirely and utterly and abso
lutely to her, was-different! Tha
the difference was more in his owl
Imagination than anywhere els,
brought him no comfort. He still
loved her, he still wanted to MARI,
her, but he loved her in spite of he
shame. A greater, a wiser man woulC
have loved her because Of it. An,
some day this fact which he himsel
was inherently large enough to realize
or would be after a time, would caus,
him a grief so great that the anguisl
hat he suEered now would be moth
ing.
Whitaker was a man of great tao
and s~hrewdness and one with a wild
knowledge Of the world. He realize,
something of what vas in the man
mind. He saw in some measure HOY
the proposition presented itself to hin
and he felt a deep kindness and pit
toward his unhappy fellow passenger
CHAPTER XVIII.