Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-06-17

| through the trees, and then sat down
upon the summit Of the hill and stared
toward the ship. She was glad, of
course, that they were to be rescued,
but as in the joy of their love there
was sorrow, so in her gladness there
was apprehension. That test Of which
she had dreamed the night before
was now to be complete. She would
postpone the telling of her story un-
til he could lear in m upon 1t
the voice of the world.
They had lived in Eden, Eden with
out a serpent. They had plucked the
tree of knowledge at will and no
consequences evil had ensued, yet
nevertheless, they must go out into
the world now, the world with its
pains, its tolls and frets, the world
with its mockeries and scorns, and
take up the appointed life Of men. He
loved her nowhere could not be
any doubt about that-but what would
he do when he knew and when he
knew that the world knew as we'll
what she had thought, what she had
been, and what she had done. Alas,
when that ships boat touched the
shores of their island, the angel of
the flaming sword would always guard
their entrance and prevent their re-
turning to It.
She was q brave NJ She could
face the inevitable with courage, with
a philosophy which now at last was
Christian. She had had three peace
full years and a day of such happiness
as falls to the lot of few Of the chill
dren of sorrow. Perhaps that was
all that she was destined to look back
upon Of Joy. Perhaps the future held
for her only expiration. Perhaps she
ought not to rebel against that posi-
bility. She ought to be glad of such
an opportunity, indeed. But she was
a woman, and by and by she hid her
face in her hands and wept.
In all their intercourse he had never
seen her weep. Tears were entirely
foreign to his experience. He knew
what sorrow was, what sadness was,
what sympathy was, for his Aeart had
been torn when she had read to him
the story Of the Man of Sorrows and
his sufferings. A child Of nature. the
pathetic in the Old Covenant and the
New had appealed to him profoundly,
but his were not easy tears. He had
never shed any. He had never seer
any He was appalled,, therefore,
when approaching noiselessly he laid
his hand upon her shoulder and saw
and heard the evidence of her grief.
He dropped the box to the sod and
knelt beside her.
Has the sight Of the ship made you
weep?" he said, softly. Il wish that
1 had never come to tell you 1t was
there!"
w have been SO happy together,
o and l." said the woman. This
island has been nay world, my haven,
my heaven, rather, and you have been
humanity to me-, but now the earth
opens before you. You will have 9TH
er hopes, other ambitions, perhaps"
Don't say it," protested the man,
vehemently. Il shall have nothing,
nothing but you anywhere, every
where, and, besides, nothing is
changed. See, the smoke grows fairs
er; the ship more dim. h passes
beyond. Things shall be as they
were! We shall live on, and love
ON"
Her desolatton, her sorrow appealed
to him profoundly. He O her in
his arms. He laid her head gently
upon his shoulder. There was protec-
ton and tenderness as we'll as pas
sion IN his touch.
Together" he whispered, patting
her hair softly, alone, you and T."
For n delicious moment with
closed eyes she let herself be so
soothed and comforted. But her bet
ter nature woke on the instant, as it
were.
NO." b said, drawing away from
him gently, lit would not be right.
We belong in the world of men. Men
and women are not men and women
until they have lived among their fell
lows, until they have fought down the
temptations of which we know moth
ing here, and have conquered them
out there. Give me the flint and steel.
l must call back the Ship"
He stopped as she spoke and picked
up the little silver box. He extended
his hand oward her, and then sud
denly drew it back.
You cannot light the beacon" he
said.
Cannot" she cried.
mo, for 1 will not give you the flint
and steel"
You must give it to me-"
i will not. I am the stronger, and
o cannot take it from me-" he re-
turned. with growing frmness.
1t was the first time in all their in
t~ercourse that he had ~disobeyed a
command. She looked at him amazed,
her heart, nevertheless ~thrObbing at
the mastery in his tone, at the thought
that he was willing to throw away the
world for her. 1t is true he had had
NJ experience of that he was giving
up, but he was not entirely ignorant OF
what Law havond the hor;1o0 op5