The Comrade. (Winnfield, La.) 1890-1914, 1910-11-04

abandoned. Two days past 1t mad re-
sounded with the cries Of men scaling
it's heights, crashing through its cop
pieces, calling name, beseeching an
answer. Two days before great snlps
had drifted idly under it's lee. 1t had
been the center and focus OF great
events. Now it lay desolate, alone.
On that morning the tide which had
drawn away from it through the long
night had turned and was coming
back. The force of the water spent
itself upon the barrier. Within the
lagoon it lay placid, rising gently lnch
by inch in mighty overflow. A watcher
had there been one, would have seen
at sunrise the still water Of the Ia
COON broken by ripple, keen eye
might have noticed at the base OF the
cliff where it ran sheer down into the
blue, dark object moving beneath the
surface. The eye could scarcely have
become aware of its presence before
the waters parted A little splash and
a head rose dark crowned, white faced.
There was sidewise wave and shake
of the head and a pair of eyes opened
The blue of the water was llghteneu
by flashes of white arms. AS the
body rose higher under the impetus or
strokes, vigorous yet graceful, II
could be seen that it was that of a
woman.
With ease and grace the figure
swan along the base of the cliff until
it was Joined by jutting spit OF sand
which widened and widened into a
great strip Of beach that ran around
the island. Upon this sand presently
the Swallowing Of the water gave the
swimmer foothold. Progress ceased
With eyes haggard, yet keenly alert
the sea, the shore, the beach, tht
cliffs. the trees were eagerly searched
The long chances revealed nothing
Then the head was turned and the ca
listened for sounds and heard nothing
The look Of apprehension faded int
one of dull relief.
! Walking now, the woman in tn
water made her way toward the sane
Very white she cleaned in the fu]
warm light streaming from the rise
sun against the background OF tn
dark black rock. The water drippin
from her exquisitely graceful limbs
she looked very nymph Of the sea
she stepped out at last above the hig
tide line and stood poised as II fo
fight upon the hard and solid shor'
Again she threw about her that qulc]
apprehensive look. Again she pause
to listen. Reassured in that she hear
and saw nothing but the birds SON
/ the winds sigh, the waves splash, ST
ran swiftly toward blacker openiI
in the dark rock. She cleaned white
still in the entrance for a mome1
r and then disappeared. She came for
r presently still unclothed. look
1 disappointment on her face.
She had many things to do, mu'
to occupy her mind, but the first du
9 that lay to her hand and the flrst
stinct which she followed was tn
her nakedness should be covered
6 Still warily watchful, still keen
6 alert, still fearful apparently OF Int
u ruption or observation, she ran aero
the beach, her movement as free,
e graceful, as rapid as she had be
o ATLANTA herself, and disappeared ,
9 der the trees. The whirr Of birds d
Y turbed might have marked her pa
. age. ..s. L.
e After some time ane appeared
n the top OF the high bare hill tt
I crowned the island. She had imp
n yised for herself covering out
three or four great fern leaves, 8
s, and pliable, which she fastened W
re palm fibers from shoulder to knee
It either side, her bare shoulders risi
OF from the rich sreenness like VIII
IS corolla from its verdant calyx. s
re went more assuredly, now, party
ad cause OF the fact that she was clott
ne and partly because her first rapid 6
e. vey Of the horizon revealed the I
n that the ships were gone. She
I'd glad that this was 80, and yet vi
er- the realization came upon her,
ed flung herself down on the grassy CT
1e- and gave way to voiceless ago
SO Sometimes there Is nothing 50
~, rible, she realized, as prayer grant
st.. as desire accomplished, as undert
to ing brought to conclusion, The
nd fulness OF success was upon her
lie, that hour. Her ruse had worked.
EN- object had been attained, yet
or, achievement gave her no pleasure
tn Her own acts had parted her III
to ocably forever from the world
IS the one man In It who was the w
'ay for her. He was gone. She who
ing made him had sent him forth am
rOS q -~xA l.