Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-04-06
CHAPTER XXI.


Sne slept late the next morning. In
the first place being upon the western
side Of the island, there was no flood
ing burst of sunlight through the open
door to disturb her quiet slumber. In
the second place she was SO worn out
ana exhausted, she had had SO little
sleep in the past three days that i'm
perative nature forced her into rest.
She might have slept longer indeed,
but that she was awakened by great
cry, human voice calling her name.
She opened her eyes and saw within
the dimness of the cave human fig
4 ure, vaguely white In the darkness.
For one fleeing instant she imagined
that it might be he, but that hope
was dispelled as quickly as it had
been born. She recognized the voice.
1t was Langford's.
Kate" he said approaching her
more nearly and bending over her,
ARE YOU alive then?" 81 D
He reached down and touched her
hand where 1t lay across the fern
leaves on her breast. His touch sum
noned her bewildered faculties to &C.
tion. Brushing his hand aside, she sat
up!
1T is II she said. H
You are alive and well?'' 3
Yes" she answered.
Thank God!" cried the man. 1--WE
thought you dead. We searched the
island. Where had you hidden? Why
have you done 1T"
She rose slowly to her feet and con-
fronted him.
You'll she said bitterly. why have
you come back.
Il don't know" answered Langford.
4 can't tell what moved me. I was
here on the island with the others. /
searched with the rest know that
no foot Of 1t was left unvisited. Every
crag and Granny. every thicket and
coppice, every tree. every cave and rift
In the rocks was examined over and
over again. We knew that you were
gone and yet could not believe it.
Yesterday afternoon parted from the
cruiser. i did not bear away for this
island until 1t was too dark and they
were too far away to see what / would
be about. and then came back here
at full speed
Why did you come 2"
don't know. was not satisfied.
It seemed to me that I must come
back and search again. could not
believe 1t possible that you were dead,
really dead. Something in my heart.
at any rate. brought me back once
} more to see the place where you had
lived IL no more than that. We made
the island early IN the morning. The
yacht lies y0nder. ! came ashore a
moment since and some kind Proyi.
dence led me first of all to this SPOT,
entered the cave. ] saw you Lying
there in the cool darkness. thought
you dead at hrst Then i cried to you
and you moved. And then I touched
your hand. 20 Kate. thank God have
found you!"
Where is he!" said the woman.
Why didn't he come back?"
It was a cruel thing to say. but she
could no more have helped 1t than
she could have helped her breathing
(, Not to have said It would have killed
her, for If Lapgford' g love could turn
him back, what should be- said then Of
Charnock,s. Lanuford was pale and
haggard. He, too, had suffered. He
was paying for his sins. He was ex
plating them and feeling It, although
the expiation was not helping her.
What of him7" she asked insist
Z emily.
What matters about him?' he said
bitterly He had his chance. He
failed to grasp it. He's gone"
The man did not tell her that Char
!, mock had been carried awaysa sense
less log. bereft of power to think OF
speak, or move, or feel, by the SHOCK
of her departure.
.Once,' said the woman, you had
your chance in the cabin of that very
yacht out yonder and you failed tt
grasp 1t and we separated"
"Yes." said the man, II know that
I realize that now, and came back
] have come back to take my chance
again"
And so he may come back" said
the woman. you sank lower thar
he.'
"And rose higher the other day
upon the sand" Y
You did. but not high enough. / be
lieve in him. He will realize 1t, too,'
she went on. all the confidence Of hei
hopes springing into life again and
giving force and power to her voice
and bearing. Il
And you condemn me for that one
mistake? ?" said the man,
NO. returned the woman, neither
will I condemn him for that one mis-
take"
But he's gone. / tell you"
And he will come back, know"
He thinks you dead"
$50 did you
But came back, not he"
You were your own master" said
the woman swiftly You could &c
where you pleased He was subject
to the decision OF others. / trust him
still''
And you don't trust me p
I trust you enough, but don't love
you e.
49, 20 Kate, think! There must be
something in what feel for you tc
move you. / did not know what II
was. did not realize 1t. / came
back in the first place as much be
cause had been BLACKBOARD and q
coward and wanted to set myself right
In your eyes as because cared fol
you, but every hour of search made
me know my own heart, and since
2 have seen you, since see you now
there is nothing would not do fol-
you. There isn't any expiration OF
amendment or anything now, but be.
cause am man, and love you, ]
want you. j want to make you happy
And am the one man in the world
that ought to want you and want to
make you happy. It is for that have
come back to you"
How terrible are the arrangements
Of blind fate" said the woman. 81