Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1910-12-08

fate is shortly to be as cruel as mine
tell him that Winnsome loves him,
and that she viii escape and come TO
him on the maihland. Tell him to go
-gol"
She turned again, and Nathaniel
stood like a statue. hardly breathing.
until the sound of her feet had died
away. Then he walked swiftly up the
foot path that led to Obadiah's. He
forgot his own danger in the excite
ment that pulsated with every fiber
of his being, forgot his old caution
and the fears that gave birth to It.
forgot everything in those moments
but Marion and his own great happi-
ness, Neil's absence meant nothing to
him now He had held Marion in
his arms, he had told her of his love,
and though she had accepted it with
gentle unresponsiveness he was
thrilled by the memory of that last
look in her eyes, which had spoken
faith, confidence, and perhaps even
more. What was that something she
would tell him If he got Neil safely
away? 1t was to be a reward for his
own loyalty-he knew that, by the
half fearing tremble of her voice, the
sobbing catch of her BREATH the
strange glow in her eyes. With her
brother away she would confde in
him? Would she tell him the secret
of her slavedom to Strang? Ma
thaniel was conscious of no madness
in the wild hope that filled him; moth
ing seemed impossible to him now.
Marion would meet him at midnight.
She would go with him to the boat,
and then-ah, he had solved the prob
lem! He would use no force. He
would tell her that Neil was in his
canoe half mile out from the shore
and that he had promised to leave
the island for good If she would go
out to bid him good-by. And once
there, half mile or mile away, he
would tell her that he had lied to her;
and he would give her his heart to
trample upon to prove the love that
had made him do this thing, and then
he would row her to the mainland
1t was the sight Of Obadiah's cabin
that brought his caution back. He
came upon it so suddenly that an ex-
clamation of surprise fell unguarded
from his lips. There was no light to
betray life within. He tried the door
and found it locked. He peered in
at the windows listened, and knocked,
and at last concealed himself near
the path confident that the little old
councillor was still at st. James. For
an hour he waited From the rear of
Obadlahs home narrow footway led
toward the lake and Nathaniel fol
lowed it, now as warily as an animal
in search of prey. For half a mile
1t took him through the forest and
ended at the white sands of the beach,
In neither direction could Nathaniel
see light, and keeping close in the
shadows of the trees he made his
way slowly toward ST. James. He had
gone but short distance when he
saw house directly ahead of him
single CLEAN of light from small
window telling him that it was in.
habited and that its tenants were at
water looking for boat. His heart
leaped with sudden exultation when
he saw a small skiff drawn upon the
beach and his joy was doubled at find
ing the oars still in the locks. 1t took
him but moment to shove the light
craft into the sea and a minute later
he was rowing swiftly away from the
land
Nathaniel was certain that by this
time Neil had abandoned his search
for the captured Typhoon and was
: probably padding in the direction Of
St. James. With the hope of inter
cepting him he pulled an eighth of 8
mile from the shore and rowed slowly
toward the head Of the island. There
was no moon, but countless stars
glowed in a clear sky and upon the
open lake Nathaniel could see for {
considerable distance about him, Fol
another hour he rowed back and forth
and then beached his boat within &
dozen rods of the path that came dowr
from Obadiah's.
1t was 10 o'clock Two more hours
He had tried to suppress his excite
ment, his apprehension, his eagerness
but now as he went back into the
darkness of the forest they burst GU
anew, What If Marion should no
keep the tryst? He thought of the
spies whom Neil had said guarded the
girls homeland of Obadiah. Coult
he trust the old councillor? Should
he confide his plot to him and ask his
assistance? AS the minutes passed
and these thoughts REQUIRED agaiI
and again in his brain he could no
keep the nervousness from growing
within him. He was sure now tina