Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-06-09

He dropped the box to the sod and
knelt beside her.
Has the sight of the ship made you
weep?" he said, softly. 81 wish that
1 had never come to tell you 1t was
there!"
I'VE have been SO happy together,
you and l." said the woman. This
island has been my 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 faint
er; the ship more dim. She passes
beyond. Things shall be as they
were! We shall live on, and love
on"
Her d~esolation, her sorrow appealed
to him profoundly. He took her in
his arms. He laid her head gently
upon his shoulder. There was protec-
ton and tenderness as well as pas
sion in his touch.
Together" he whispered, patting
her hair softly, "alone, you and II"
For one 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" she 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.
| must call back the ship!"
He stopped as she spoke and picked
up the little silver box. He extended
his hand toward her, and then sud
denly drew it back.
you cannot light the beacon" he
said.
Cannot" she cried.
mo, for l will not give you the flint
and steel"
"You must give it to me-"
81 will not. I am the stronger, and
you cannot take it from me-" he re-
turned, with growing flrmness.
1t was the first time in all their in
%tercourse that he had disobeyed a
command. She looked at him amazed,
her heart, nevertheless t%hrobbing 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
} no experience of that he was giving
up, but he was not entirely ignorant OF
} what lay beyond the horizon, and
) she had presented 1t in such a
l way that it glowed with color and life
and charm, The evil, the sordid and
the wretched had been lightly al
luded to, just definitely enough tt
shade the picture and bring out the
g higher lights of civilization. His was
i not the decision, therefore, of an un
tutored, inexperienced savage, not the
J, abandonment of a toy by a child
g there was some reality in it and tn
reality measured his affection. He.
heart leaped in her breast at tina
thought. For one tleeting moment she
acquiesced. Things would go on il
I | ~ IA Dy,t +hipn1 op1,II nat of
b on in the old way. For a day and
S night, in spite of the great change
that had come to their feelings, life
had flowed on as usual, but there was
a limit to human power. 1t was bet
ter, whatever betide, that they shoulc
k go back to civilization. The woman
stared at him long and earnestly, he
e lip trembling, her face pale, her eye
shining. They stood speeches. a
h gaze for a moment, and then sh'
S spoke.
"You are right" she said, my pow
er owe you has gone. | can no longe
r command. Mine has ceased to be tn
v supreme will, but l beg you, I entra
" you, l pray you, give me the flint an
steel. See, on my knees | ask you!
d She sank down before him in an al
n titude which he knew to be that Q
d prayer. They had often read tn
e sacred Scriptures and had said thei
e prayers together on the sand or be
meath the trees since she, too, in tn
d solitude had seer God and believed.
n 81 cannot, 1 will not" he answered
hoarsely, stepping nearer to her.
d NO" she said, you must not touc
W me, you shall not touch me. | shall b
(. to you as a stranger, unless you tax
me by force, if you will not let m
light that beacon"
NO." said the man, doggedl.
when the world touches our shores
brings you unhappiness. Let it pass,
"Listen!" she said. Il have tried t
tell you something about honor an
duty. My honor says that that shi
must be called. My duty bids me ca
her. You said that you love me-"
"Said!" exclaimed the man.
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