The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-08-11
CHAPTER XxII.-continued.
"Yes," she answered.

IeSI Sne answered.
Thank God!" cried the man. 1--WE
thought you dead. We searched the
island. Where had you hidden? Why
have you done it?"
She rose slowly to her feet and con-
fronted him.
"You!" she said bitterly. Why have
you come back?"
Il don't know" answered Langford.
Il can't tell what moved me- l was
here on the island with the others. l
searched with the rest. l know that
no foot of it 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 l could not believe it.
Yesterday afternoon 1 parted from the
cruiser. I did not bear away for this
island until it was too dark and they
were too far away to see what would
be about, and then l came back here
at full speed"
why did you conner
1t seemed to me that l 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 If no more than that. We made
the island early in the morning The
yacht lies yonder. l came ashore
moment since and some kind Provi-
'dence led me first of all to this spot.
i entered the cave. l saw you lying
there in the cool darkness. l thought
you dead at first. Then cried to you
and you moved. And then touched
your hand. 0 Kate, thank God have
found you!"
Where is he!" said the woman
why didn't he come back?"
1t was cruel thing to say, but she
could no more have helped it than
she could have helped her breathing
Not to have said it would have killed
her, for if Langford's love could turn
him back, what should be said then of
Charnock's. Langford 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 him?" she asked insist
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 away a sense
less log, bereft of power to think or
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 to
grasp 1t and we separated"
"Yes," said the man, IT know that,
I realize that now, and came back.
I have come back to take my chance
again"
And so he may come back" said
the woman. "You sank lower than
ne"
And l rose higher the other day
upon the sand"
"You did, but not high enough. Ibe-
lieve in him. He will realize it, too"
she went on, all the confidence Of her
hopes springing into life again and
giving force and power to her voice
and bearing.
And you condemn me for that one
mistaken" said the man.
NO" returned the woman, neither
will condemn him for that ohe 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 20
where you pleased. He was subject
to the decision of others. l trust him
still"
And you don't trust me?"
II trust you enough, but don't love
you
"O| Kate, think! There must be
something in what feel for you to
move you. did not know what it
wasy did not realize it. ! came
back in the first place as much be-
acaus p I had been blackguard and a
-cowS Srd and wanted to set myself right
in YOUR eyes as because / cared for
you, but every hour of search made
tme know my own heart, and since
have seen you, since see you now,
there is nothing I would not do for
you. There isn't any expiation OF