Mexico Missouri message., 1910-09-01

not entered into his mind the faintebt
possibility that she could ever be or
ever have been other than what she
seemed, a daughter Of the gods In
truth, in sweetness and in purity. And
this strange man had come from out
the world and proclaimed her his mi b
tress, his cast-off, abandoned mistress.
Once the clew was given he found
more hideous depths of infamy in that
word than would have appeared had
his been wiser and more expert
Ienced vision. Indeed, so clear and
pure was the soul of this woman that
man Of the world would have known
instantly that there was an explaIa
ton, which the child of nature could
not see forthcoming. He wanted to
be away from her and alone, and he
turned as II to plunge into the depths
of the forest, but with gentle force she
restrained him.
You are a man, with a mans pow
er and a mans soul and a mans heart,
you cannot fly now. You must stay
and face the problem. The question
must be pursued to the bitter end. My
life and your life depends upon what
we do now, perhaps his life, too"
20, Cod" cried the man, recurring
again to that bitter thought, IT had
him in my hands and spared him!"
But you spared him for my sake"
said the woman; think of that"
For your sake" declared the man,
pointedly. II would and should have
killed him"
Thou shalt not kill" said the wom-
an, softly.
"An eye for an eye, and a tooth
for TOOTH" returned the man. He
and you between you slew my heart.
His death would be no murder, but
retribution."
But it was in part my fault" re-
turned the woman, bravely making her
confession.
81 will never believe 1t. 1t cannot
be-"
And yet It was, but you shall have
the whole wretched story to-day, and
you shall Judge. This much will
say, that though all that he said was
true, yet l hold myself blameless and
innocent The world judges me
harshly, and it may be that you will
find its judgment just. Yet l do not
hold myself as on trial at this moment,
but you"
Il do not understand"
There are many things that you do
not understand, my friend"
II would that had been left in ig'
norance."
Nay, that is not a mans wish, but
child's."
"Of one thing am certain"
And what is that?"
THAT l should have killed him!"
May" said the woman again, that
is not child's wish, but a brute's.'
you said yourself" he flashed at
her, that there were some things a
woman could not forgive, and this
is one that man puts in the same
class"
The woman sighed. There occurred
to her at the moment no answer which
was adequate to the stark realism OF
this fact. The conversation had reached
an impasse beyond which it could not
progress without the full and com
plete explanation which now there was
neither time nor opportunity to give
for the boat from the man-of-war was
approaching the shore. The woman
stepped resolutely down the strand tc
meet it, and the man, after a slight
hesitation, followed her.
So soon as the boats keel grated or
| he hot L., IL
middle-aged officer rose from the stern
sheets and stepped ashore followed
by younger companion in the uni
form Of a sergeant of marines. A
little squad of privates in the bows
landed ana fell in line with martial
celebrity and precision. The officer In
charge, who wore the white tropic uni
form Of a lieutenant commander, now
faced the people on the island who
had instinctively divided into two
groups, one on either side of him
To the right stood the man and be
hind him the woman, to the left Lang
ford, back Of him his crew. 1t was
to the latter that the officer first ad
dressed himself.
Sir" he began, 81 am the execu
tive officer of the United States
cruiser Cheyenne, detached on specia
; service. We raised this island this
morning, ran it down, circled 1t, saw
the yacht yonder-"
/ He paused.
, 1T is my yacht, sir, the Southern
/ Cross" answered the other. IN!
, name is Langford."
| GLAD to meet you, Mr.. Langford
: Mine is Whitaker"
The lieutenant commander touched
his cap as he spoke. Langford LITE,
his, and the two shook hands.
1--WE saw" continued the lieutenan
! commander, what appeared to b
some sort of fracas with the natives
/, and fired gun TO attract attention
n. - A,h A., ~,