The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-09-16

can only express my reverence for you
and my homage to you In this way"
He stepped nearer 20 her. he SEIZED
her hand He was an old-fashionsd.
humble-minded. Quixotic sort OF
sailor. n you will. for before anybody
realised what he was about. he bent
his head low over II and kissed a. And
the sailors behind him and the ma
rines In rank broke into a hearty
cheer.
There, madam" said Whitaker.
you have the appreciation Of society
for my act As for you, SIR" he
turned toward Langford, Il should be
untrue 20 manhood II I did not say
what you yourself have said: that you
acted not only like a brute and a
coward, but, sir. when look at the
lady. I am constrained TO add like a
fool"
Langford started forward, but the
lieutenant checked him.
Having said all that, I must admit
that you have conducted yourself since
that time as a man of honor and a. q
gentleman. have no doubt that
your offer will be accepted; that the
world will forgive you rs II will ad.
mire and respect your wife"
moi" cried the man OF the island,
suddenly.
He had kept silence, resolved to
hear II all out without interruption. He
had suffered as the miserable story
had been unfolded to such an extent
that all that he had gone through with
before seemed like child's play. He
had heard Langford's noble confession.
his generous offer to repair his wrong,
but without the appreciation Of II
which the circumstances and its intrin-
sic quality might have evoked. He had
heard the womau's defense, her splen-
did justification OF her course, the bit
ter repentance that had followed II,
but without that appreciation Of what
Justification there was for her and the
value OF her remorse which the &C.
count should have brought TO him. He
ND observed Whittaker's prompt and
touching expression Of confidence and
reverence, but without understanding
its force and power. Indeed, he had
instructive shrewdness enough to
realize that even though the sailors
touched by the act OF gallantry and
moved with pity for the young woman
who stood there lovely in her sadness
had cheered. yet the world would be
very slow to the same expression
He saw that the woman was face
] to face with a crisis that she
J would either have to accept or de
I cline Langford's offer TO marry her a
; once.
His heart was filled with bitter rage
He knew that he loved the woman
that he never would love any person
! but the woman. but nevertheless tn,
resentment against fate which haC
placed him In so awful a position, o
!. whose malign purposes he had beer
3 the blind. ignoble victim, was 81
great that for the time being his low
I was In allegiance. He pitied himself
he loathed Langford, he was contemp
tuously Indifferent to the world. an,
for the moment he almost hated tn
woman. The sub-consciousness tina
he had that this was as ungrateful a
II was unwarranted added to hi
wretchedness and misery.
no" he cried. before any answe
is made. let me speak,"
Your pardon" said whittaks'
may ask who you are!"
Sir" returned the man. as to VIII
| am and what I am, do not know
nor does II greatly matter"
| H.
lieutenant commander. coolly. but
matters very much. Unless you hav
some right to interfere. do not col
ceds that any suggestion from you
this crisis which seems TO coneer
these two people. this lady and TIL
gentleman, Is at all In order"
But IL does concern me-" returne
the man. impatient Of this checking
!, for love this woman myself. and sh
has done me the honor to say that sh
loved me. had intended to maxi
her my wife should Providence eve
bring US TO civilization again"
Is Had Intended" exclaimed the wou
an. under her breath. but no one n
ID ticed her words. and the lleutenar
e. spoke again.
70 That being the case. some 4
- formation as to who you are and ho
70 you came here Is the more evidentl
" In order"
- Il can answer that" said the wor
Ae an When landed on this island.
% found this man here. He had bee
e. here a long time. believe he hs
been cast away here "a a child ar
.e had grown up alone. He had I
speech or language. He had no mel
NC DRY OF the past. His mind was
blank. was glad to find him her
d He gave me occupation. companio
ship, l had been well educated.
s. termined to teach him. l knew tn
IL his ignorance was the result Of
Ie- environment believed him to
naturally acute. found my belle
IN warranted. taught him all that
SIX could OF life and letters from memor
We For three years my sole and only c