The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-09-30
CHAPTER XXI.
UnaNaiIina Appeal.

Unavailing Appeal.
She slept late the next morning In
the first place being upon the western
side of the island. there was no flood
ing burst OF sunlight through the open
door to disturb her quiet slumber. In
the second place she was so worn out
and exhausted. she had had so little
sleep In the past three days that i'm.
perative nature forced her into rest
She might have slept longer indeed.
but that she was awakened by a great
cry. a human voice calling her name
She opened her eyes and saw within
the dimness Of the cave a human fig.
ure. vaguely white in the darkness
For one fieeting instant she imagined
that II might be he. but that hope
was dispelled as quickly as IL had
been born. She recognized the voice
II was Langford's
Kate" he said approaching her
more nearly and bending over her.
ARE you alive them"
He reached down and touched her
hand where it lay across the fern
moned her bewildered faculties to &C
ton. Brushing his hand aside. she sat
up.
1T is l." she said
you are alive and well?"
Yes" she answered.
Thank Cod" cried the man. I'VE
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.
"Youl" she said bitterly. why have
you come back
Il don't know" answered Langford.
Il can't tell what moved me. was
here on the island with the others |
searched with tie rest 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 II.
Yesterday afternoon parted from the
cruiser. I did not bear away for this
island until II was too dark and they
were too far away to see what would
be about, and then ! came back here
at full speed"
why did you Gomez
II don't know. I was not satisned
II seemed 20 me that I must come
back and search again. could not
haIIaya 70 DnaafhIa that 800, ,vo., 49,
really dead. Something In my heart
at any rate. brought me back once
more to see the place where you had
lived II no more than that We made
the island early in the morning. The
yacht lies yonder. | came ashore a
moment since and some kind Provi
dence led me first OF all 20 this spot
entered the cave. saw you lying
there In the cool darkness. thought
| you dead at first. Then I cried TO you
and you moved. And then | touched
your hand. o Kate. thank God | have
found youi"
Where is he," said the woman
why dicn't he come back?"
II was a cruel thing to say. but she
could no more have helped IL thar
she could have helped her breathing
Not to have said II would have killed
her, for II Langfords love could turn
him back. what should be said then Of
I Charnocks Langford was pale anc
haggard lie. too. had suffered III
was paying for his sins. He was ex
plating them and feeling II. although
the expiation was not helping her.
What OF himr' she asked insist
emily.
What matters about him." he said
bitterly "He had his chance. HI
! 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 Of
speak. or move. or feel. by the shocl
OF her departure.
/ "Once." said the woman. you hac
your chance in the cabin of that yery
yacht out yonder and you failed e
grasp II and we separated"
Yes" said the man. Il know that
| realize that now. and | came back
4 have come back TO take my chance
again"
And so he may come back" said
the woman. you sank lower thar
he"
And I rose higher the other day
upon the sand
You did. but not high enough. | be
lieye in him. He will realize II. too.
she want on. all the confidence OF heI
hopes springing into life again and