The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-08-18

was still there. She was so far away
indeed that the short time which had
elapsed would have made no change In
her apparent position.
She looked back to the westward.
The sun was setting. There would be
no twilight Darkness would come
swiftly. If she did not light that bea-
con the ship would pass in the night.
If she did light it, the darkness would
lend force and efficiency to 1t. No
ship would disregard such a light In
such a quarter. Should she do it?
In one swift moment her resolution
was taken. She dropped the glass,
turned to the box of matches which
she had boarded for this very purpose,
knelt down, struck one OF them,
watched the blue flame develop and
swell out in the still air, paused for
moment hesitant, touched the light to
the infammable mass of dead wood at
the base of the pile.
AS the flames cracked up through
the wood, roaring and catching, the
sun sank and the darkness fell. Her
last act ere the curtain of night shut
her in had been to fix her glass upon
the faint blur of smoke. Now she could
see nothing. 1t was a moonless night,
but bright with stars. She moved
away from the fire and sat down as
she had sat before, sheltered by the
peak, to watch the sea. Now that she
| had done what she had sworn not to
do, she was eager for the success OF
her attempt.
And so she waited wondering
through long hours while the flames
exhausted themselves and by and by
fell to a heap of glowing ashes. Sud
denly there leaped out through the
darkness a distant twinkle of light. 1t
was too low for a star. Feeling for
the telescope, she found 1t and with
difficulty focused it on the tiny spark
1t was a red light, the light of ship!
The vessel had seen the signal. 1t was
nearer, much nearer now. She knew
about how far such light could be
seen. The ship was coming toward
her. She almost tainted from the re-
vulsion of feeling from hope to GER
tainty, from anxiety to assurance.
1t was close at hand now. She must
90 down to the beach to meet it. She
rose to her feet and started down the
hill. She went slowly, cautiously at
first, but finally she broke into a
reckless run. She strayed from the
path in her excitement, her foot caught
in a projecting root. A sharp, excru
ciating pain shot through her. Some
thing seemed to break in her ankle
She pitched forward on her face and
lay still.
When she came to her senses light
was shining in her eyes. Men stood
about her holding ships lanterns
Some one bent over her as some one
had bent over her five years before
when she lay senseless on the sand
A voice she knew called to her; arms
to whose touch she thrilled gathered
her up; she felt a heart beat against
her own. He had come back. He was
| there
Woman" said the man, Il have
come back to you"
Man." returned the woman, oblivi
Gus of those who stood around, hold
ing the lights, to whom she gave nc
single thought-indeed they were
those who knew her well-"Man," she
asked, true to her resolution, do you
love me as much as on that night?"
More, thousand times!"
"And do you think me worthy"
"Do not ask! It is l who am un
worthy of you"
II can die now," said the woman
softly, lasping into unconsciousness
again.
Great God!" cried the man, strain
ing her to his breast again, "have
found her only to lose her!"
LET me look" said the surgeon
whom by good chance they had picked
up at San Francisco. "She didn't
look like a dying woman moment
since. Lay her down, man, and stand
back"
Whitaker and the chaplain pulled
Charnock aside. The surgeon took hil
place by the PROSTATE figure.
Lights here!" he cried. He made
such rapid examination as he could
seeing in moment one foot lying in
ert, out of place, and helpless. She's
only tainted" he said. 'Its her ankle
She's broken it in the darkness com
ing to meet US. We will take her t
the ship"
NO" said the man, "she must come
of her own free will. Send to the shiI
for bandages and whatever you re
quire."
Very WELL" said the surgeon, rising
and comforting hastily with Mr.. Whit
taker. Meanwhile, your handker
chiefs, gentlemen, and some colo
| uator"