The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-10-27
CHAPTER v.
The Voices of the Past.

III TdlNeu HdTu curing InOSJ vi Tue |
night The woman slept lightly and |
whenever she woke she could hear |
outside of her sanctuary the roar OF
the storm. The man, as usual, slept |
the long hours through as undisturbed |
by the commotion as a child. 1t was !
apparent to her that he had absolutely |
no fear. Whether this was due to ig-
norance or temperament she could
not say. Was fear, after all, under the |
conditions In which his life had been |
lived, a purely artificial quality, or was
1t natural and inherent? He had
avoidances, abhorrences, antipathies,
as the skeletons in the coppice which
she had buried. Was that avoidance
fear or was it something else? Was
it instinct or did 1t arise from recol-
lection? She rather fancied the last.
II so, 1t was evident that the man had
been on the island a long time. 1t
would have taken years for the metal
that must have been about that
woman's person to rust away, for the
steel clasps of the dogs collar entire
ly to disappear
Upon that faint memory that he
cherished, upon that prayer that he
prayed, she could build the foundation
of his education. She had been so sue
cessful in training him and in restrain
ing him, in influencing him and sway
ing him so far that she had abundant
confidence in her ability to do so to
the end. 1t was quite evident that life
would be easily supported under the
conditions in which it must be lived
on that island She need have no
physical concern as to her material
well being or comfort, and here was
mental education and stimulus which
made her for the time being forget
the rest of the world.
Indeed, she thought bitterly, as she
lay awake during the long watches of
the night, that the rest of the world
was nothing to her and that she hated
it. She, therefore, not only was be-
coming resigned to her situation, but
was rejoicing in it. She would teach
this man all she knew. She would
teach him to think, to reflect, to rea
son. She would teach him to talk
Since she had a book, albeit sorry
one, she would teach him to read.
The rain fell more softly now. Her
eyes dropped.
She slept again only to wake and
muse once more. She could have
slept better had he been outside. How
could he lie there in the complete and
sleeping insensibility of slumber? Her
hand fell against her breast There
was the treasure trove of her exist
ence the day before. What would they
tell her? She could scarcely wait un.
til morning to look. So she woke and
slept and woke and slept until the
day broke.
It was bright and sunshiny out, al
i though there were ominous clouds all
about the western horizon 1t was
probable that the rainy season was at
hand, if not upon them. She re
GREETED that she had not given more
time to the study of nature, to the
fauna and fora of the South seas, tc
the conditions of wind and weather
under which life was lived there. Muci
philosophy would she gladly have
parted with for such practical infor
nation. She had to piece her idea!
of affairs out from scraps and tags o
knowledge, unclassified, incoherent
from vague recollections of childhood
stories and romances; from carelessl,
scanned collections of voyages, book
of travel and adventure. The result
was unsatisfactory. In some particu
lars the instructive man before he
was her master. AT the things whicl
went to make up physical comfort ant
we'll being in state of absolute ma
ture he certainly surpassed her.
, She was thankful when she walke
abroad that she had the shelter of tn
cave for everything was drenche
from the terrific downpour. If it wa
the beginning of the wet season sh
knew that the rains would soon com
again. Still she luxuriated in wha
freedom she had. Without removin
her single garment she plunged int
, the lagoon for n refreshing bath. TIL
q man followed her and swan about he
!. moving slowly, with less skill tina
c she, but as easily as porpois
: plunges about the bow of progress
/ ing ship,
i Refreshed, she came back to tn
e mouth of the cave and brought theme
y for careful inspection all he
n worldly possessions, save the litt
h heap OF clothing which she had car
1 fully piled upon the jutting shelf
l. the shadow of the cave for time (
d need. She ranged them on the sane
y before her There was the Bible an
the little silver box which she ha
n found in the cave. She examine
S more critically its contents, wonderin
/, what they might be, and finally thel
e came into her mind recognition th'
L they were flint and steel. When 81
d wished, she could make fire. 81
# was happy for the moment in Il
e knowledge and then the uselessness
- tho mower came across her curiOuSl