Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-01-26


a limit to human power. It was bet.
ter, whatever betide, that they should
go back to civilization. The woman
stared at him long and earnestly, her
lip trembling. her face pale, her eyes
shining. They stood speeches. at
gaze for moment, and then she
spoke.
You are right" she SAID, ''my pow
err over You has gone. i can no longer
command. Mine has ceased to be the
supreme will, but beg you, entrat
you, pray you, give me the flint and
steel. See. on my knees ask you!"
She sank down before him in an at
titude which he knew to be that of
prayer. They had often read the
sacred Scriptures and had said their
prayers together on the sand or be-
meath the trees since she, too, in. the
solitude had seen God and believed.
Il cannot, will not" he answered,
hoarsely. stepping nearer to her.
no" she said. You must not touch
me, you shall not touch me- shall be
to you as a stranger, unless you take
me by force, II you will not let. me
light that beacon"
NO." said the man, doggedly
when the world touches our shores it
brings you unhappiness. Let 1t pass
''Listen!" she said. II have tried to
tell you something about honor and
duty. My honor says that that ship
must be called. My duty bids me call
her. You said that you love me-"
."Said" exclaimed the man.
You do love me. then" returned
the woman, land you, but that love
must be tested, tried in the world. 1
can never believe in 1t. in you, until
the trial has been made. We must
call back the ship"
s'But / can believe In you without
any test" liz
II am different have been out
there. l know what 1t is. / have
seen other men,"
She looked fixedly at him. He bent
closer to her and laid his hand upon
her shoulder. not this time in, caress.
She WINGED from the tightness of his
grasp, the fierce intensity of his
clutch, yet she did not draw away,
and he was not conscious of the force
he used.
You have seen other men. They
have loved your
Yes" she forced herself to reply.
And your"
81 have loved no man but YOU"
you had something to tell me. You
were to tell me to-day"
"Yes." -
Was it about some other MANI" .. !.
YES"
What was it,"
II will tell you when we have gone
back where men and women live" 1
"Why not now?"
you must hear the voice Of the
world in comment upon what say
But II we do not 60 back?"
There will be q secret between us
which l will carry to my grave. It
would be fatal to our happiness. You
see we must call back the ship. Give:
me the flint and steel. for Gods sake.
ii you love me, mani"
She had never adjured him in that
fashion before. He stood irresolute
moment and dropped the box at her
feet. She had conquered, conquered.
by appealing to his love for her. Moth
ing else, she felt, would have moved
him.
Eagerly she opened the silver box
and took thence the tiny implements.
Fortunately they were in the heart Of
the dry season. To strike spark
was easy. to communicate 1t to the tim
der-like brushwood was easier still. In
q moment, catching the intiammable
WOOD dried out by the tropic sun, the
i flames roared through the great mass.
[ The cliff or peak at the top of the is
land made q background for the flame.
and soon pillar of fire 20 or 30 feet
high leaped and curled up into the
still air of the morning.
The woman beckoned. The two ran;
around the peak of 4 the rock until
they were sheltered from the fierce
heat Of the fire. From where they
stood they could see the ship.
f"Do you think" asked the man.
that the people on the ship will see
the fame?"
They cannot fail to see it,
And how will they regard it,"
AS signal"
And what will they do?"
Turn about and head for the Is
land"
And how can we tell what they are
doing?"
When the smoke ceases to elon-
gate" she replied, 1T will show us
that they have turned and are heading
this way"
+ There was no breeze. apparently.
and the smoke would follow the wake
of the ship. They watched the little
speck on the horizon with strained In.
tensity for few moments.
How II she passes on?" asked the
man, at last.
II shall take 1t as sign" said the
woman, slowly. "that-Look!" she
cried. in sudden gladness.
The ship had turned and the cloud
of smoke now rose straight above her
in the still air.
They have seen the signal" went
on the woman. They will come here
We shall be taken away"
1T is your fault" said the man.
grimly Il wanted nothing but to be
alone with YOU
CHAPTER XIII.