Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-10-13
CHAPTER xxIl.-contlnued.

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.
"You!" 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 the rest l know that
no foot Of II was left unvisited. Every
erag 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 ! could not believe it..
Yesterday afternoon l parted from the
cruiser. did not bear away for this
island until It was too dark and they
we're too far away to see what I would
be about, and then came back here
at full speed"
Why did you Gomez"
Il don't know. was not satisfied.
1t seemed TO me that l must come
back and search again. could not
believe It possible that you were dead,
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 to this spot.
/ entered the cave. saw you lying
there in the cool darkness. / thought
you dead at first. Then cried to you
and you moved. And then 1 touched
your hand. o Kate, thank God l have
found you!"
Where is he!" said the woman.
Why didn't he come back?"
II was a cruel thing to say, but she
could no more have helped it than
she could have helped her breathing.
Not to have said 1t would have killed
her, for if Langford's love could turn
him back, what should be said then of
'Charnock's. Langford was pale and
haggard. He, too, had suffered. He
was paying for his sins. He was ex-
plating them and feeling it, although
the expiation was not helping her.
What of him." she asked insist
emily.
What matters about him?" he said
bitterly. He had his chance. He
Jailed to grasp IT, He's gone"
The man did not tell her that Char,
mock had been carried away a sense
Tess log, bereft Of power to think OF
speak. or move, or feel, by the shock
of her departure.
-'Once," said the woman, you had
your chance in the cabin Of that very
yacht out yonder and you failed tc
grasp It and we separated"
yes" said the man. 81 know that
Z realize that now, and / came back
have come back to take my chance
again"
"And so he may come back" said
the woman. 'You sank lower thar
he"
"And ! rose higher the other day
upon the sand"
you did, but not high enough. be
Vieve in him. He will realize it, too
she went on, all the confidence of hel
hopes springing into life again and
giving force and power to her voice
and bearing.
@And you condemn me for that one
mistaken" said the man.
NC" returned the woman, neither
will condemn him for that one mis-
take"
f'But he's gone, ! tell you"
"And he viii come back, know"
'''He thinks you dead"
$50 did you"
But ! came back, not he"
You were your own MASTER" said
che woman swiftly. you could &c
where you pleased. He was subject
60 the decision OF others trust him
1hn
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