The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-05-26

II natural and inherent! lie nau
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 it arise from recOl.
lection? She rather fancied the last.
If so, it 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
we'll 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 a 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.
1t was bright and sunshiny out, al,
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-
gretted that she had not given more
time to the study of nature, to the
fauna and flora Of the South seas, to
the conditions of wind and weather
under which life was lived there Much
philosophy would she gladly have
parted with for such practical infor-
nation. She had to piece her ideas
of affairs out from scraps and tags of
knowledge, unclassitied, incoherent;
from vague recollections of childhood
stories and romances; from carelessly
scanned collections of voyages, books
Of travel and adventure. The result
was unsatisfactory. In some partiCu-
lars the instructive man before her
was her master At the things which
went to make up physical comfort and
we'll being in a state of absolute ma
ture he certainly surpassed her.
She was thankful when she walked
abroad that she had the shelter of the
cave, for everything was drenched
from the terrific downpour. If it was
I,o af oh
knew that the rains would soon come
again. Still she luXuriated in what
freedom she had. Without removing
her single garment she plunged into
the lagoon for refreshing bath. The
man followed her and swan about her
moving slowly, with less skill than
she, but as easily as porpoise
plunges about the bow of q progress
ing ship.
Refreshed, she came back to the
mouth of the cave and brought thence
for a careful inspection all her
worldly possessions, save the little
heap of clothing which she had care
fully piled upon the jutting shelf in
the shadow of the cave for time of
need. She ranged them on the sands
before her. There was the Bible and
the little silver box which she had
found in the cave. She examined
more critically it's contents, wondering
what they might be, and finally there
| came into her mind recognition that
they were flint and steel. When she
wished, she could make fire. She
was happy for the moment in the
/ knowledge and then the uselessness of
the power came across her curiously.
What did she want of fire? There was
nothing to cook. Its warmth was un-
necessary. Still she was glad to have
the ancient flame kindlers and she
laid them aside carefully in the box,
not knowing when they might be use
full, under what circumstances invalu-
able. At least she might regard them
as apparatus which would be helpful
in the curriculum through which she
meant her savage pupil should pass.
Then there was her watch which
| she guarded as the apple of her eye.
1t was an American watch of the very
best make, and although it had gone
with her through the waters such was
the workmanship of the case that it
! had taken no harm. 1t was ticking
away bravely, marking time. She
thought that for her time had stopped,
and yet she was glad, indeed, for the
almost human sound it made when she
laid it lovingly against her cheek.
There were the hairpins, also, for
which she was most grateful. They
enabled her to keep her hair in order.
She had a wealth of glorious hair,
black as the midnight sky. With the
aid of the mirror and of the comb,
/ iol. q r,r.innlnnc, tr.nnr,,rn