The Mena weekly star., 1910-08-25

|
 Sir" said the captain, this land I take 1t, Is the United States. As the ranking officer present, l represent it's law It Is under my rule. AS to your choice, l have nothing to say but as far as regards other things. you Will have to obey me here as any other citizen of our country"
 And 1 know nothing of the United States or it's laws. answered the man proudly. T am law unto myself"
 The first lesson that the world will teach you, sir" returned the cap tam, pointedly. Ifs that that position cannot be maintained; that the whole fabric of civilization depends mon concession by individuals of natural rights and upon the enforcement of these concessions by other individuals to whom has been delegated that power"
 ' don't wish to learn 1t, and that Is why will not leave this island" per. sisted the man.
 It was the woman who intervened She stepped close to the man and laid her hand upon his arm. You said that in some fashion you loved me-" she urged.
 Tn some fashion do" he repiied
 Tt grows late Captain. can voar ship lie by the island until morning 2"
 If you wish. certainly" returned the captain.
 Very well. Man, will you then go aboard the ship with these gentlemen and leave me alone here for the night?"
 Alone. madaml" excaimed the cap. tain.
 Certainly. sir returned the wom- an. There is not a harmful thing upon the Island. You can come back in the morning and we will discuss then what is best to be done. Really, gentlemen she went on. with pite. GUS tremble of her lip, for one mo ment losing her control, q have been tried beyond the strength of woman to-day. If l can have quiet rest, if in the morning"
 That is reasonable" said the sur. geon. The lady Is in no state for this discussion. ncr, indeed. are you, sir" he continued. looking hard at the man
 Very we'll" said the captain. Come, Mir. Charnock, you cannot refuse that request; gentlemen. Madam. good night"
 He turned away. followed by the others Charnock for the moment hes hated
 T give you one more chance" whis pered the woman in his ear T think myself At for the wife of any man, do you think soY Do you lcve mel Dc you care for me as you did last night Cen you think of nc as all that is sweet and lovely and noble and pure. and worthy Of any mans affection7"
 She bent closer toward him in the
 intensity of her feelings. The words rushed from Der The man passed his hand over his forehead
 "f can only say what said before that love you still. that win marry you. and that you ought to be-"
 That is enough" interrupted the woman. "Good-by"
 She drew instantly apart from him
 Mir charnock, rang the eaDtain'F voice, imperatively,
 Slowly the islander turned and made his way to the sea after the others.
 The woman. thus left alone upon the island. was face to face with a crisis which could only be met in two ways. Either she must go away with the man, or they must both remain on the island It was possible that the captain might be induced to use force to take the man away, but that was not likely. and if 1t were attempted she believed, with much foundation for her belief, that the man who had never been coerced by human being except her would fight until he died She could not go away with him; she could not live with him on the island. A future opened before him. She had learned that afternoon on the sand that if his identity could be estab- lished be would be a man of great wealth power. factor in the worlds affairs She had had her ex' perience in life. her taste of power. It did not matter about her. It mattered | greatly about him.
 She had given him final chance. | He did not love her as she would be loved. He could not love her. It was evident to her that be never would. She had nothing to live for. nothing l to hope for. nothing to dream about. There was one way of cutting the | Cordian knot; she could die. And yet, somehow. the instinct of life WAS strong In her heart.
 She crossed the island t. her side, | where she was hidden from the ship, | and went down to the edge of the wa 1 ter. She even slipped of the garments l of civilization and stood forth primi- l tive Eve and waded out little way | into the lagoon. The night had falien l and she was calm in the screen of the | darkness. She could easily swim out i tn the barrier reef, chamber upon It. and then plunge into the blue Pacific | and swim on and on, and light ana fight until the last vestige Of her strength was gone. and then sink down, leaving him free and settling the question. And yet the waters lap l hing about her feet held her back
 drove her back, retarded her In her
 advance.
 Could she do it7 Should she do IL
 At least she would not give up 'he
 ,daa fov wantsof trying. She resolute