Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-06-23

in any way influence or alIer. one
loathed the man who was coming to
aid her. Her Christianity trembled in
the balance.
She moved farther away from her
companion under the co%nstraint Of
these thoughts, and when he would
have approached her nearer, she
famed upon him in sudden anger that
left him appalled,. But under the in
fiuence of it he kept his distance. She
saw the way of the yachk checked. She
saw the boat dropped from the davits
and manned by the men. She saw a
figure, too far off to recognize, but
which she OWNED must be his, de-
scend the battens from the gangway.
She saw the little boat headed toward
the shore. Then she turned to the
man. He was standing with folded
arms, his brow black as midnight,
staring out to sea. He knew nothing,
understood nothing, comprehended
nothing, suspected nothing. His only
realization was that she, his gentle
goddess, whom he had loved, was
angry with him, SO far as he was con-
cerned, without rhyme or aso or
cause.
The stoppage of the ship, the lower
ing Of the boat, its approach to the
island were now matters of indiffer-
ence to him. She was angry. He
could think of nothing else and there
was bewilderment in his dismay.
Nothing had given him power to solve
the enigma of her conduct. Where she
gazed with serious intentness, he
looked ~listlessly. Her heart smote
her again. The sense of justice upon
which she prided herself came to her
rescue. She stepped close to him and
laid her hand upon his arm.
Forgive mel" she murmured and
her heart leaped within her bosom to
meet the great flush of pleasure in his
face as he responded instantly to her
caress and her appeal.
"You said you knew men," the man
asked as they threaded their way
through the trees and won the hill
along the familiar path, do you know
anyone on that ship. do you Think"
The question was an absurd one un-
der almost any other circumstances
than that. Yet chance had shown him
the one point in her armor and his
innocent and casual question had
driven into her soul a stab. Evasion
should have been easy. Indeed, his
trust in her was SO great that deceit
would have been simple. But she had
always told him the truth and she
could not begin now.
EYES," she said, II think / do"
He stopped abruptly, illumination
and anguish, the light of pain in his
soul.
"Was it because you know that man
that you suffered so on the hill?"
"Yes," she said, again forcing her
self to speak.
"Ie he one of those who loved your
"He said so, but"
Sand you, did you love him?"
81 hate him."
"Why?" asked the man sternly
"Had he injured you in some way?'
'In the greatest way" she answered
with deepening gravity. And here he;
sense of justice pricked her. But
was partly my fault"
"And have you forgiven him." h
asked with a little softening Of hi
voice.
To him forgiveness was as natura
and inevitable as breathing. In hi
ethics there was no other course. H
had never had anything to forgive, b
it remembered. She vas not so tru
to her standards as the man she ha,
taught. The pupil was more devote
than the master.
There are some things" she RI
piled bitterly, that a woman cannc
forgive, never ~forgives."
what things?" he persisted, wol
dering ignorantly as to her meaning.
Don't ask me" she answered, in
patiently. II told you I would tell yo
the story to-day and you will have t
wait until then"
, "But that comment Of the world?"
"You will hear 1t from that man
lips, If l mistake not" said the won
/ an, YEARLY, "but you must press m
: no further. See, they are close to til
reef. We must hasten"
| She drew her hand away from h
and ran rapidly to the beach. Ma
/ urally he followed, overtaking her
4 a few swift steps and running as W;
Q his wont by her side. II he ha
stopped to indulge in the luxury
determination, he would have four
0 his feelings in such a turmoil of sue
strange emotions as would have def1e
|, classification and description. OF b,
+ two things was he very clear; that
loved this woman, and that in son
8 way, for causes unfathomable and n,
present to him, he hated the man
the men in the boat of shore.
BY the woman's directions just b
d fore they reached the shore, the ms
n picked up two fallen branches of pail
They ran to the beach opposite Il
entrance and waved the palm branch
above their heads. 1t was too far {
.. the voice to carry and there was t
l. much noise from the breakers on u
t. reef IL the distance had been shortt
But the men In the boat evident
/. caught sight Of the signals and und'
stood them, for she was present
Is about and in a few moments they SO
d her PROV cut the bme waters Of t
q lagoon through the one entrance to t
b. barrier. The man and woman sto
10 silently, a little apart, watching I
h swift approach. Unerringly steert
ID the boat struck the gently shelvi