Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1910-07-23
CHAPTER XXlI.-continued.

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?"
i don't know" answered Langford
Il can't tell what moved me. | was
here on the island with the others. I
searched with the rest. / know that
no foot of 1t was left unvisited. Every
crag 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 we're
gone and yet l could not believe Il.
Yesterday afternoon parted from the
cruiser ] did not bear away for this
ISLAND until 1t was too dark and they
we're too far away to see what would
be about and then I came back here
at full speed"
why did you Gomez"
Il don't know. / was not satisfied.
1t seemed to me that must come
back and search again. could not
believe 1t 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
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 | touched
your hand o Kate, thank God | have
found youl"
Where is hel" said the woman.
"'Why didn't he come back?"
1t 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 II would have killed
her, for If Langfords 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 Il. 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
failed TO grasp 1t. He's gone"
The man did not tell her that Char
mock had been carried away a sense.
less log, bereft of power to think or
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 to
grasp it and we separated"
Eyes" said the man. 81 know that. |
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 than
he"
And I rose higher the other day
upon the sand"
"You did. but not high enough. be.
lieve in him. He will realize it, too"
she went on, all the confidence of her
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
NO returned the woman, neither
will condemn him for that one mis-
take
But he's gone, tell you"
And he viii come back, | know"
lie thinks you dead
$50 did you
But came back, not he"
You We're your own master" said
the Uosuau swiftly. You could go
where sou pleased. He was subject
40 the decision Of others. trust him
keA."