Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-27
!6evRsoST 1910 81 Tne ceNIveY co
eva'erT 's'0 sY ire SUCCESS 6

past hour I've been wondering how !
could tell you. how I could make you
understand"
The girl had been half-reclining up
on the great sheepskin, her weight
supported by one hand. While Cayley
read, this support failed her, and she
sank down, rather slowly. until her
head was. buried in tho arms which
were stretched out Do II In blind sup
plication. She was shuddering all
over.
AZ Cayley spoke. he covered those
clasped, outstretched hands with one
Of his own. The touch and the sound
of his voice steadied her q little.
you've known. then. from the
frst?" The words came brokenly.
half.voiced. muhled.
He bent down over her to hear
them. Eyes, I knew from the first"
He said no more than that Just
then. but remained Is he was. his
hand covering her two. holding them
tight, his body bending yer hers
protectingly.
Aftsr . little while she ceased shud.
dering, ana answered the pressure Of
his hand with q sudden clasp Of her
tive: then drew them away again ana
sat erect
Her eyes, when they rose to his
face, were still wide with fear-a
desperseated fear. really. than her first
momeutary panic. But now she had
It in control and spoke steadily
enough.
There 10 no chance at all. do you
think7"
"For the Aurera to come back! No.
not this season, at least: no possible
chance"
"And-how much ammunition have
you, Mr.. Cayley?"
"Thirty-one cartridges. besides tho
ones in the revolver"
He would have SID something moro,
but with . little gesture she prevented
him. you've been thinking It out"
she said. you know what 1t means
now. and IL feel that I don't. I can't
quite realize it yet. You nus give
mo a little time to think. too"
He had to assent to that, though he
knew, in advance, the direction her
thoughts must take, and foresaw the
dreadful conclusion Of them. And the
answer he had to make to that on
clusion7 Well. he had It ready.
How long that silence lasted, Meth
er Of them knew. He sat there beside
her, and yet even his eyes allowed
her perfect solitude. He mended the
dre and altered to his cooking as
quietly a. before. when the girl was
reading.
Finally q little move Of hers. pre-
paratory to speech, gave him leave
to look at her. In those silent mir
U7es. noweve long they we're. her f4ce
had changed. It was grave now. in
tensely thoughtful. but the color had
come back into II. It was alive again.
When l asked you q while ago II
there were any chance. you asked me
If i meant q chance for the reaurn of
the Aurora. and said there was none.
That was what l meant ther. but its
not what I mean now. Is there any
chance at all? I haven't been able to
see any myself, and I've been over 1t
all pretty carefully. Do you see any?
You-you must tell me the truth,
please"
Il haven't been trying to assess the
chances. I spent my hour thinking
about something else. and l can't an
swer your question really with a yes
or q no."
Not with a yes, but can't you an
swer 1t with q no? Aren't you per-
fectly sure, In your heart, that there's
no chance at all?"
"Not yet" he answered. There may
be . chance. and II there is. We
can meet it half way" Then he
stretched out his hand. THAT red
bound book there is our Bible now.
Do you remember what your father
said? We can live like Christians, and
We a always hope He thought.
when he put that bottle. which con.
tanned his message. into the sea, that
there was hardly M chance In Q mil.
lion Of its resulting in IN etfectual re-
lief. Yet he went On living rs . brave
man lives, q day 1t . time. And when
he died. he died without fear. Doing
that, he not only helped himself, but
he helps us in a way that he couldn't
possibly have foreseen."
Her eyes filled suddenly with tears
and Q smile, Of q divine sad tender.
ness, touched for IN instant he,
mouth. But that isn't our case, you
know. Ours isn't as simple as that"
What makes the di6erence?" But
he knew the answer.
"Your. wings" She said It hardly
above q whisper, and as she said II
she turned q little paler and her brave
lips trembled. But in an instant her
will had taken command again. y
Am sure you zee. It's quite plain"
she went on steadily. III you will
spread them. those great wings Of
yours. and take to the air with them,
and ny away. ~ you are free to do
and leave. me here alone, a I really
am alone. the only person marooned
here-x you'll do that, then I'll fol
low my fathers gospel.-But you won't
60 away You can't-not . man like
you, and I know that. I know
mustn't even suggest It."
Her voice sank again and grew un.
steady. while I am starving, you
will be starving. too. And while I am
freezing. you will freeze" She