The Comrade., 1910-08-12


will and purpose; that something
higher than himself was overruling
him which might be hard. 1t would
have been hard for the woman. She
thought, however, that the limited
comprehension of the man might not
enable him to realize it.
He stood a long time on the sand
while she watched him. Had she con
quered? Had he learned his lesson?
Had she laid foundations upon which
consciousness of life and its relations
might be builded? Would she be free
from the terror of molestation, which
in spite of herself sought expression
in her voice and manner? Would she
be permitted to pass the night undls-
turbed? Was her power over him suf-
ficiently definite to be established and
to be of value? Suppose she had not
succeeded in mastering him, In DOM
mating him? She shuddered at the
probabilities involved. Of all the
beasts Of the field, the most terrible
! when he is a beast is man.
She was not a weak woman. She
was above the middle height, athletic,
splendidly developed, accustomed to
the exercises Of the gymnasium and
the field, but her strength was no
match for his. One ray Of safety ap-
peared in the fact that she believed
him ignorant alike of the extent of his
power or of the possibilities Of the
situation. She wondered what strange
thoughts were going on in that latent
brain over which by the use Of moral
force and courage she was striving to
establish domination. She rejoiced to
find that even in the midst of her anx-
ieties she could think so clearly about
the situation.
Did he know his lesson, she Won
dered She could only hope. If she
only had weapon, she thought, the
weakness of sex might be equalized.
There was nothing. Yes, her thought
reverted to the womanly pair of scis-
sors With trembling hand she drew
them forth and clenched the little tool
Of steel tightly. It was q poor depend
ence but the best she had. And then
she drew quietly back into the re-
cesses Of the cave and sat down lean
ing against the wall, her eyes bright
with dread, anticipation and curiosity.
She watched and waited, resolved If
necessary to remain awake the long
night through.
Outside the man had stood motion.
less a long time after the flaalrepulse.
The dusk had not yet melted into dark
cut there and he was easily visible
against the sky framed by the opening
as a dim picture. She. was hardly
aware of the intensity with which she
watched him and she was greatly sur
prised when she saw him at last kneel
down upon the sands. She saw that
the palms of his hands were pressed
together in front Of him; that his
head was bowed, that his attitude was
that of prayer! He was saying some
thing. She could hear him without
difficulty. She could distinguish no
words in the rude succession of
sounds that seemed to come from his
lips, but her acute and quickened per-
ception seemed to recognize a nearer
resemblance to articulate speech than
anything she had yet heard from him.
What was he doing? In a flash the
woman realized that the man was
praying. The realization smote her
like blow, for this woman had long
since put away prayer. In her philoso.
ply Of life there was no place for God !;
in her scheme of affairs the Divine
was unimminent. And yet alone on
that island, in the darkness, despite
I her attempt to mock away the con
sciousness, she was relieved at that
sight.
The little ritual on the sand ended
with the one word her pupil knew
!, MANI" he said striking his breast
again and staring upward toward the
heavens. "Man" he cried as if in his
new consciousness he would fain in.
troduce himself to his Maker, the
woman thought. "His Maker!" her
lips writhed into bitter smile that
was half sneer.
What would he do next? He rose
to his feet and peeped toward the
door. She grasped the scissors tight
{ er and held her breath. But he had
learned his lesson. With indescribable
relief she saw him turn aside and cast
: himself down upon the sand where he
: lay motionless. If she had had any
faith she would have breathed "ThanA
God!" AS it was, she was very glad
She watched him a long time, spec
ulating on the questions she had asked
him on the hill in the morning; who
he was what he was; whence he
came; where he had learned that bab
Bile Of prayer; why he was devoid o.
speech; what was the God to whom
he prayed? She would study those
things. The problems fascinated her
The desolation and loneliness Of The
island might have crushed her. Re
}, lieyed from her immediate apprehen
lsions the man delighted her. Sht
would investigate him, analyze him