The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-06-23

He dropped the box to the sod and
knelt beside her.
HAS the sight of the ship made you
veep?" he said, softly. Il wish that
had never come to tell you it was
there!"
I'VE have been so happy together,
you and l." said the woman. This
island has been my world, my haven,
my heaven, rather, and you have been
humanity to me, but now the earth
opens before you. You will have 9TH
er hopes, other ambitions, perhaps"
Don't say it." protested the man
Vehemently. 81 shall have nothing.
nothing but you anywhere, every
where, and, besides, nothing is
changed. See, the smoke grows faint
er; the ship more dim. She passes
beyond. Things shall be as they
were! We shall live on, and love
on!"
Her desolation, her sorrow appealed
to him profoundly. He took her in
his arms. He laid her head gently
upon his shoulder. There was protec-
ton and tenderness as veil as pas
sion in his touch.
Together" he whispered, patting
her hair softly, alone, you and Il"
For one delicious moment with
closed eyes she let herself be so
soothed and comforted. But her bet
ter nature woke on che instant, as it
were.
NO" she said, drawing away from
him gently, ''it would not be right.
We belong in the world of men. Men
and women are not men and women
until they have lived among their fell
lows, until they have fought down the
| temptations of which we know moth
ing here, and have conquered them
out there. Give me the flint and steel.
must call back the ship!"
He stopped as she spoke and picked
up the little silver box. He extended
his hand toward her, and then sud
denly drew it back.
you cannot light the beacon" he
said.
| Cannot" she cried.
mo, for will not give you the flint
and steel"
"You Inust give it to me-"
II will not. l am the stronger, and
you cannot take it from me-" he re-
turned, with growing firmness.
1t was the first time in all their in
tercourse that he had disobeyed a
command. She looked at him amazed,
her heart, nevertheless throbbing at
the mastery in his tone, at the thought
that he was willing to throw away the
world for her. 1t is true he had had
no experience of that he was giving
up, but he was not entirely ignorant of
what lay beyond the horizon, and
she had presented it in such a
way that it glowed with color and life
and charm. The evil, the sordid and
the wretched had been lightly al.
luded to, just definitely enough to
Shade the picture and bring out the
higher lights of civilization. His was
not the decision. therefore, of an un.
tutored, inexperienced savage, not the
abandonment of toy by child
there was some reality In it and the
reality measured his affection. Her
heart leaped in her breast at that
thought For one fieeting moment she
acquiesced. Things would go on in
the old way. But things could not &c
on in the old way. For day and q
night, in spite of the great change
that had come to their feelings, life
| had flowed on as usual, but there was
a limit to human power. 1t was bet
ter, whatever betide, that they should
go back to civilization. The woman
stared at him long and earnestly, her
lip trembling, her face pale, her eyes
shining. ThNy stood speechless at
gaze for a msSnent, and then she
spoke.
"You are right" she said, my pow
er over you has gone. can no longer
command. Mine has ceased to be the
supreme will, but beg you, entrat
you, pray you, give me the flint and
steel. See, on my knees ask you!
She sank down before him in an at
titude which he knew to be that oi
prayer. They had often read the
sacred Scriptures and had said theil
prayers together on the sand or be
meath the trees since she, too, in the
solitude had seen God and believed.
Il cannot, will not" he answered
hoarsely, stepping nearer to her.
mo" she said, you must not touch
me, you shall not touch me. shall be
to you as a stranger, unless you take
me by force, If you will not let me-
light that beacon"
NO." said the man, doggedly
when the world touches our shores i
brings you unhappiness. Let it pass.
"Listen!" she said. II have tried II
tell you something about honor ant
duty. My honor says that that shil
must he called. My duty bids me cal
her. You said that you love me-"
"Said!" exclaimed the man.
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