The Comrade. (Winnfield, La.) 1890-1914, 1910-08-26
CHAPTER V.
The Voices of the Past.

outside Of her sanctuary the roar O
the storm. The man, as usual slep
the long hours through as undisturbet
by the commotion as a child. It wa
apparent to her that he had absolutel,
no fear. Whether this was due to ig
norance or temperament she coul(
not say. Was fear, after all, under the
conditions in which his life had beer
lived, a purely artificial quality, or was
1t natural and inherent? He hat
aVo1dances, abhorrences, antipathies
as the skeletons in the coppice which
she had buried. Was that avoidance
fear or was it something else? Was
1t instinct or did it arise from recol
lection? She rather fancied the last
If SO, it was evident that the man had
been on the island long time. It
would have taken years for the metal
that must have been about that
woman's person to rust away, for the
steel clasps of the dogs collar entire.
ly to disappear.
Upon that faint memory that he
cherished, upon that prayer that he
prayed, she could build the foundation
OF his education. She had been so sue
cessful in training him and In restrain
Ing him, in influencing him and sway
Ing him so far that she had abundant
confidence In her ability to do so to
the end. 1t was quite evident that life
would be easily supported under the
conditions in which it must be lived
on that island She need have no
physical concern as to her material
well being or comfort, and here was
mental education and stimulus which
made her for the time being forget
the rest Of the world.
indeed, she thought bitterly, as she
lay awake during the long watches of
the night, that the rest Of the world
was nothing to her and that she hated
1t. She, therefore, not only was be-
coming resigned to her situation, but
was rejoicing in it. She would teach
this man all she knew. She would
teach him to think, to reflect, to rea-
son. She would teach him to talk
Since she had a book, albeit a sorry
one, she would teach him to read.
The rain fell more softly now Her
eyes dropped.
She slept again only to wake and
muse once more. She could have
slept better had he been outside. How
could he lie there in the complete and
sleeping insensibility of slumber? Her
hand fell against her breast. There
was the treasure trove of her exist.
ence the day before. What would they
tell her? She could scarcely wait un-
I'll morning to look. So she woke and
slept and woke and slept until the
day broke.
1t was bright and sunshiny out, al
though there were ominous clouds all
about the western horizon. It was
probable that the rainy season was at
rand, If not upon them. She re.
5retted that she had not given more
line to the study of nature, to the
auna and flora of the South seas to
he conditions of wind and weather
'nder which life was lived there. Much
philosophy would she gladly have
'arted with for such practical infor.
nation. She had to piece her ideas
i affairs out from scraps and tags of
unclassifed, incoherent;
rom vague recollections of childhood
tories and romances; from carelessly
canned collections of voyages, books
I travel and adventure. The result
7as unsatisfactory, In some particu.
ars the instructive man before her
as her master. At the things which
'ent to make up physical comfort and
ell being in state Of absolute ma.
ire he certainly surpassed her.
She was thankful when she walked ]
broad that she had the shelter of the !
ave, for everything was drenched !
ON the terrific downpour. If it was
le beginning of the wet season she !
new that the rains would soon come
gain. Still she luxuriated in what +,
eedom she had. Without removing
Or single garment she plunged into :,
e lagoon for a refreshing bath. The :
an followed her and swan about her !
owing slowly, with less skill than :
e, but as easily as a porpoise ;,
unges about the bow of a progress =
g ship. :,
Refreshed, she came back to the il
outh of the cave and brought thence
a careful inspection all her h
'rldly possessions, save the little Il
ap of clothing which she had care V
lily piled upon the jutting shelf in Il
e shadow Of the cave for time of W
ed. She ranged them on the sands n
fore her. There was the Bible and !"
little silver box which she had "A
ind In the cave. She examined 1;
ire critically its contents, wondering W
lat they might be, and finally there Il
me into her mind recognition that gi
" We're flint and steel. When she m
shed, she could make fire. She Fl
$ happy for the moment in the HI
and then the uselessness of W
!, power. came across her clrinlslr