The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-06-23
CHAPTER XII.
The Ship on the Horizon,

CHAPTER XII.
The Ship on the Horizon.
Yesterday morning she had been
awakened by an earthquake. To-day
it was the call of voice, his voice.
There was none other on the island
1t came to her through the open door
way. By turning her head she could
see the bright expanse of sand and
sea and sky beyond. Yet no figure
darkened the entrance. He stood out
of sight, but within hearing, calling her
name. She rose to her feet, gathered
the tunic about her waist by cine
ture of plated grass, thrust the knife
within rude sheath she had made for
it, and stepped out upon the sand. She
had an instinct that something un.
usual had happened, for never before
had he ventured to come to the cave
and thus awaken her. The change in
their relations might have moved him
to this extraordinary course, yet she
did not believe that it had. She found
him in a great state Of excitement.
AS she cleared the entrance he ran
toward her waving his hands.
There is something" he cried, his
voice thrilling with new and strange
emotions, "oR the other side of the
island"
rs it something of enough impor-
tance," she said, softly, laying her
had upon his shoulder, "to keep you
from kissing me good morning."
Evidently whatever it was, it was
not, shs thought for happy moment,
as he swept her to his breast at once.
| That had been his first instinct, that
had been his burning desire the night
! long, 20 have her in his arms was
his constant thought; but he was new
to lovers ways, unused to loves Gus
toms, anE, besides, he had sworn that
the advances must come from her.
But once the advance was made, the
signal was displayed, the permission
was given, he more than did his part.
Pressing back her head he fed his full
upon her lips. No, not that, he could
lever do that, but he kissed her long,
and for a moment forgot what he
had to tell. 1t was she who first re-
membered.
And what is it," she asked, ION the
other side of the island?"
Il forgot it for the moment" he an
severed, passionately, "as l forget
everything with you in my arms"
She laughed at this bold assertion.
You love-" she said, "as if you had
been taught to do it from the begin
ming"
THE sight of you, your touch, the
air that hangs about your person,
| they have taught me, and am only
beginning now to show you how much
| love you"
IF this be the beginning" she
laughed, what will be the end?"
There is no end" he replied laugh.
| ing in his turn.
But you came here to tell me some
thing else"
when started from the other side
of the island it seemed the greatest
thing that l could tell, but since have
seen YOU"
Man, man." she cried, with pleas.
ant impatience, what is it that you
saw"
81 think it is ship" he answered,
with sudden gravity.
"A ship!" she cried.
She laid her hand upon her heart
and sank down upon near by boul.
der. If his words were true, what
would 1t mean to them both?
q have never seen ship, but there
is a dark object yonder," he point.
ed across the island toward the farther
horizon, too far away for me to dis.
tinguish what 1t is; but smoke rises
| from it,"
Let us go!"
She rose to her feet and extended
her hand. He took it and they began
/ to run. They ran as often as they
walked, except in the greater heat of
midday. 1.-the, free-limbed, lightly
clad, deep Chested and strong, in this
emergency they headed straight
across the hill instead of taking the
longer way around the sands. The
distance was not great. There was a
sort of rude path which they had
made and often traversed, and in a
few moments they stood painting a