Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-07-15
CHAPTER XVII-contInued.

"T can answer that" said the WON
an when I landed on this island, !
found this man here. He had been
here a long time. l believe he had
been cast away here as a child and
had grown up alone. He had no
speech or language. He had no mem
ory OF the past. His mind was a
blank. I was glad to find him here
He gave me occupation, companion
ship. l had been we'll educated. / de
termtned to teach him. l knew that
his ignorance was the result OF his
environment. l believed him to be
naturally acute. I found my beliefs
warranted. I taught him all that
could of life and letters from memory.
For three years my sole and only oc-
cupation has been to teach him what
knew. No p~receptor ever had apter
or more docile pupil"
NO learner ever sat at the feet OF
such a teacher" cried the man,
touched by the recollection. Think,
men, all that I knew was a childish
babble OF prayers which "a remained
in my l was ignorant OF
everything. even that l myself exist
ed: that there was any difference be-
tween me and the palm tree or yon-
der bird; that man was made IN the
image Of his God; that there was such
a thing as a woman upon earth. had
no ideas of honor or honesty, or pur-
tty. or sweetness, or truth, or life, or
God. unit she taught me. l believed
in her as | believed in God, and l loved
her as | love sunlight and fresh air
and the sweet wind. l loved her, as !
learned to love under her teaching,
goodness and truth and every virtue.
And to think, to think. to think"
he threw up his hands in a wild ges-
.ture-"that 1t has come to this
And h taught me something, Ne
Whitaker" said the M II
gave me back my faith in manhood
which you" she swept LangfOrd
with a bitter glance-"had destroyed.
He gave me back, l think, my faith In
God. He taught me many things. And
when two days ago an earthquake bur
led me within the cave | call
nv home, and he tore the rocks asun-
der and freed me and caught me in
his arms, l knew that he had taught
me what love was, and as he con-
'fessed before o all that he loved me,
that he did love me. l will confess the
same. and say that I at least have not
changed In this hour"
Kate, Kate" cried Langford, "for
Gods sake, hin of what you say and
do"
Sir" said Whitaker, turning to the
man of the island, you are a very
fortunate man"
"Of all on earth" was the bitter an
swer, II cannot think there are any
more miserable than /"
Did you Learn nothing of his past.
Miss Brenton?" asked Whitaker, un-
comfortably, unable to answer this
strang yet natural assertion. Gould
the man remember nothing"
It learned a great DEAL" returned
the M I'm the cave which he
had made his home and which he has
since yielded up to me-
Where is this cave?"
ON the other side of the island
You shall see 1t presently. l found 6
Bible. There was a date in 1t some
so years back and a name in It"
What is the name?"
John Ravell Charnock."
"Of virginia." asked Whitaker
eagerly.
Il think so. although there wa
nothing but the name and the date ii
the Bible"
Il know Charnocks in Virginia. The!
come from NansemOnd county"
ut is a further confirmation" saiC
the woman. With the Bible Their,
wa a little silver box containing
hint and steel by means of which
.she turned to Langford-'we Lighted
4hrt beacon which brought you her,
this morning"
I'll was my own eye caught the sig
nal" answered Langford.
Would God I had died ere I gave /
tup to her!" interpOsed the man.
IT Insisted upon It So soon as
reAfxed this man loved me, l told hin
z hxd a EtEuy To tell / knew 1t woult