The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-12-20
CHAPTER XXI.
UnavaiIino A1ne.L

OnaNailinq Appeal.
She slept late the next morning. In
the first place being upon the western
side Of the island, there was no flood
ing burst of sunlight through the open
door to disturb her quiet slumber. In
the second place she was so worn out
and exhausted. she had had so little
sleep in the past three days that i'm
peratiYe nature forced her into rest.
She might have slept longer indeed,
but that she was awakened by a great
cry, human voice calling her name.
She opened her eyes and saw within
the dimness Of the cave human fig
ure, vaguely white in the darkness.
For one fieeting instant she imagined
that 1t might be he, but that hope
was dispelled as quickly as it had
been born. She recognized the voice.
II was Langford's.
Kate" he said approaching her
more nearly and bending over her,
ARE you alive then?"
He reached down and touched her
hand where it lay across the fern
leaves on her breast. His touch sum-
moned her bewildered faculties to ac-
ton. Brushing his hand aside. she sat
up.
1T is l." she said.
you are alive and well?"
Yes" she answered.
Thank Cod" cried the man. Eve
thought you dead. We searched the
island. Where had you hidden? Why
have you done it?"
She rose slowly to her feet and con-
fronted him.
"You." she said bitterly. "Why have
you come back?"
Il don't know" answered Langford.
Il can't tell what moved me. l was
here on the island with the others. 1
searched with the rest. know that
no foot OF IT was left unvisited. Every
crag and Granny, every thicket and
coppice, every tree, every cave and rift
In the rocks was examined over and
over again. We knew that you were
gone and yet could not believe It.
Yesterday afternoon parted from the
cruiser. l did not bear away for this
island until 1t was too dark and they
we're too far away to see what 1 would
be about, and then 1 came back here
at full speed
why did you Gomez"
Il don't know. / was not satisfied.
It seemed to me that l must come
back and search again. l could not
believe it possible that you were dead.
really dead. Something in my heart.
at any rate. brought me back once
more to see the place where you had
lived If no more than that. We made
the island early in the morning. The
yacht lies yonder. l came ashore a
moment since and some kind Provi-
dence led me first of all to this spot.
l entered the cave. saw you lying
there in the cool darkness. / thought
you dead at first. Then / cried to you
and you moved. And then / touched
your hand. o Kate, thank God l have
found you!"
Where is hel" said the woman.
why didn't he come back?"
1t was a cruel thing to say, but she
could no more have helped it than
she could have helped her breathing.
Not to have said it would have killed
her, for If Langford's love could turn
him back. what should be said then of
Charnock's. Langford was pale and
haggard. He. too, had suffered. He
was paying for his sins. He was ex-
plating them and feeling it, although
the expiation was not helping her
What OF himf" she asked insist
emily
What matters about him." he said
bitterly. He had his chance. He
failed to grasp It. He's gone"
The man did not tell her that Char
mock had been carried away sense
less log. bereft Of power to think or
speak, or move. or feel. by the shock
Of her departure
Once" said the woman, you had
your chance in the cabin of that very
yacht out yonder and you failed to
grasp II and we separated"
YES" said the man. Il know that,
realize that now, and came back.
have come back to take my chance
again
And so he may come back" said
the woman. You sank lower than
he.v
And rose higher the other day
upon the sand
You did, but not high enough. I be-
lleFe in him. he will realize it. too"
she went on. all the confidence Of her
hopes springing into life again and
TO BE CONTINUED
With the Coming of Middle