The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-04-04

TfIE FATl
Ne dropped The bes 10 the nod and
knelt beside her.
Has the sight Or The ship made you
weeph lie said. softly. Il wish that
had never come 10 tell YOU 1t was
Ithere!. Js
we have been 80 happy together,
You and II said the> woman. This
island has been my world, my haven,
my heaven. rather, and you have been
humanity to me. but nov the earth
opens before you. You Will have 9th.
err hopes, other ambitions, perhaps
Don't say 1t" protested the man,
yehemently. Il shan have nothing,
nothing but You anywhere. every.
where, and, besides, nothing IS
changed. See. the smoke grows faint.
81; the ship more dim she passes
beyond, Things shall be .as they
were! We shall I've on. and love
ont"
lE--- - I'M N-HNHHH
He. d%esolation, her sorrow appealed
ITO him profoundly. He took her In
his arms, He laid her head gently
upon his shoulder. There was Iprotec.
tlon and tenderness as well as pas.
sion In his touch. /.
Together" he whispered. patting
her hair softly. alone, you and II.
For one delicious moment with
closed eyes she let herself be SO
soothed and comforted. But her bet.
ter'nature woke on the instant. as it
were. -
NO she said, drawing away from
him gently. ut would not be right.
We belong in the world OF men. Men
md women are not men and women
until they have lived among their fel.
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!"2t
He stopped as she spoke and picked
up the little silver box. He extended
his hand toward her. and then sud
denly drew 1t back.
You cannot light the BEACON" he
said. nS7t
Cannot" she cried.
mo, for l will not give you the flint
and Steel"
You must give It to me-"
Az - .... -" E. ~ -. -
II will not. | am the stronger, and
you cannot take It from me-" he re.
turned, with growing firmness.
1t was the first time III all their in.
%tercourse that he had %disobeyed a,
command. She looked atihim amazed.
her heart, nevertheless ;throbblng 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 1t in such a
way that it.glowed with color and life
and charm. The evil. the sordid and
the wretched had been lightly al.
lnded TO. just definitely enough 40
sliade stheapicture aud hiring out the.
higher Lights Of civilization, His was
notlthe decision. athereforeSs d in in
tutored. Inexperienced savage, not the
abandonment Of a toy by u child;
there wass some-1Fsality IN .itJApd the,
reality meusated hisf atsctioH Hefi
heart leaped5 in her breast. u that
thought. Fotspnei Feeling moment SIZE
8equiesced. 'ssfhingss~ Would gu ons:in'
the old way. But things could not go
on in the old way. For a day and q
night, in spite Of the great change
'thut had come to their feelings. life
had flowed on as usual. but there was
4 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. They stood speechless at
gaze for a moment, and then she
spoke.
"You are right" she said, my pow
er over. you has gone. I can no longer
command. Mine has ceased to be the
supreme viii. but beg you, l entrat
you, ! pray you; give me the flint and
steel. See, on my knees ! ask yon!"
She sanksdown before him IN an at.
titude which he knew to be that OF
prayer. They had often read the
sacred Scriptures and had said their
prayers together on the sand or be.
meath the trees since she, too. in the
solitude had seen God and believed.
81 cannot, I will not" he answered,
hoarsely, stepping nearer to her.
NO. she said. you must not touch
me, you shall not touch me. shall,be
to You as 4 stranger. unless you take
me by force, II you will not let me
light that beacon"
NO" said the man, doggedly.
when the world touches our shores It
brings you unhappiness. Let It pass
"Listen!" she said. II have tried to
tell you something about honor and
duty. My honor says that that ship
must be called. My duty bids me call
her. You said that you love me-"
Said" exclaimed the man.
you do love ME, then" returned
the woman, ''and I Won. but that love