The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-04-13
Lying uponSths !sands.

| ,rs D ID.
Lying Upon he tsaads.,
iIe hated Langford, land yethis sense
OF justice forced him TO admit that he
had played the man at last, while he,
the islander, had treated her out.
rageously and in the end had played
the fool. Was there "a chance that
she would forgive him?
The man was In many respects still
a child. His heart in those sad and
dreary hours yearned toward her as
the -weaned baby turns toward its
mother. And yet there was nothing
weak or childish in his feeling. He
recognized his own powers, his own
capacities. He knew then that she
had taught him more things than
are learned in books! She had taught
him manhood as she had tried TO teach
him honor and dignity. and II. he had
failed once, II he had ,derogated from
her high standard, he: remem hered
that 1t was through failure that men
achieved. !! He tried. to comfort him.
self wtthithese. thoughts, but with lit,
tie. success. .glH., ~ !,
But by,,ands by alb these considera-
tons faded. away or merged in great
longing for cher. ole fhah never, dis.
|lturbed her In the gstill watches :of tho
might. although he,thad !. often BEEN
tempted to do 80. But now the desire
to- see her, to plead with her, to beg
her forgiyeness-not Ia low desire ior
q base one, he thanked God--was SO
great that he rcould7no longer sustain
IT. He rose to hisfeet'and looked Z out
OF the open port hole The dawn was
CRAVING the east. Attired as he was
In the loose shirt and trousers In which
he had lain down, which were not un!:
like the tunic that he habitually wore.
save that they were OF soft, luxurious
silk. he opened the door OF the cabin,
stepped out through the silent ward.
room-he had the natural savage art
of treading without a sound-ran light.
~ up. the companion ladder and
stepped upon the deck. The officer OF
the watch and his midshipman did not
notice him. Their eyes were else.
where. He,ran swiftly across the deck
and stopped at the gangway. A mar.
Inc stood there and started forward
as he approached,
That's my island" said the man.
I'm going to swim off to It. and /
don't wish to be followed"
Its a long swim. sir" yentured the
marine. scarcely knowing what to do,
He stenped fairly in the ,gangway
as ITO bar the exit. go
1T is nothing to me-" said the man
Stand aside" I.
mfr. Hopkins!" called the marine,
turning toward the officer Of the
deck. n
AYE. aye came from Mr.. Hopkins
as he turned and started forward to
the gangway.
The next moment the man had
seized'the marine in q grip which left
him helpless. lifted him gently out OF
the gangway,H dropped him carelessly
upon the deck and had flashed through
the iair into fthe water.
By the time Mr.. Hopkins reached
the gangway the half.dazed 4marine
had risen to his feet.
: 'sWhat :isSit?"5 f Z
Why. It's the castaway, SIR, the
wild man that we brought ashore to.
day" ~. e :. A IN
well"
He said he wanted to swim to the
shore and did !. not want to be fol.
lowed" ~. y 33,S.l3i,
~ Why didn't you stop him ?" rl
\ u did try. sir, hut he picked me up
as ~ l had been,a baby. and threw me
aside and went overheard"
The officer was in a squandary.r He
had received no orders to prevent the
man from going out Of me ship. He
was mot quite sure what his duty was
AT amy rate; he turned to the boat.
SWANS mate and tbade him call away
10 crew for the cutter swinging astern.
He directed the coxswain to bring the
boat TO the, grngway and then sent the
-midshipman of the watch below to re.
port the: matter to the captain and ask
his orders. z ~ n s',tl., ~ e 357ta
Capt. SAsnty, as 1t happened, was
awake. He came on deck Immediately
in his pajamas and received conilrlna.
stiontof the:midshipman'a extraordinary
story from ftfro watch sofilcer. ut Vas
~ "a a.; ~ =