Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-01-05

bsoyant smile fickered in his face and
there came to Nathaniel's ears like q
throttled whisper-his name.
NAT"
And no more.
The head fell forward again. And
Nathaniel, turning his face away, saw
something come up out of the SHIN
mering sea. like a shadow before his
blistering eyes, and as his own limbs
went out from under him and he felt
the %strangling death at his throat
there came from that shadow a cry
strings-a piercing cry and (even in
his half consciousness he recognized
it) a woman's cry! He flung himself
back. and for a moment he saw Neil
struggling, the last spark OF life in
him stirred by hat same cry; and
then across the white sand two figures
flew madly toward them, and ven as
the hot film in his eyes grew thicker
he knew hat one Of them was Marion
and that the other was Winnsome
Croche.
His heart seemed to stop beating.
He strove to pull himself together.
but his head fell forward. Family,
him, and when with a superhuman ef-
fort he Strengthened himself for ar
instant he saw hat Neil was no longer
at the stake but was stretched on the
sand, and of the two figures beside
him one suddenly sprang to her feet
and ran to him. And then Marion's
terror-illed face was close to his own,
and Marion's lips were moaning his
name. and Marion's hands were slash.
ing at the thongs that bound him.
When with a great sigh Of joy he
crumpled down upon the earth he
knew that he was slipping of into OBJ.
livion with Marion's arms about his
neck, and with her lips pressing to his
the sweet elixir of her love.
Darkness enshrouded him but a few
moments, when a dash of cool water
brought him back into light. He felt
himself lowered upon the sand and
after a breath or two he twisted him.
self on his elbow and saw that Neils
white face was held on Winnsome's
breast and that Marion was running
up from the shore with more water.
For a space she knelt beside her broth
er, and then she hurried to him. Joy
shone in her face. She fell upon her
knees and drew his head in the hollow
of her arm, grooming mad senseless
words to him, and bathing his face
with water. her eyes shining down
upon him gloriously. Nathaniel
reached up and touched her face. and
she bowed her head until her hair
smothered him in sweet gloom, and
kissed him. He drew her lips to his
own, ana then she lowered him gently
and stood up In the starlight, looking
first at Neil and = aGp at him;
and then she turned 4dicKly back to
the sea.
From down near the shore she
called back some word, and with a
shrill cry Winnsome followed her. Ma
thaniel struggled to his elbow, to his
knees-staggered to his feet. He saw
the boat drifting out into the night,
and Winnsome standing alone at the
water-edge. her sobbing cries of en-
treaty, of terror, following 1t unan-
swered. He tottered down toward
her, gaining new strength at each
step, but when he reached her the
boat was no longer to be seen and
Winnsome's face was whittier than the
sands under her feet.
"She is gone-gonc-" she moaned,
stretching out her arms to him. She
is going-back to Strang!"
And then, from far out in the white
glory Of the night, there came back to
him the voice of the girl he loved:
"Goodby-Goodby-"