The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1911-03-31

ldl0 Is 8UOHIIY W VIC ~ w. MILL
tell him tina Winnsome loves him.
and that she will escape and come to
him on the mainland. Tell him to go
-go!"
She turned again, and Nathaniel
stood like a statue. hardly breathing.
until the sound of her feet had died
away. Then he walked swiftly up the
foot path that led to Obadiah's. He
forgot his own danger in the excite
ment that pulsated with every fiber
of his being. forgot his old caution
and the fears that gave birth to it
forgot everything in those moments
but Marion and his W great happi-
ness. Neil's absence meant nothing to
him now. He had held Marion in
his arms. he had told her Of his love.
and though she had accepted 1t with
gentle unresponsiveness he was
thrilled by the memory Of that last
look in her eyes. which had spoken
faith, confidence, and perhaps even
more. What was that something she
would tell him if he got Neil safely
away? 1t was to be a reward for his
own loyalty-he knew that, by the
half fearing tremble of her voice, the
sobbing catch of her breath, the
strange glow In her eyes. With her
brother away she would confide in
him? Would she tell him the secret
of her slavedom to Strang? Ma
thaniel was conscious of no madness
in the wild hope that filled him; moth
;,,~ ,o>~,@l ;o-occ;h)o 10 IT,,
Marion would meet him at midnight.
She would go with him to the boat,
and then-ah, he had solved the prob
lem! He would use no force. He
would tell her that Neil was in his
canoe half a mile out from the shore
and that he had promised to leave
the island for good if she would go
out to bid him good-by. And once
there, a half a mile or a mile away, he
would tell her that he had lied to her;
and he would give her his heart tc
trample upon to prove the love that
had made him do this thing, and then
he would row her to the mainland.
1t was the sight of Obadiah's cabin
that brought his caution back. He
came upon it so suddenly that an eX
clamation Of surprise fell unguarded
from his lips. There was no light tC
betray life within. He tried the door
and found it locked. He peered il
at the windows, listened, and knocked
and az last concealed himself neal
the path, confident that the little ole
councillor was still at st. James. Fol
an hour he waited. From the rear o.
Obadiah's home a narrow footway lee
toward the lake and Nathaniel fol
lowed it, now as warily as an ANNA
in search OF prey. FOr half a mile
it took him through the forest an(
ended at the white sands of the beach
In neither direction could Nathanie
see a light, and keeping close in tn.
shadows OF the trees he made hi!
way slowly toward st. James. He hat
gOne but a short distance when he
saw a house directly ahead of him
a single CLEAN of light from a small
window telling him that it was in
habited and that its tenants were a
home. He circled down close to tn,
water looking for a boat. His hear
leaped with sudden eXultation whel
he saw a small skiff drawn upon tn,
beach and his JOY was doubled at find
ing the oars still in the locks. 1t tool
him but a moment to shove the ligh
craft into the sea and a minute late,
he was rowing swiftly away from thu
land.
Nathaniel was certain hat by thii
time Neil had abandoned his search
for the captured Typhoon and wa!
probably padding in the direction O
st. James. With the hope of inter
cept!ng him he pulled an eighth of
mile from the shore and rowed slowl,
toward the head of the island. Their,
was no moon, but countless star
glowed in a clear sky and upon tn,
open lake Nathaniel could see for
considerable distance about him. Fo
another hour he rowed back and fortl
and then beached his boat within
dozen rods Of the path that came dow
from Obadiah's.
1t was 10 o'clock. Two more hours
He had tried to suppress his excite
ment, his apprehension, his eagerness
but now as he went back into tn
+ darkness of the forest they burst GU
anew. What if Marion should no
, keep the tryst? He thought Of tn
spies whom Neil had said guarded tn
, girls homeland of Obadiah. Coul,
= he trust the old councillor? Should
he confide his plot to him and ask hi
assistance! AS the minutes passe'
and these thOuphtS recurred apai,