The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-12-20
Lying Upon the Sands.

He hated Langford, and yet his 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
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 if he had
failed once. If he had derogated from
her high standard. he remembered
that it was through failure that men
achieved. He tried to comfort him
self with these thoughts, but with lit
tie success.
But by and by all these considera-
tons faded away or merged in a great
longing for her. He had never dis
turbed her in the still watches of the
night, although he had often been
tempted to do so. But now the desire
to see her, to plead with her. to beg
her forgtYeness-not a low desire or
base one, he thanked God-was so
great that he could no longer sustain
It. He rose to his feet and looked out
Of the open port hole. The dawn was
grazing the east. Attired as he was
In the loose shirt and trousers in which
he had lain down, which were not IN
like the tunic that he habiually 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
ly 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 on to it, and
don't wish to be followed"
It's long swim. sir" ventured the
marine, scarcely knowing what to do
He stepped fairly in the gangway
as II to bar the exit.
1T is nothing to me-" said the man.
Stand aside"
Mr.. HOpkins!" called the marine.
turning toward the officer of the
deck.
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 a grip which left
him helpless. lifted him gently out OF
the gangway. dropped him carelessly
upon the deck and had flashed through
the air into the water.
BY the time Mr. Hopkins reached
the gangway the half-dazed marine
had risen to his feet.
What is it!"
WY II > Tue CaSIaWdy, sir, the
Wild man that we brought ashore to-
day"
well"
He said he wanted to swim to the
shore and did not want to be fol-
lowed"
Why didn't you stop him?"
Il did try. sir, but be picked me up
As II had been baby and threw me
aside and went overheard"
The officer was in q quandary. He
had received no orders to prevent the
man from going out Of the ship. He
was not quite sure what his duty was.
At any rate. he turned to the boat
swain's mate and babe him call away
a crew for the cutter swinging astern.
He directed the coxswain to bring the
boat to the gangway and then sent the
midshipman Of the watch below to re
port the matter to the captain and ask
his orders.
Capt Ashby. as Il happened, was
awake He came on deck Immediately
in his paJamas and received confrma-
ton OF the midshipman's extraordinary
story from the watch ofhcer It was