Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-03-15

His watch was an old hunting-case
which had belonged to his father. He
opened it and cracked the crystal with
his pocketknife. AS nearly as he could
determine by the sense Of touch it was
seven o'clock Bess - Wallingham
would be wondering by this time why
he had broken an engagement with her
for the second time that day.
There is one thing more to do" he
said. "It is seven o'clock; don't know
how much longer we shall be able to
breathe easily, and l am going to write
a note which will explain matters to
the persons who find us-if we should
not happen to be able to tell them"
Laboriously he penciled on the back
of an old envelope the explanation OF
their presence there, making a COM
plete and careful charge against Alca-
trante. He laid the message on the
floor.
On second thought. he picked it up
again and put it in his pocket, for if
by any chance they should be rescued,
he might forget it, In that event its
discovery would possibly bring an ex-
posture of facts which the girl and her
father would not care to have dis
closed.
A faint whisper from the girl
What is it?" he asked, bending
tenderly for her answer.
You must lie down, too"
He began to move away, as If to
obey her
NO" she whispered-"here. I want
you near me-"
Slowly he reclined and laid his head
on the coat Her warm breath was on
his face. He felt for her hand, and
found it held tightly to his.
His own mind was still torn with
doubts as to the best course. Should
he put himself out of the way that she
might live? The sacrifice might prove
unnecessary Rescue might come when
it was too late for him, yet not too
late, If he did not hurry his own end.
And if she truly loved him and knew
that she loved him, such an act on his
part would leave her terrible grief
which time would harly cure.
He tried to analyze their situation
more clearly, to throw new light on his
duty. The clerks must all have gone
by now. There would be visit or two
from a night Waterman, perhaps, but
there was scarcely one chance in a
hundred that he would unbolt the
door.
The air was vitiating rapidly; they
could not both live through the night.
Buff she loved him as he loved her,
she would be happier to die with him
than to live at the cost of his life.
He pictured for himself again that
last look of her face; its beauty, its
strength, its sweet sympathy He
seemed to see the stray wisp of hair
that had found it's way down upon her
cheek. Her perfect lips-how well he
remembered!-we the unopened
buds of pure womanly passion.
After all, whether she loved him or
not, there would still be much in life
| for her.
Time would cure her sorrow. There
would be many claims upon her, and
she would sooner or later resume her
normal activities.
Slowly he disengaged his hand from
her clinging fingers. In his other hand
he still held his pocketknife. To open
vein in his wrist would take but a
moment. His life would well away,
there on the tiles.
She would think he was asleep; and
| then she herself would drift away into
Inconsistencies which would be bro
ken only after the door was opened III
| the morning.
| Bah! His mind cleared in flash.
| What a fool he was! Need he doubt
her for an instant? Need he question
what she would do when she found
that he was dead? And she would
know it quickly This living pulsing
| girl beside him loved him!
They were one forever. They still
lived, and while they lived they must
hope. And If hope failed, there still
would be love.
| His pent-up emotions broke restraint
With unthinking swiftness, he threw
his arm over her and drew her tight to
him. His lips found hers in a long
kiss-clung in ecstasy for another, and
another.
Her arms went about his neck. He
felt as though her soul had passed from
her lips to his own.
my lover!" she whispered Il think
I have always cared"
ooh, Girl, Girl" He could utter nc
more.
With faint sigh she said: 81 am
glad it is to be together" She sat up
still holding his hand. eff it need be
at ALL" she added, new f1rmness IN
her voice.
IF it need be at ALL" Orme searched
his mind again for some promise of es
cape from this prison which had been
so suddenly gloriffed for them. The
smooth, unbreakable walls; the thin
seam of the door; the. thermometer
Why had he not thought of it before
The thermometer!
With an exclamation, he leaped tc
| his feet.
What is it?" she cried.