The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-12-13

he stepped nearer to her, he seized
her hand He was an old-fashioned
Undetermined, quixotic sort OF g
sailor, if you viii, for before anybody
realized what he was about. he bent
his head low over It and kissed it. And
the sailors behind him and the ma.
rines in rank broke into hearty
cheer.
There, madam" said Whitaker
you have the appreciation of society
for my act. As for you, sir" he
turned toward Langford, Il should be
untrue to manhood II I did not say
what you yourself have said; that you
acted not only like a brute and a
coward. but, sir, when look at the
lady, / am constrained to add like a
fool"
Langford started forward, but the
lieutenant checked him.
Having said all that, must admit
that you have conducted yourself since
that time as a man of honor and as a
gentleman. I have no doubt that
your offer viii be accepted; that the
world will forgive you as it will ad-
mire and respect your wife"
mol" cried the man of the island,
suddenly.
He had kept silence, resolved to
hear II all out without interruption. He
had suffered as the miserable story
had been unfolded to such an extent
that all that he had gone through with
before seemed like child's play. He
had heard Langford's noble confession.
his generous offer to repair HIS wrong,
but without the appreciation of it
which the circumstances and its intrin-
sic quality might have evoked. He had
heard the woman's defense, her splen-
did justification of her course. the bit
ter repentance that had followed II,
but without that appreciation of what
justification there was for her and the
value of her remorse Which the ac-
count should have brought to him. He
had observed Whittaker's prompt and
touching expression of confidence and
reverence, but without understanding
its force and power. Indeed, he had
instructive shrewdness enough to
realize that even though the sailors.
touched by the act of gallantry and
moved with pity for the young woman
who stood there lovely in her sadness.
had cheered, yet the world would be
very slow to the same expression.
He saw that the woman was face
to face with a crisis; that she
would either have to accept or de-
cline Langford's offer to marry her at
once.
His heart was filed with bitter rage.
He knew that he loved the woman:
that he never would love any person
but the woman, but nevertheless the
resentment against fate which had
placed him in so awful a position. of
whose malign purposes he had been
the blind, ignoble victim, was so
great that for the time being his love
was in allegiance. He pitied himself.
he loathed Langford, he was contemp-
tuously Indifferent to the world, and
for the moment he almost hated the
woman. The sub-consciousness that
he had that this was as ungrateful as
1t was unwarranted added to his
wretchedness and misery.
No" he cried, before any answer
is made, let me speak,"
Your pardon" said Whitaker,
may ! ask who you are?"
Sir" returned the man, "as to who
am and what ! am, do not know.
nor does it greatly matter"
Your pardon again." retorted the
lieutenant commander, coolly, but it
matters very much. Unless you have
some right to interfere, l do not con-
cede that any suggestion from you in
this crisis which seems to concern
these two people. this lady and this
gentleman. is at all in order"
But it does concern me-" returned
the man, impatient of this checking.
for love this woman myself, and she
has done me the honor to say that she
loved me. had intended to make
her my wife should Providence ever
bring US to civilization again"
Had intended" exclaimed the wom-
an, under her breath. but no one no
ticed her words, and the lieutenant
spoke again.
That being the case, some in
formation as TO who you are and how
you came here is the more evidently
in order"
Il can answer that" said the wom-
an. when l landed on this island. I
found this man here. He had been
here a long time. believe he had
been cast away here as a child and
had grown up alone. He had no
speech or language. He had no mem
DRY OF the past. His mind was
blank. I was glad to find him here.
He gave me occupation, companion
ship. ! had been well educated. / de-
termined to teach him. / knew that
his Ignorance was the result of his
environment. / believed him to be
naturally acute. found my beliefs
warranted I taught him all that /
could of life and letters from memory.
For three years my sole and only &C.
cupation has been to teach him what /
knew. No preceptor ever had apter
or more docile pupil"
mo learner ever sat at the feet of
such q teacher" cried the man.
touched by the recollection. Think.
men, all that knew was a childish
babble Of prayers which had remained |
In my memory. was ignorant of
everything, even that I myself exist
ed; that there was any difference be-
tween me and the palm tree or yon-
der bird; that man was made in the |
Image Of his God; that there was such
a thing as a woman upon earth. I had
10 ideas Of honor or honesty, or pur- /
ty, or sweetness. or truth, or life, or
God, until she taught me. believed |
IN her as believed in God, and loved |
her as I love sunlight and fresh air
md the sweet wind / loved her. as /
earned to love under her teaching.
and truth and every virtue.
And to think to think. to think"
ne threw up bis hands in Wild ges-
Lre-'that it has come 10 this"
And he taught me something. Mr..
said the woman. He
Eave me back my faith in manhood
which you" she swept Langford
With a bitter glance-"had destroyed
lie gave me back, think, my faith in
iod. He taught me many things. And
When two days ago an earthquake bur
ed me within the cave call
ny home. and he tore the rocks asun.
Ter and freed me and caught me in
Iis arms. knew that he had taught