The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-05-26

rents Of fire to his sickened brain.
Neil was dying! A fourth time he
struggled back. A fifth-and he held
his ground. Even in that passing in
slant something like a flash of his
buoyant smile flickered In his face and
there came to Nathaniel's ears like
throttled whisper-his name.
Mat"
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 shadow before his
blfstering 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 cry
that seemed to snap his very heart,
strings-a piercing cry and (even in
his half consciousness he recognized
it) woman's cry! He flung himself
back, and for q moment he saw Nell
struggling, the last spark of life In
him stirred by that same cry; and
then across the white sand two figures
few madly toward them, and even az
the hot film in his eyes grew thicker
he knew that 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,
as on battlefield, voices came to
him, and when with superhuman ef-
fort he Strengthened himself for an
instant he saw that 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-hlled 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 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.
Oar ness enshrouded him but q few
moments, when a dash Of cool water
brought him back into light. He felt
himself lowered upon the sand and
after breath or two he. twisted him.
self on his elbow and saw that Neil's
white face was held on Winnsome'a
breast and that Marion was running
up from the shore with more water.
For 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 senselesa
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 hid
own, and then she lowered him gently
and stood up in the starlight, looking
first at Neil and next down at him;
and then she turned quickly back Il
the sea.
From down near the shore she
called back some word, and with 1
shrill cry Winnsome followed her. Ma
thaniel struggled to his elbow, to hi
knees-staggered to his feet. He saw
the boat drifting out into the night
and sWinnsome standing alone at tn.
water-edge, her sobbing cries Of en-
treaty. Of terror, following It unan
swered. He tottered down towart
her, gaining new strength at easl
step, but when he reached her th.
boat was no longer to be seen anl
Winnsome's face was whittier than u,
sands under her feet.
sShs II gone gone she moaned
stretching ont her arms to him. .Shl
II going back to strsngl. 3ssl
And then, from far out 81 the Whit
/ giosy gof tho night thers scans bscl q
him the yoics, q u siE1 ~ ioyed::
! s00odby- aoodlby N
GRO n 0o1g9fUlD Il