The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-12-27


turned his mind sharply TO a oonsid
Grafton Of their present position They
had been alternately swimming and
iloating hoping 10 come upon the
yacht The darkness OF tho night was
penetrable, SO that they could see a
airly large circle of water about
them, but there was no shadow of
the Jeanne D'Are. Save for the run.
ming surge OF the waters, all was ST.
lenoe The pale forerunners Of dawn
had appeared Their swim after the
boats OF the Jeanne Dare had warm
ed their blood, so that for a while
they were not conscious OF the chill
Of the water But as the minutes
heightened, one by one, fatigue and
cold numbed their bodies II was a
test OF endurance for a strong man.
as for the girl Jim wondered OF her
atrength and courage She swan
superbly, with unhurried, steady
strokes. y she grew chaUeringly
cold, she would start into a vigorous
swim, shoulder to shoulder with
James. II she lost her breath with
the hard exercise, she would take his
hand, so as not TO lose YOU" she
would say and rest on the breast
OF the waves. The wind dropped and
the sea grew quiet. 80 that they we're
no more cruelty buffeted, but rocked
up and down on It's heaving bosom.
Once, while they we're resting on
the water. Agatha broke a long ST.
lence with. Il wonder" but did not
at once say what she wondered at
Jim said nothing. but she knew he
was waiting and listening.
Suppose this should be the Great
Gateway" she said at last, very
lowly, but quite cheerfully and nat
lrally. Il am wondering what there is
beyond"
I've often wondered. too" said
Jim.
I've sometimes thought, and I've
said it, too, that was crazy to die. /
Just to see what happens" Agatha
went on laughing little at her own
memories. But | find I'm not at all
eager for it, now, when It would be
so easy to go under and not come up
agail Are your"
NO, I've never felt eager to die;
leasS of all, now"
Al atha was silent q while.
What do you think death meansY
Shal We be we tomorrow, say, pro-
vidcd we can't keep ahoat?" she
asked by and by.
Why, yes, l think So" said Jim.
4 don't know why or how, but guess
we go on somewhere; and | rather
-hink our best moments here-our
OF happiness or heroism, II
We ever have any-are going to be
he regular thing Jim laughed a
title, partly at his own lame ending,
md partly because he felt Agatha's
land closing more tightly over his.
lie didn't want her to get blue just
ret, after her brave fight.
But Agatha wasn't blue. She an
thoughtfully: That isn't a
ad idea, and then cheerfully turned
o consideration of the possibilities
f a rescue at dawn.
James had evolved a plan to wait
III enough light came to enable them
D reach the Jeanne Dare, if she was
till ahoat: then to climb aboard and
unit for provisions and life preserv. {
RS or something to use for a raft.
he could do this, then they would
c in a somewhat better plight, at 9
asst for a time. He prayed that the :
sanne Dare might still be afoat. Il
The two talked little, leaving 81. I
noes between them full of wonder.
he detGils of life the ordinary per, a
,nalities, we're 5lotted out Without d
;pianation or speech of any kind,
ey understood each other. They a
ere not, in this hour, members OF al
complex and artificial society; they 81
ere not even man and woman; they 81
ere two souls stripped of everything oi
It the need for fortitude and sweet. pi
SIS. IN
At last came the dawn Slowly US
g blue curtain of night lifted lifted, -
til 1t became the blue curtain OF til
Y, endlessly far away and far above M
twinkling star looked down on the ~
p Of ocean. glimmered a moment Oh
d was gone. The light strength. ue
ed. A pearly, irldescent culver pr
ne upon the waters, repeating
ELF wave after wave, and heraided
coming of the Lord Sun over the
"a murmuring sea. AS the light bis
w, they could see a constantly wild no
ny circle Of ocean, Of which they rul
re the center As they rose and in
with the waves, the horizon fell net
rose to their vision, dim and un.
Eed Hand in hand they fioated moi
vaporous silver cpl
The day has come at last, thank not
Il" breathed James. ma
yes, thank God!" answered the cou
4 re you very cold?" mo
he sun will soon warm us" car
Where did you learn to swim?" "
n England, mostly at the Isle OF all
ut, but I'm not half such a the
min as you are" "
jh, well, boys have to swim YOU sire
", and was boy once" Jim con
gered awkwardly. Presently he and
I'd, and his voice was full of awe: the
We you ever seen the dawn-a the
n like this-before? cou
lever one like this she whis. Nor
d.
tTO BE CONTTNUED)