The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-03-25

now and again gulls would sHeep on
flashing, motionless pinions.
His eyeballs seems to move re-
luctantly in their sockets. and his
head felt very light and empty. al
though SO heavy that he could not lit
1t from the pillow. But he managed
to shift his gaze from the window
until It rested upon mans face-a
| quaint. impressive brown face illum-
mated by steady and thoughtful eyes,
filled with that mystic. unshakable
spirit Of fatalism that is/the Genius
Of the eastern peoples. The head It.
self stood out with almost startling
distinctness against the background Of
pure white. It was swathed with an
Immaculate white turban.
Tho sick man felt that he recog-
mixed this countenance-had known 1t.
rather. in some vague, half-remember-
ed life before his latest death. The
name : He felt his lips move
and that they were thin and glazed.
Moistening them with his tongue he
made another attempt to articulate. A
thin whisper passed them in two
breaths: Ram Nath :"
Hearing this, the dark man started
out Of his abstraction. cast swift
pitiful glance at the sick mans face
and came to hold a tumbler to his
lips. The liquid, colorless, acrid. and
pungent, slipped into his mouth. and
he had to swallow whether he would
or no. When the Anal drop disap-
peared, Ram Nath put down the glass.
smiled. laid finger on his lips. and
went on hptoe from the stateroom.
After awhile the man without an
identity fell asleep. calmly. restfully.
in absolute peace. When kgain he
awakened 1t was with the knowledge
that he was David Amber. and that q
woman sat beside him.
Sophia
His voice sounded In his own hear
ing very thin and brittle. The girl
turned her gaze upon him swiftly, the
soft smile deepening, the dream-light
In her eyes burning brighter and more
steady. She bent forward, placing over
his wasted hand hand Arm and
warm, strong yet gentle. its white
ness enhanced by the suggested ira
Gerry of blue veins beneath the silker
skin. and by the rosy tips Of her slen
der. subtle fingers.
David" she said
He sighed and remembered. Hi
brows knitted, then smoothed them
selves out; for with memory came thu
realization that, since he was there
and she by his side, God was surely IL
his heaven, all we'll with the world!
"How long Sophia?"
Give days. David"
Where 2"
"At sea, David, on a Messagerie
boat for Marseilles. Dear ;"
He closed his eyes in beatiflc con
tent: David Dear \!
Can you listen?"
Eyes =. sweetheart"
Her voice faltered: she fushe
, adorably. You mustn't talk. But II
tell you. They refused to lie
us go back to Kuttarpur; an escor
took US across the desert to Nok, 20
in litter, on horseback. There W
took train to Haidarabad and Ks
rachi. Ram Nath came with US, a
bearer 1t being necessary that he to
should leave India. My father an
your man Doggott Joined US at Ki
rachi, where this steamer touched tn
second day"
"You understand, now"
Everything, dearest
"Labertouche-?"
HE told me nothing I haven
seen him since that morning, whel
lust after you were wounded, W
started for Nok. He posted OF I
Kuttarpur to f1nd my father.
No; 1t was you who told me-ever.
. thing-in your delirium."
"And you forgive"
"Forgive!"
He smiled family. THAT phot'
graph"
II had it ready to return to 20
that morning. David"
= knowing what 1t meant to met"
. knowing what 1t meant to me
what 1t meant to both Of US. David"
80 you weren't offended. thu
night?"
Of 81 loved you even then. David.
H. think must have loved you from th'
a first day at Nokomis. Do you remer
In Der 2"
d. His eyes widened. perplexed, sta
n ing into her grave, dear eyes. 1.-THE
n. why did you pretend-?"
n. With the low, caressing laugh of
,e happy child, the girl knelt by the sit
at Of his berth. and laid her CHEF
Ia against his own. "Oh. David. my d
m vid! When do you expect to unde
at stand the neart OF wohan' oe