The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-23
Bl Il. s. pIIIIIIpS
Copyright. 1919. by the Associated
Literary Press

The little flag, nuttering gaiiy where
her finger had tied 1t, irritated him
and he put out hastoy hand.
You need not dishonor Old Glory
because you are angry with met
The words were like water on hot
iron, whetting mis- anger.
Il did not expect to find you
here.'
Il came for the same reason--and
/ came first. ] have been here more
than two hours.
Prior possession and an Invitation
To vacate present surroundings were
voiced nv the trite phrase. Ames
glanced ut her quickly, and anger
tanned more potently She was SO
alluringly beautiful, here in the glare
OF autumn sunshine and turbulent
sea, bringing home the knowledge
that it was genuine loneliness, not
an effect OF shaded lights and at
traetiye gowning.
you do not own this island" he
protested. stnbhorniy,
SHOW your deed she retorted.
colby THIS island was flung up by
the. sea, and / have never heard Of
any one disputng the claim of the
waters. Perhaps mine Vas an appeal
TO chivalrous courtesy that does not
axist-in you at least.
Crimson touched the healthy bronze
of his checks Look here. Trix. /
didn't come here TO continue our
quarrel
Which implies that / did. didn't
dream you. were coming here, OF all
places. However, il is large enough.
, But l am going back The tide will
be- coming In soon. and that shrinks
the area.
The slender white figure vanished
out Of the line II present vision, and
Ames did not turn TO look after her.
a recently retained bethrotal ring
forbade active interest.
After an adeauate interval of wait
ing he strolled toward the other
beach. When he raised moody eyes
from the pebble he was kicking laziiy
they encountered white figure sill
houetted against the blue. Far out
on the waters e canoe rocked provok-
ingIy.
rrf~-.tfirtty -'.t---esre--
less about such details. You must
lei me take you back tn the hotel.
Miss West
Her smile was lcily sweet When
YOU do go. you might tell Mr.. Ham
moni am here and want him TO
come for me
Under the g9ad OF fIammond.s
nara. II had decorated Miss Wests
dancfng programme nfaar times s's'ss
night1 he became vehement
GU are going back with me
i am going back with whom !
piease-or stay Eere indefinitely,
was the decided answer.
She looked 80 small and dainty. to
he cared for tenderIy instead Of hur'-
ing defiance. Anes smiled sadly bat
the returned ring also forbade pre-
| ioneed contention. He bowed grave
| Is and left her an.
| The tide was coming in. Mild
whitecaps Ga The bay attested this'
But it seemed marvellous that any
! trick Of the side could have brought
a canoe tn the right about IN saeh a
/ short time Then came acute real
ization. Il was his canoe
A muck solution Of this problem
was necessary. The shore was beyond
swimming distance, only he and IF1N
VEST fretftlented this tiny strip of sun
| s7-rr,t land, east ap by an ocean Vol
cano in idle sport. 1t would be cola
xhen the September sun had van
! ished Her gown was summer white.
| The waigt tllmy. Ruefuily he ref'eete"
| that "a thin serge coat aHoraed ht''e
I protection against Ginning va SNN+NN''
Consultation being imperative. ne
Went erfrnIy back to the other shore.
| INV canoe has gone, toe, ne ven
tured
| Sphinx-like reply
| "Rut Miss West. this is serious.
| fhsr.l il no tifnt, for aaieeling. we
are niaroaned on this little island,
Z expected to be-" came the CAIN
answer. But she shivered signify
! aud lie knew that she was troubled
| "cYou must take my coat, ne salo.
gently placing il about her shoulders
| h was shaken off inpatientiy.
Il have not asked your assistance
| WON must have it. Trix. You are
! getting chilled. And YOU must tax
| over tha situation. Look at the tiue-
! have never seen it SO aggressive.
| Another fact intruded suddenly II
/ was not only the tie. Usually nigh
and dry places on the small margin OF
! shore we're being Submerged The
island was sinking,
OUT OF the shining white caps
/ brfbea her canoe, the influx Of water
bringing il gradually nearer II was
their only hope. lie kicked off his
/ light shoes ana Went gamely ont to
/ capture IT,
! VIII be drowned!'
! livery muscle tenge, the girf raced
/ 10 the edge of the encroaching waves.
/ fat7Frf tfrE reason uf this apparent
madness came like a binding flash.
/ The waters we're coming to claim
! their own.
-it's all my fault--mine, she
/ Whispered, with a dry Sob If
/ hadn't been so stubborn and foolish
| no would have managed long ago
Aeons, apparently, she stood strain
srts. her eyes into tire dazzle of the
/ sunset. while a determined swimmer
drew nearer and nearer the elusive
canoe When he finally grasped II.
| an ardent cheer rose to her lips.
e4aser came the crawling death, but
! that was not in her mind How petty
now tritling, was the slight misun-
! 1T, ntiing that doomed so large an
hour ago.
! The breeze had freshened so much
/ it was not possible for Ames, expert
/ anoeist that he was. to gain the dry
| Interior of his rocking captive. But
/ fortune favored-a~Tow he was swim
ming with the tide When he dared
waste strength on shoreward glance
he SAW the girl waving his coat with
1 ray encouragement. She was stand
| ing beside the lone tree the island
! hoasted. The waters had risen peril