The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-11-15

rom the town to meet me. They did
nos believe me dead They expected
me-living."
Inc news of your coming arrived
only today. We thought that you had
Oeen killed." and again Adoni avoided
narlnos gaze; then, with startled sud-
aenness, the lad hid his face against
the Dig mans sleeve and began to
cry. And before Marine could hold
MIN Adoni broke away and fed
something was wrong. The heart
OF the nerce warrior beat audibly.
VIII go to Marianthe," he said.
and strobe forth.
AS he approached the house a
man darted out, and, brushing by him
without word, sped away in the di.
rection Of the village.
His gray beard told Marina that
this was the father of Marianthe.
They are fleet of foot tonight, i"
thought he, and came to the door.
II was open, and the dim light Just
sufficed to show him, the one room
mere was an armchair by the open
window, and in 1t woman rocked to
and fro in an agony of grief.
Marino stood silent for several mo-
ments. Then he went in and took the
woman In his arms.
"Marianthe, my loved one. have
come back to you!"
For moment her arms were about
his neck. and she raised her eyes to
his and looked at him sorrowfully.
DO you not say anything to me?''
Why did you not come soonerY'
In whisper so low as scarcely to be
heard.
I have come as soon as it was pos
sible. Why do. you look so at me?"
He broke OF and seized her hands,
and covered them with kisses.
"Adoni said that the story came
that had been killed"
Yes. They brought the cap made
for you, all stained with blood and
torn by bullet"
Il lost the cap six months ago. But
they brought it-who?"
For the first time the shadow of sus-
picion crossed his mind. He was
stroking her hands still, waiting for
her to speak. Then as his grip tight.
ened upon the fingers of her left hand,
he felt something that he had not no
ticed before. His heart seemed to
stop. Gray hands of fear tore at
him, but he remained silent.
"D'metri. He came back in the
spring. He said that you were killed
at his SIDE"
"Ay-and them" The words Kissed
away her hands from him.
And then-and them" she cried
"he came to my old father. For a
long time nothing was said to me, but
l know now that it was arranged be
tween them that / should marry
D'metri. All, do not look at me SO!
| Oh, Marine, my loved one, there was
no life for me when you were dead
There was nothing. But I loathed
D'metri. tried to fee away from the
island, but they brought me back. And
at length-at length was forced to
give Ill. MdIluO, mluC, II you Lou
come but yesterday"
What do you say-yesterday?
Papa Tzantill married us today, and
| just as we had sat down to eat aft.
erward man arrived from Athens
saying you were not only alive, but
were coming by the next steamer to
Mitriane."
Marine rose, and roughly dragged
the gold ring from her finger. For q
moment he looked out of the window
watching the afterglow of the sun
set above the horizon. Far below an
easy tide Tapped against the rocks
Halfway between lay one whe was
white and cold and stared forth from
the rock cleft
He held the ring in the palm of his
hand.
| Our forefathers burned ornaments
Of gold with their dead" he said, and
burst into a roar Of laughter.
Go and comfort thy master!" ht
shouted, and hurled the ring away.