The Tupelo journal., 1912-06-07
CHAPTER XIII.

thRt-not days at all, really, but an in
eerminable period Of n~ight-which
we're broken for Jeanne by nc ray Of
hope whatever. She kept Philip and
herself alive, from day to day, and this
occupation left her hardly time enough
q think whether there was anything
% hope for or not.
Much Of the time Philip was deliri-
ms; sometimes violently SO, and yet
she often had to leave him. When she
lid so, 1t was with no certainty at all
hat she would find him alive upon her
return.
At last the conviction was forced
upon her that Philip was actually on
he road to recovery. His delirium be-
came less violent and occurred at long.
Dr. intervals. The frightful condition
Of his wounds began visibly to inn
prove, Instinctively she resisted this
conviction as long as she could, refus-
ing almost p~assionately to begin to
aope-for the return of hope brought
An almost intolerable pain with Il
Without hope there had been NO fear.
40 apprehension-tust a. in q fresea
limb there Is NO pain. But, as the pos
ability of his recovery became plain.
u, the slenderness Of the thread By
which his life vas hanging became
slainer. too. A thousand chances
which she could not guard against
night cut the thread and destroy the
hope newborn.
He vas able, At last, after Q long
sleep and a really hearty meal Of sus.
Gaining food-which she hardly dared
give him-to get up and walk out Of
heir shelter 10 the ~star-vaulted beach.
@; but at the end of the little prom.
enade he expressed q disinclinatton to
90 back to the stuffy little shed which
pad been the scene OF his long illness.
The clean, wide, boundless air was
bringing back the zest for life to
aim. So Jeanne brought out from
The hut a great bundle OF furs and
made a nest of them IN the beach.
md there he lay back and she sat
Town beside him.
DO you remember. Jeanne" he
aid, the first time We sat out like
his, there on the ice-hoe beside the
Aurora, and l told you how l had
earned to ny?"
She locked her hand into hts before
The answered.
81 couldn't believe that night that
wasn't dreaming" she said softly.
Nor l, either" he told her; and.
somehow, l can't believe 1t now-nos
ully;-not this part of it anyway"
He had lifted the hand that was
ocked into his and pressed It to his
lips before he spoke. There was q
Silence after that. Then, with a little
.ffort the girl spoke.
Philip, do you remember my say.
ng what a contempt you must have
or the world that didn't know how ia
ly? Do you remember that, and the
snswer you made to it,"
He nodded.
Philip, is that still there? Youz
contempt, l mean, for the world?"
81 don't believe" he said, that you
an ever ask that seriously-you, who
ave me first my soul back again and
hen, In these last weeks, my life
TOR it's been your life that has lived
a me these last days-they must be 4
rood many-just Is It vas your
warmth and faith and fragrance that
gave me back my soul, long ago" He
paused a moment; then, when Ne wen,
On his voice had a somewhat differen,
luality. But the other contempt
Jeanne, that still exists. or would ex
st If l gave it the chance, the worlds
contempt for me. Not even your faith
could shake that"
She had been half-reclining beside
aim, but now she sat erect p~urposefub
y, like one who has taken q resolu
lion.
I'm not so sure of that" she said
n a matter-of-fact tone, though there
was an ~undercurrent Of excitement In
t. Philip, l have been trying te
olve a puzzle since you were Ill.
loped l could solve 1t by myself. II
were intelligent enough I'm sure
could; but I'll have to ask you to helr
me. It's q string Of letters writer
round a picture, in Q locket."
"A lccket of yours7" he asked. sur
)rised.
Never mind about that Just now.
She spoke hastily and the undercur
ent Of excitement was growing
tronger in her voice.
no you want mo to try It 0 = hs
.sked. III you'll make q light and
Nhow me the thing I'll see what
Ian do"
Perhaps you won't need that" sh'
laid. II can remember the letters
they are divided up into words, bu'
m sure they are not any foreign Ian
:uage; they are In . code Of sont
sort."
She did not turn to look At him. bu'
The felt him stir . little, with sudden
81 aroused attention. and heard hi
breath come q little quicker.
The nrst letter was all by itself.
he said. trying to keep hor voice
Nteady. Il was NJ. And then, II