The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-05-30

Nevertheless, the campers did not
attempt it. Instead, they had made
q fire of driftwood on the sand out
of reach of the highest tide. Near
the fire they had spread mr. pougns'
and on this fragrant couch James was
lying. He was all unconscious, ap-
parently. of the primitive nature Oh
his surroundings, the sweetness OF
his balsam bed, and the watchfui care
of his two nurses.
Jim was in bad way, If one could
trust the remarks of his male nurse
who spoke to an invisible companion
as he. gathered chips and other plts
of wood from the beach. He was
young, businesslike fellow with
clean, wholesome face, dressed only
in a gauze shirt, trousers, and boots
without stockings; this lack, OF
course, was not Immediately appar-
ent. The tide had just turned AFTER
the ebb, and he went far down over
the wet sand, sometimes climbing
over the rocks farther along the shore
until he was out of sight OF the
camp.
Returning from one Of these excur-
sions, which had been bit longer
than he intended, he looked anxiously
toward the fire before depositing his
armful OF driftwood. The blaze had
died down, but a good bed of Goals
remained; and upon this the young
man expertly built up a new fire. IL
cracked and blazed into life, throw
ing a ruddy glow over the shingle
the rocks behind, and the figure lying
on the balsam couch James race
was waxen in its paleness, save fol
two fiery spots on his cheeks; ane
as he lay he stirred constantly IN
feverish unrest. His bare feet were
nearest the fire: his blue Wooiiel
trousers and shirt were only parti!
visible, being somewhat covered b!
a mans tweed coat.
The fire lighted up. also. the hgur
Of Agatha Redmond She was knee
ing at the farther end Of Jim's couch
laying a white cloth, which had beel
wet, over his temples. Her lon
, dark hair was hanging just as 1t ha
dried, except that it was tied togethe
} low in the back with string OF sliI
I perry sesweed. Her neck was bare
: her feet also; her loose blouse ha
; lost all semblance of made-to-orde
! garment, but it still covered her
\ while petticoat that had once bee
S black satin hung in stiff. salt-drie
Y creases over her waist to little b.
: low her knees. She had the well-se
b head and good shoulders. with dee
S chest, which makes any garb becon
8 ing; her face was bonny, even nov
clouded as 1t was with anxiety an
t fatigue. She greeted the young ma
e eagerly on his return.
d IF ycp could only find little mol
, fresh water, am sure 1t would hel
y The milk was good, only he wou
p take SO little. l think | shall hay
g to let you go this evening to hunt II
IS the farmhouse"
d Eyes, Mademoiselle," the your
d man replied. He had wanted to {
'r earlier in the day, but the man WI
1t too i'll and the woman too exhaust'
ID to be left alone. He went on spea
le ing slowly, after pause. Il can fiji
e. the farmhouse, am sure, only
t, may take little time. Following Il
N cattle would have been the quicke
ly way; but can find the cowpath soc
Re even as it Is If you wouldn't be u
< easy with me gone, Mademoiselle
"Oh, no, we shall be all right no
OF till you can get back!" AS she spoil
as Agatha's eyes rested questioning
IS on the youth who, ever since she h
to revived from her faint of exhaustit
e. had leased her memory. He had Sc
1g them struggling in the sea- and b
- swum out to her aid she knew: a
g? after leaving her lying on a slim
ed seaweed-covered rock. he had 60
IN out again and brought in her CO
ne panion in a far worse condition tn
er herself. The young man, also, was
mt survivor of the Jeanne Dare, havl
come from the disabled craft in
sx- tiny rowboat that was now on
no beach More than this she did !
e: know, yet something logged her me
If DRY every now and then-someth
zee that would not shape itself definite
lid Indeed, she had been too much
ito crossed in the serious condition
pit, her companion and the work net
led sary to make camp, to spend .
me thought on unimportant speculate
ur. But now, as she listened to
let youths respectful tones, 1t sudde
he came back to her. She looked at
with awe-struck eyes.
the ooh, now know! You are
sea new chauffeur; queer name, HaI
lis Yes, remember remember"
his What you say is true. Nader