The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-01-10

HG smiled AT MS own Woluni anu
Agatha was reassured.
II think you'll be still better for a
little milk" she said and crept away
to get the pail, which had been hid
den on a shelf OF rock When she
came back with IL. James tried man
fully 10 sit up; but Agatha slipped
an arm under his neck, In shilful
nurse fashion, and held the bucket
while he drank, almost greedily As
he sank back on his bed he whisper
ed; you are very good to take care
OF me-"
"Oh, no; I'm only too glad' And
now I'm going 10 build up the hre
again; your hands are quite cold
mo, don't go" he pleaded, please
stay here; I'm not cold any more
And you must go to siaep again. |
ought not to have wakened you; and,
really, didn't mean to-"
yes you ought. I've had lots OF
sleep: don't want any more"
TITS dark but It's better than II
was that other night, isn't it?" said
James.
Much better" answered Agatha.
James visibly gathered strength
from the milk, and presently he took
some more. Agatha watched, and
when he had finished patted him
approvingly on the hand Good boy
You've done very we'll" she cried.
81 was 20 thirsty, ] thought the
whole earth had run dry. VIII you
think me very ungrateful II I say now
| wish II had been water?"
"Oh, no; wish so, too. But Mr..
Hand could only get us a little bi;
from a spring, for there isn't any
other pail"
II was some time before Jim made
out TO inquire who's Mr.. Hand?"
Hes the man that helped us-out
of the water-when we became ex-
hausted"
Agatha hesitated to speak OF the
nights experience, uncertain how far
Jim's memory carried him, and not
weakness, might be affected Still
now that he seemed almost himself
again, save for the chill, she yentured
to refer to the event, speaking In
matter-of-fact way, as II such endur-
ance tests were the most natural
events in the world. James speech
was quite coherent and distinct, but
very slow, as if the efforts to speak
came from the depths of a profound
fatigue
''Hand-that's a good name for him.
thought it was the hand of God,
which pIucked me, like David, or
Jonah, or some such person, out OF
the seething billows. But L didn't
think of there being a man behind"
Then, after a long silence, Where
is he?"
Hes gone of to find somebody to
help US get away from here; car
riage or wagon of some sort. and
some food and clothes"
Something caused Jim to calculate,
though quite feebly, you poor
thing!" And then he asked, very slow
ly, where is 'here'?"
II don't know; and Mr.. Hand
doesn't know"
"And we've lost our tags" laughed
Jim family.
Agatha couldn't resist the laugh, |
though the weakness in Jim's voice
was almost enough to make her weep |
as well.
yes, we've lost our tags, more's
the pity Mr.. Hand thinks we're |
either on the coast of Maine, or on
an island somewhere near the coast.
| myself think II must at least be
Nova Scotia, or possibly Newfound-
and But Hand will find out and be
back soon, and then We'll get away
rom here and go to some place where
vel all be comfortable"
Agatha stole away, and with much
lificulty succeeded in kindling the
ire again. She tended it until a good
steady heat spread over the rocks, and
hen returned to James. She curled
Up, half sitting, half lying, against
he rocks.
Clouds had risen during the recent
lours, and it was much darker than
he night before had been. The ocean,
Washing its million pebbles up on the
title beach, moaned and complained !
In the long interval be-
ween their talk, Agatha's head would
ALL her eyes would close, and she
5ould almost sleep; but an under '
urrent Of anxiety concerning her l
kept her always at the {
dge Of consciousness. James him S
elf appeared to have no desire to (
leep. He was trying to piece to- {
ether, in his mind, his conscious and /
nconscious memories. At last he l
aid [
81 guess I haven't been much good c
for a while--have II" t
Agatha considered before replying.
You were quite exhausted, ! think; e
nd we feared you might be ILL.," t
And Handy Andy got my job?" h
he laughed outright at this, as much v
+ the feeling Of reinsurance it gave s
sr as for the jest itself. t,
Handy Andy certainly had job, II
ith us two on his hands," she laugh c.
|. ii
Il bet he did" cried James, with "
ore vigor than he had shown before.
les great man; I'm for him! ID
hens he coming back?"
"Early in the morning, hope" said
yatha, swallowing her misgivings.
'c'hat's good" said James "I think
be about and good for something 81
yself by that time" il
Irlnh srninL a.. r.. OIL