The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-06-06
Fairly in the morning, | hope" said

myself by that time"
There was another long pause, go
long that Agatha thought James must
have gene to sleep again. He thought
likewise of her, it appeared; for when
be next spoke it was IN a careful
whisper:
Are you still awake, Agatha Red
mond?"
Yes, indeed; quite. Do you want
anything"
Yes, number Of things. First,
are you quite recovered from the
trouble-that nights awful trouble?"
He seemed to be wholly lost as to
time, Did you come off without any
serious injury? Do you look like your
self, strong and rosy-cheeked again"
Agatha replied heartily to this, and
her answer appeared to satisfy James
for the moment Though" she
added, here in the dark, who can
| tell whether l have rosy cheeks or
not?"
"True!" sighed James, but his sigh
was not an unhappy one. Presently
he began once more: Il want to
know, too, If you weren't surprised
that | knew your name?"
We'll, yes little, when I had time
to think about it. How did you know
| it"
James laughed. meant to keep
it a secret always; but l guess I'll
tell, after ADJUST you. got 1t from
the program, that Sunday, you know"
"Ah, yes. understand" She
didn't quite understand, at first: for
there had been other Sundays and
other songs, But she could not weary
him now with questions,
AS they lay there the slow, monoto-
nous susurrus, Of the sea made deep
accompaniment TO their words. 1t
was near, and yet UNNECESSARILY far.
filling the universe with its soft but
insistent sound and echoes of sound
At the back of her mind, Agatha
heard 1t always, low threatening, and
strong; but on the surface Of her
thoughts, she was trying to dec1os
what she ought to do. She was
thinking whether she might question
her companion a little concerning
himself, when he answered her, In
part, of his own accord
"You couldn't know who am, OF
course: James Hambleton, OF Lynn
Jim, Jimmy, Jimsy, Bud-Pm called
most anything. But wanted to tell
yod--in fact, that's what I walked ur
expressly for-I wanted to tell YOU
He paused 30 long, that Agatha
leaned over, trying to see his face
The violence of the chill had passed
His eyes we're wide open, his face
alarmingly pale. She felt a sudden
qualm of pain, lest illness and ex
haustion had wrought havoc in his
. frame deeper than she knew. But as
she bent over him, his features light
ed up with his rare smile-an expires
sion full happiness and peace. HI
, lifted hand, feebly, and she tool
1t in both her own. She felt tina
thus, hand In hand, they were nearer
that thus she could better be of hell
, to him.
T wanted to tell you" he begal
again, ''that whatever happens. In
glad did It."
' did what, dear friend?" ques
toned Agatha. thinking in her hear
that the fever had set his wits t
!. wandering.
"Glad followed the Face and tn
Voice." he answered feebly. Agath'
watched him closely, torn with ankle
0 ty. She couldn't bear to see hin
: suffer-this man who had so suddenl,
d become a friend, who had been 8
brave and unselfish for her sake. VIII
!, had been so cheerful throughout thei
r night of trouble.
= st told old Aleck," James went or
that I'd have to jump the fence; bu
d that was ages ago. I've been hal
messed down 80 long that though
d I'd gone to sleep, sure enough" Aga
tina thought certainly that now b
|, was delirious, but she had no hear
e to stop his gentle earnestness. II
. went on: "But you woke me uI
And | wouldn't have missed this las
s run, not for anything Twas a grea
e night, that night on the water, wit
n you: and whatever happens. sha
t. always think that worth living for
e yes, we'll worth living for"
l. James voice died away into met
e herence and at last into silence
y Agatha. holding his hands in her'
e watched him as he sank away fror
her into some realm whittier sh
b could not follow. Either his hour c
e sanity and calmness had passed. an
d fever had taken hold upon his sy'
d TEN: or fatigue. mental and physica
d had overpowered him once mor'
It Presently she dropped his hand gel
tly. looked to the coverings OF hi
il couch, and settled herself down agai
n to rest
i. But no more sleep came to he