River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-02-13

OF reach of the highest tide. Near
the ire they had spread fir boughs.
and on this fragrant couch James was
lying. He was all unconscious, ap-
parently, of the primitive nature of
his surroundings. the sweetness OF
his balsam bed, and the watchful care
OF his two nurses.
Jim was in a bad way, if one could
trust the remarks of his male nurse,
who spoke to an invisible companion
as he gathered chips ami other bits
of wood from the beach. He was
young, businesslike fellow with a
clean, wholesome face, dressed only
IN yauze shirt, trousers, aGd 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 a bit longer
than he intended, he looked anxiously
toward the fire before depositing his
armful CT driftwood. The blaze had
died down, but good bed of Goals
remained and upon this the young
man expertly built up a new fire. 1t
cracked and blazed into life, throw
ing rudy glow over the single,
the rocks behind, and the figure lying
on the balsam couch. James face
was waxen in its paleness, save for
two fiery spots on his cheeks; and
as he lay he stirred constantly In q
feverish unrest. His bare feet were
nearest the fire; his blue woollen
trousers and shirt were only partly
visible, being somewhat covered by
q mans tweed coat.
The fire lighted up, also. the figure
Of Agatha Redmond. She was kneel-
ing at the farther end of Jim's couch,
laying white cloth, which had been
wet, over his temples. Her long
dark hair was hanging just as it had
dried, except that it was tied together
low in the back with a string OF slip
perry seaweed. Her neck was bare,
her feet also; her loose blouse had
lost al semblance of a made-to-order
garment, but it still covered her;
while a petticoat that had once been
black satin hung in stiff, salt-dried
creases over her waist to little be-
low her knees. She had the well-set
head and good shoulders, with deep
chest, which makes any garb becom-
ing; her face was bonny, even now,
clouded as it was with anxiety and
fatigue. She greeted the young man
eagerly on his return.
IF yen could only find little more
fresh water, | am sure it would help.
The milk was good, only he would
take so little. ! think | shall have
to let you go this evening to hunt for
the farmhouse"
yes, Mademoiselle,' the young
man replied. He had wanted to go
earlier in the day, but the man was
too i'll and the woman too exhausted
to be left alone He went on speak
ing slowly, after pause. Il can find
the farmhouse, / am sure, only it
cattle would have been the quickest
way; but / can find the cowpath soon.
even as it is. If you wouldn't be un-
easy with me gone, Mademoisellei"
"Oh, no, we shall be all right now,
till you can get back!" AS she spoke.
Agathas eyes rested questioningly
on the youth who, ever since she had
hn1 Tain IF RCff
had leased her memory. He had seen
them struggling in the sea, and had
swum out to her aid, she knew; and
after leaving her lying on a Shiny,
seaweed-covered rock, he had gone
out again and brought in her com
panion in far worse condition than
herself The young man, also, was a
survivor of the Jeanne Dare having
come from the disabled craft in the
tiny Towboat that was now on the
beach More than this she did not
know, yet something logged her mem
DRY every now and then-sOmething
that would not shape itself definitely.
Indeed, she had been too much en-
crossed in the serious condition Of
her companion and the work neces-
sary to make a camp, to spend any
thought on unimportant speculations.
But now, as she listened to the
youths respectful tones, it suddenly
came back to her. She looked at him
with awe-struck eyes.
ooh, now | know! You are the
new chauffeur; queer name, Hand!
Yes, I remember remember"
What you say is true, Mademoi-
selle'
He stood before her, stubbornly
submissive look on his face, as a ser
want might stand before his betrayed
master 1t was az if he had been
waiting for that moment, waiting for
her anger to fall on him. But Agatha
was speechless at her growing won
der at the trick fate had played them.
Her steady gaze, serious and earnest
now, without hint of the laughter
that usually came so easily, dwelt on
the young mans eyes for moment,
then she turned away as if she were
giving up a puzzling question. She
looked at James. whose stubbly-
bearded face was now quiet against
it's green pillow, as if seeking a solu-
ton there; but she had to fall back,
at last, on the youth.
do you know who this man is?"
she asked irrelevantly.
mo. Mademoiselle. He was picked