Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-04-02

! l0nce. Inc pale 1OTeTunnSFS Oh u4"H
had appeared Their swim after the
boats of the Jeanne D'A.c had warm
ed their blood, so that for while
they were not conscious OF the chill
OF the water. But as the minutes
heightened. one by one. fatigue and
cold numbed their bodies 1t was
test of endurance for s strong man;
| as for the girl, Jim wondered at her
strength and courage. She swan
superbly. with unhurried, steady
strokes. If she grew chatteringly
cold, she would start into a vigorous
! swim, shoulder to shoulder with
James. If she lost her breath with
the hard exercise. she would take his
hand. so as not to lose you," she
would say, and rest on the breast
of the waves The wind dropped and
| the sea grew quiet, SO that they were
no more cruelty buffeted, but rocked
up and down on it's heaving bosom.
| Once, while they were resting on
| the water, Agatha broke long ST.
lence with, 81 wonder" but did rot
at once say what she wondered at.
Jim said nothing, but she knew ne
was waiting and listening.
Suppose this should be the Great
| Gateway" she said at last very
| lowly but quite cheerfully and nat
1ralgy. II am wondering what there is
beyond"
1--WE often wondered, too" said
Jim.
1--WE sometimes thought, and Eve
said it, too, that / was crazy to de-
just to see what happens" Agatha
went on laughing little at her own
memories. But / find I'm not at all
eager for it, now, when it would. be
so easy to go under and not come up
again. Are your"
NC, I've never felt eager to die.
least of all, now"
Agatha was silent while.
What do you think death means!
Shall we be we tomorrow, say. pro-
vided we can't keep afoat?" she
asked by and by.
why, yes, think So" said Jim.
st don't know why or how, but guess
we go on somewhere: and | rather
moments of happiness or heroism, II
we ever have any-are going to be
the regular thing" Jim, laughed a.
little, partly at his own lame ending.
and partly because he felt Agatha'S'
hand closing more tightly over his.
He didn't want her to get blue just
vet, after her brave fight.
A ho yroSv'f h1Iln She
swered thoughtfully: THAT isn't a
bad idea" and then cheerfully turned
to consideration of the possibilities
of rescue at dawn.
James had evolved plan to walt
till enough light came to enable them
to- reach the Jeanne D'Arc, II she was
still aflcat; then to climb aboard and
hunt for provisions and life preserv-
ers or something to use for raft.
II ne could do this, then they would
be in a somewhat better plight, at
least for time He prayed that the
Jeanne Dare might still be affoat.
The two talked little. leaving ST.
lences between them full of wonder.
The details of life, the Ordinary per
sonalities, were blotted cut. Without
explanation or speech of any kind.
they understood each other. They
were not, in this hour, members OF
a complex and artificial society; they
we're not even man and woman; they
we're two souls stripped of everything
but the need for fortftude and sweet
ness.
At last came the dawn. Slowly
the blue curtain of night lifted, lifted,
until it became the blue curtain OF
sky endlessly far away and far above.
twinkling star looked down on the
cup Of ocean, glimmered a moment
and was gone The light strength
ened. A pearly, iridescent CULVER
came upon the waters. repeating
itself wave after wave, ard heralded
the coming of the Lord Sun over the
great murmuring sea- AS the light
grew, they could see a constantly wild
ening circle of ocean. of which they
were the center. AS they rose and
fell with the waves. the horizon fell
and rose to their vision, dim and un-
defined. Hand in hand they f1oated
in vaporous silver.
1.-THE day has come at last, thank
God!" breathed James
yes, thank Cod" answered the
girl.
Are you very cold?'
"The sun will soon warm u.s."
where did you learn to swim?"
I'm England, mostly at the Isle of
Wight, but I'm not half such a
dolphin as you are"
"Oh, well, boys have to swim, you
know, and was boy once" Jim
answered awkwardly Presently he
asked, and his voice was full of ave.
Have you ever seen the dawn-a
dawn like this-before?
Never one like this" she whis-
pered.
CTO BE CONTINUED.