The Elbert County tribune., 1913-03-28

ming surge of the waters. all was ST.
lence. The pale forerunners of dawn
had appeared. Their swim after the
boats of the Jeanne DArc had warm
ed their blood. so that for a 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 a strong man;
as for the girl. Jim wondered at her
strength and courage. She swan
superbly. with unhurried. steady
strokes. If she grew chatteringiy
cold. she would start into 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 its heavfng bosom
Once. while they were resting" on
the water. Agatha broke long 81
lence with, Il wonder" but did not
at once say what she wondered at.
Jim said nothing, but she knew he
was waiting and listening.
Suppose this should be the Great
Gateway" she said at last. very
lowly. but quite cheerfully and nat
Irally. II am wondering what there is
beyond"
i've often wondered. too" said
jim
I've sometimes thought, and I've
said 1t, too. that l was crazy to die.
Just to see what happens" Agatha
went on. laughing a little at her own
memories. But / find I'm not at all
eager for it, now, when 1t would be
so easy to go under and not come up
again. Are you?"
mo, I've never felt eager to die;
least of all, now"
Agatha was silent a while.
What do you think death means?
Shall we be we tomorrow. say, pro-
vided we can't keep afloat?" she
asked by and by.
why, yes, | think So" said Jim.
Il don't know why or how. but guess
we go on somewhere: and l rather
think our best moments here-our
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
yet, after her brave fight.
But Agatha wasn't blue. She an
swered thoughtfully: That isn't
bad idea" and then cheerfully turned
to a consideration of the possibilities
of rescue at dawn.
James had evolved a plan to wait
till enough light came to enable them
to reach the Jeanne Dare. II she was
still afloat; then to climb aboard and
hunt for provisions and life preserv-
ers or something to use for raft
II he 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 afioat.
The two talked little, leaving 81
lences between them full of wonder.
The details of life. the ordinary per
sonalities, were blotted out. 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
were not even man and woman; they
were two souls stripped of everything
but the need for fortitude and sweet
ness.
At last came the dawn Slowly
the blue curtain of night lifted, lifted,
until 1t became the blue curtain Of
sky. endlessly far away and far above.
A twinlSling 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, and 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 fioated
in vigorous silver.
"The day has come at last. thank
God!' breathed James.
Ies' thdhh Nou' answered tue
girl.
Are you very cold?"
"The sun will soon warm u.s."
Where did you learn to swim?"
''In 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 I was a boy once" Jim
answered awkwardly: Presently he
asked. and his voice was full of awe:
Have you ever seen the dawn-a
dawn like this-before?'
Never one like this" she whis-
pered.
CTO BE CONTINUED