The Springfield herald., 1913-04-04
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MARTHA DEI,LINGER.

again, slowly but irresistibly. as II
she were pulled by a giants unseen
hand. With a sudden last lurch she
disappeared entirely. and only widen
ing circles fieetingly marked the place
of her going.
The two in the water watched with
fascinated eyes. filled with awe. When
1T was all over Agatha turned to her
companion with a long-drawn breath.
Jim looked as one looks whose last
hope has failed.
Il could never have let you go
aboard. anyway" He loved her anew
for that speech. but knew not how
to meet her eyes.
We'll. Ulysses lost his raft. tool"
he managed to say.
"He saw the sunrise, too, just as
we have seen It; and he saw distant
island. that seemed a shield laid
on the misty sea- Let's look hard
now. each time the wave lifts US.
Perhaps we also shall see an island"
I'VE must swim harder; you are
chilled through"
"Oh. no." she laughed. Il shiv-
cred at the thought of what fright
must look. always did hate to
get my hair wet"
You look all right to me-"
They were able to laugh. and SO
kept up heart. They. tried to calcu-
late the direction the yacht had
taken when she left port. and where
the land might lie; and when they
had argued about 1t. they set out to
swim a certain way. In their hearts
each felt that any calculation was
futile. but they pretended to be in
earnest They could not see far. but
they created for themselves goal
and worked toward 1t. which is OF
itself happiness
So they watched and waited. ages
long. Hope came to them again
presently. James, treading water.
thrust up his head and scented the
air.
| 'T smell the salt marsh, which
means land!" He smiled again. Yes,
decidedly"
A moment later 1t was there. be-
fore their vision-that Shield laid on
the misty sea- which was the land.
Only It was not like shield. but a
rocky spit of coast land. with fr
trees farther back. James made for
the nearest point, though his heart
shrank to see how far away 1t was.
Fatigue and anxiety were taking
their toll of his vigor. Neither
one had breath to spare even for ex-
ultation that the land was in sight.
Little by little Agatha grew more
quiet. though not less brave. 1t took
all her strength to fight the water
that mighty element which indiffer-
emily supports or engulfs the human
atom. II she feared, she made NO
sign. Bravely she kept her heart and
carefully she saved her strength.
swimming slowly. resting often. and
wasting no breath in talk.
But more and more frequently her
ly asking him for help. He watched
her minute by minute. often begging
her to let him help her.
"Oh. no, not yet; can go on nicely.
If just rest little. There-thank
you"
Once she looked at him with such
pain in her eyes that he silently took
her hands, placed them on his shoul-
der and carried her along with his
stronger stroke. She was reassured
by his strength. and presently she
slipped away from him. smiling con-
fldently again as she swan along
side.
I'm all right now; but I suddenly
thought. what If anything should hap
pen to you. and be left alone! Or
what II should get panicky and
clutch you and drag you down. the
way people do sometimes!"
But I shan't leave you alone. and
you're not going to do that!"
'T hope not!"
She forged ahead a little, and pres
emily had another moment of fright
on looking round and finding that Jim
had disappeared. He had suddenly
dived, without giving her warning. He
came up a second later. pufing and
splitting the bitter brine; but his face
was radiant.
Rocks and seaweed!" he cried.
'.The land is near. Come; can
swim and take you, too. easily. And
now I know certainly Just which way
to go. Come. come!"
Agatha heard 1t all. but this time
she was unable to utter a word Jim
saw her stiff lips move in an effort
to smile or speak, but he heard no
voice.
Keep up. keep up. dear grill" he
cried. We'll soon be there. Try,
try to keep up! Don't lose for a