The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-01-03

the fire 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, II one could
trust the remarks OF his male nurse,
who spoke 10 an invisible companion
as he gathered chips and other bits
Of wood from the beach. lie was a
young, businesslike fellow with q
clean, wholesome face, dressed only
IN Bauze shirt, trousers and boots
without stockings, this lack, of
course, was not Immediately appar-
ent The tide had Just turned after
the ehb, 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 bit longer
than he intended. he looked anxiously
toward the fire before depositlng his
armful Of driftwood. The blaze had
died down, but a 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 a ruddy glow over the shingle,
the rocks behind, and the figure lying
on the balsam couch. James face
was waXen in It's paleness, save for
| two fiery spots on his cheeks and
as ho lay he stirred constantly in a
feyerish 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 seGweed. Her neck was bare,
her feet also; her loose blouse had
lost all sembance 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 a 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 Il was with anxiety and
fatigue. She greeted the young man
eagerly or his return.
IF yen could only find a little more
fresh water, / am sure it would help. |
The milk was good, only he would I
take so little l 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 Ill and the woman too exhausted .
to be left alone. He went on speak .
ing slowly. after a pause Il can find (
the farmhouse, am sure, only it
may take little time. Following the T
cattle would have been the quickest
way; but | can find the cowpath soon.
even as it is, If you wouldn't be uu-
easy with me gone, Mademoiselle,"
"Oh, no, we shall be all right now.
till you can get back" As she spoke.
Agatha's eyes rested questioningly
on the youth who, ever since she had
revived from her faint Of exhaustion
had teased 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,
rock, he had gone
out again and brought in her com
panion in a far worse condition than
herself. The young man. also. was
survivor of the Jeanne Dare. having
come from the disabled craft in the
tiny rowboat 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-
5ary to make a camp, to spend any
.hought on unimportant speculations.
But now, as she listened to the
youths respectful tones, 1t suddenly
came back to her. She looked at him
with awe-struck eyes.
"Oh, now l know! You are the
lew chauffeur; queer name. Handn ,
Yes, I remember remember"
What you say is true, Mademoi-
,elle."
He stood before her, a stubbornly
look on his face as a ser ,
ant might stand before his betrayed
Master. 1t was as if he had been
Waiting for that moment, waiting for !.
er anger to fall on him But Agatha
vas speechless at her growing won n
er at the trick fate had played them. )
Ter steady gaze, serious and earnest :
ow, Without a hint Of the laughter :,
hat usually came so easily, dwelt on 9
he young mans eyes for moment ;.
hen she turned away as il she we're
living up puzzling question. She
)oked at James whose stubblv
earded face was now quiet against
IS green pillow, as if seeking solu- Il
ion there; but she had to fall back
t last, on the youth. c
DO you know who this man is?"
he asked irrelevantly. il
NO, Mademoiselle. He was picked v
p in New York harbor, the night Y
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