Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-05-09

Ao-SN Auu F0u lOAoA AAASAo VI Jaws
had appeared. Their swim after the
boats OF the Jeanne D'Arc 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 rumbed their bodies, 1t was a
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. II she grew chatteringiy
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 we're
no more cruelty buffeted, but rocked
up and down on It's heaving bosom.
Once, while they were resting" on
the water. Agatha broke q long 81
lence with. Il wonder" but did not
at once say what she wondered ut.
Jim said nothing. but she knew he
was waiting and listening.
Suppose this should DO the Great
Gateway" she said at last, very
lowly. but quite cheerfully and nat
lrally. Il am wondering what there II
beyond"
I've often wondered. too said
Jim.
I've sometimes thought, and I've
said 1t, too, that I 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 20 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 meansl
Shall we be We tomorrow, say. pro
vided we cant keep atloat?' she
asked by and by.
why, yes, | think So" said Jim,
II don't know why or how, but guess
we 20 on somewhere; and l rather
think our best moments here-our
moments of happiness or heroism' II
we aver have any-are going to Do
the regular thing" Jim laughed q
little, partly at his own lame ending
and partly because he fell Agathas
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 a rescue at dawn.
James had evolved a plan to wal
TIL enough light came to enable then
TO reach the Jeanne dare. ii she wc'
still efcat; then to climb aboard ant
hunt for provisions and life preserv
ers or something to use for a raw
, II he could do this. then they woul'
be in a somewhat better plight. 4
least for a time. He prayed that tn
Jeanne Dare might still be afioat.
: The two talked little. leaving O
~lences between them full Of wonder
The details Of life. the ordinary pei
sonalities, were blotted out Withou
explanation or speech Of any kind
they understood each other. The.
/. we're not. In this hour. members o
a complex and artificial society; the!
} we're not even man and woman; the!
were two souls stripped Of everything
, but the need for fortitude and sweet
ness. .
/. At last came the dawn. Slowl!
the blue curtain of night lifted. lifted
until II became the blue curtain o
, sky. endlessly far sway and far above
A twinkling star looked Down on tn
, u OF ocean, glimmered a momen
: and was gone. The light strength
ened. A pearly. iridescent quive'
: came upon the waters. repeating
, itself wave after wave. and heraldos
, the coming Of the Lord Sun over thu
} great murmuring sea- AS the Ign
grew, they could see a constantly wild
r ening circle of ocean. Of which the!
D were the center. AS they rose ant
fell with the waves. the horizon fel
: and rose to their vision, dim and IN
. defined. Hand in hand they f1oate'
/. In vaporous silver.
r 1.-THE day has come at last. thanl
r Cod" breathed James.
: Eyes, thank Cod" answered tn'
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 o
Wight, but I'm not half such
dolphin as you are"
. "Oh, well, boys have to swim, yo'
q know, and I was a boy once" jim
answered awkwardly. Presently h
. asked. and his voice was full OF awe
. Have you I've seen the dawn
. dawn like this-before?"
= Never one like this" she whit
q pered.
: Cro BE coNTINUED.)