Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-06-05

that he had risked his neck tvfe4
now, to follow the Vision?
Swimming slowly. with Agatha's
hand at times on his shoulder. James
turned his mind sharply to q consid-
Grafton of their present position. They
had been alternately swimming and
floating, hoping to come upon the
yacht. The darkness Of the night was
p~enetrable, SO that they could see q
fairly large circle Of water about
them, but there was no shadow OF
the Jeanne D'Arc. Save for the run
ming surge Of the waters, all was ST.
lence. The pale forerunners Of dawn
had appeared. Their swim after sAe
boats of the Jeanne DArc had wnrm-
ed their blood, so that for . while
they were not conscious OF the chill
Of the water. But cs the minutes
heightened, one by one, fatigue and
cold numbed their bodies. It was q
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 chatteringly
cold, she would start into a vigorous
swim. shoulder to shoulder with
James. II she lost her breath with
the hard exercise, abe wOuld take his
hand, $50 as not to lose 1cu.p sAs
would say. and rest on the breAse
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 heaving bosom
Once, while they were resting on
the water. Agatha broke a long 81
lence with. II wonder" but did not
at once say what she wondered at
Jim said nothing, but she knew no
was waiting and listening.
Suppose this should be the Great
Gateway" she said at last, very
lowly, but quite cheerfully and nat
rally. Il am wondering what there is
beyond"
I've often wondered. too" said
Jim.
"Tve sometimes thought, and I've
said 1t, too, that / 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
| 20 easy to go under and not come up
again. Are your"
mo, I've never felt eager to die;
least of all, now"
Agatha was silent a while.
What do you think death meansf
Shall we be we tomorrow, say, pro
vided we can't keep afioaty sne
asked by and by.
"Why, yes, | think So" said Jim.
81 don't know why or how, but guess
we go on somewhere; and I rather
think our best moments here-oul
moments Of happiness o. heroism, II
we aver have any-are going to be
the regular thing" Jim laughed q
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 a rescue at dawn.
James had evolved a plan to wal
till enough light came to enable then
to reach the Jeanne D'Arc, II she wa
still afioat; then to climb aboard an
hunt for provisions and life preserv
ers or something to use for a raft
II he could do this, then they woul'
be In a somewhat better plight. a
least for a time. He prayed that tn
Jeanne D'Arc might still be afoat.
The two talked little, leaving 8
Iences between them full of wonder
The details OF life, the ordinary pei
sonalities, were blotted out. Withou
explanation or speech Of any kint
they understood each other. The
were not, in this hour, members {
a complex and artificial society; the
were not even man and woman; the
we're two souls stripped Of everythin
, but the need for fortitude and swee
ness.
At last came the dawn. Slowl
the blue curtain of night lifted, lifte'
+ until 1t became the blue curtain {
. sky. endlessly far away and far abov
r A twinkiing star looked down on tt
t cup of ocean, glimmered a momel
: and was gone. The light strengt'
r ened. A pearly, iridescent quiv'
came upon the waters, repeatir
itself wave after wave, and heraldt
the coming of the Lord Sun over Il
great murmuring sea- AS the igl
grew, they could see a constantly wi
v ening circle of ocean, Of which thu
Q were the center. As they rose al
fell with the waves. the horizon IL
g and rose to their vision, dim and u
o defined. Hand in hand they float
% in vaporous silver,
IT "The day has come at last, thai
a God!" breathed James.
y eyes, thank God!" answered Il
n girl.
II Are you very coldf"
ot "The sun will 500 warm u.s."
8 Where did you learn to swim?'
L. "In England. mostly at the Isle
at Wight, but I'm not half such
dolphin as you are"
"Oh, we'll, boys have to swim. y
Id know, and I was a boy once" J.
ID answered awkwardly. Presently
asked. and his voice was full Of aw
"Have you ever Q the dawn
dawn like this-beforeT
ct Never n like this" she VIII
IN pered.
w GRO BE coNTINuEDJ
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