Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-09

pleasure Of tormeuting his rival over
powered even his horror of death.
He suddenly seized her in his arms;
| Catherine cried out:
Let me go-you will break my
ribs,"
Stephen had hidden his face against
| the wall. but at her complaint lie
turned, calling.
In Gods name, LET her go!"
Chaval rose; he realized that
Stephen had reached a point beyond
which he could not endure--well, let
| one OF them die! The struggle which
they had had at Rasseneur's house
was renewed but they were so
cramped for space that they could
hardly use their fists.
Stephen went utterly mad; the
blood rushed to his head in a dizzy
Of slate and flung it at Chaval with
such force and an aim so sure that
it broke the skull of the wretched
man. and brains and blood ooZed out
on the ground as he fell.
Stephen bent over the body; 1t was
true then, he had killed his foe in
his frenzy produced by hunger and
hate! The ghost of the little soldier
seemed to rise--the recruit whom a
child had murdered-well, now he had
murdered alsol
Catherine sprang to her feet with
a horrible cry.
For many terrible moments they
held fast to each other, hoping and
praying for the death that would not
come. Stephen slowly unwound her
arms, bidding her look another way;
then he dragged the body to the head
-, IA
all his force; they heard a splash
and the water close over it.
Their tortures caused them to lose
all idea of the lapse of time. The
third day of their imprisonment was
drawing to a close. They had no
further hope of being rescued; If the
flood spared them they must die of
hunger. Stephen remembered once
more to pound on the wall; the same
awful silence succeeded.
Catherine suffered so horribly now
from hunger that each breath be-
came groan. Stephen felt about in
the dark till he found some bits of
rotten wood They lived on these for
two days. The drawing of their
leather bands tighter and tighter also
afforded a little relief, and the sem
sation of chewing something gave a
certain klnu OF support.
Gradually the hunger pangs ceased
to be so violent. a dull, heavy pain
succeeded the intolerable torture, as
their physical strength failed. They
must have given way utterly had it
not been for the fact of being able
to get all the water they wished,
though the burning thirst which set
in was never appeased.
On the seventh day, as Catherine
stopped to drink, her hand encoun-
tered that of a body floating about
on the food.
IT was Chavals corpse, pSshed up
the inclined plane by the force of the
rising tide. Stephen touched 1t, then
retreated, while Catherine shivered in
horror-it seemed to her as if she had
been drinking blood.
At each movement of the water,
Stepheh could feel the touch of the
man he had killed, like that of a
neighbor wishing to remind him Of
his presence, and each time he shiv-
cred with horror He saw continually
in fancy that green. swollen face with
Tits red mustaches; sometimes 1t
seemed to him that he had not slain
his enemy, but that the man was
swimming about waiting for a chanEe
to attack him
Catherine. after long spasms of
historical sohs, would sink almost
into a state Of coma from weakness,
and at length fell into a slumher
from which he could not rouse her
Sometimes she would half wakeu,
murmur a few broken words with
out even opening her eyes, and fall
asleep again, while he held her i'm
his arms, afraid that she would
, drown.
He was left alone to reply to the
knocks of the comrades against the
rock. The noise of the picks sounded
nearer, but his strength was failing
and he had not even energy to make
sign. He lost all interest in the
matter, grew so heavy and confused
that for hours he would forget what
| 1t was he awaited.
lie had one consolation at length;
| the waters began To abate and Cha
walls body drifted Off On the ninth
day that the miners had been work.
! ing for their deliverance, Catherine
recovered force enough to take a few
steps in the gallery. Suddenly con-
yulsion shook the ground with such
violence that they were thrown down,
and they caught fast hold of each
other mad with the idea that a fresh
catastrophe had commenced. But a
stiffness followed even the noise of
the picks had ceased. They sat down
in a corner side by side Abruptly
Catherine broke into a gay laugh.
"Oh, how warm it isl" she muir
INJURED. kiss me-let's stay here to-
gether always-always! He pressed
her close to his heart. while she pratt
tied gayly on, and he in his grow
ing delrium Joined in recalling mem
cries OF their long repressed mutual
affection.
"Why. you struck me once" he
said; yes, indeed, gave me blow on
each cheel!"
1T was because I loved you" she