The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-12-30

GA ~ O. Not eAS y>s@
the caves mouth, where we sat hand
In hand until the plain below was all
in shadow, only the white trunks OF
h palms standing out pallid as ghosts
in the gathering gloom.
During the week that followed Olivia
and her maid occupied the inner cham
Der of the ave, which was sacred to
their privacy, while l guarded the
caves mouth and the outer room. We
both knew we'll our lives were in the
hands Of the authorities when her ia
Their, Don Amadeo, hould overcome
his pride and command the inevitable
search for his daughter. 1t could not
be long deferred, so we lived in
daily apprehension of capture n sep
aration, yet were happy.
The knowledge of impending sorrow
only gave present joys a keener zest.
1t seemed impossible to escape from
the island. closely guarded as it was.
Yet L made my preparations. Far
down below us was the solitary shore
of a land locked bay, beyond which
were innumerable days, and still far
Their off the ocean. Neither sea nor
shore was often visited. save now and
then by n smuggler or
Every day at sunrise, olivia and her
maid accompanying, | went down to
the land-locked harbor and worked
upon a great aft of bamboo, which,
when finished, l launched and anchored
in the placid bay behind the coral reefs.
Day by day thereafter during the whole
of Christmas week l carried down
clothing, provisions, arms and ammu-
milton until at last Il frail craft was
laden with everything necessary for a
voyage.
Four days passed after we We're
ready before we saw a sail upon 9e
ocean. 1t was late in the afternoon of
the last day of December, when. sit
ting in the shade of the cave, Olivia
pointed out a speck upon the waves.
She looked long and earnestly, then
said:
Dearest, it is a ship, and it is COM
ing toward our island"
will you venture?" ] asked.
Certainly" she answered, smiling
into my yes. But first let me be in
deed sure it is approaching
Half the distance had been traversed,
and, though darkness now o~verspread
the ocean. we could still make out the
ships position by her lights. The sea
became rougher and more turbulent,
and suddenly 1 sensed a new danger.
While I was watching the foam crested
pillows sweeping toward US in order to
avoid them I saw in their dark hollows
rapidly moving Streaks of phoSphores-
cence.
We were beset by sharks! Their
flaming fins We're cleaving the water
all about us. The black waves We're
alive with them.
But the bark was looming steadily
before US. In another half hour we
should be within hail even if she did
not sooner see us and lower a boat.
Perhaps I was made too confident by
his u but. without warning, a
fierce wave assailed us, and the raft
was overturned. The same wave car
ried my sweetheart away into the
darkness, but 1 swan swiftly to her
side and thrust out an arm to draw her
to my shoulder for support.
But that instant, as her eyes looked
lovingly into mine, a cry burst from
her lips, and she sank beneath the
waves / cIutched at her dress and
strove to raise her, but my strength
was ~unavailing as against hat Of the
monster that had seized her.
Down, down, below the turmoil Of
waves and roaring pillows we sank to-
gether. I wrenched my knife from its
sheath, and in my fury plunged 1t n
the man-eater's body, gray and ghast-
ly, alongside of me. The grim Jaws re-
Taxed their hold, and, dragging the APP
parently Hfeless form to the surface, I
bore it to the raft and cast myself
down beside her. There while the
waves swept over us, while the fins Of
the sharks Kissed n cleaned in the
foaming waters, I called to her. bent
over her, pressed my lips to hers.
Then, overcome by fatigue and de-
SPAR, I swooned by her side.
From a dreamless sleep, from hover
ing on the borders of oblivion, I was
awakened by strange voices. I was on
the deck of a ship. I saw forms Of
men pass vaguely before me, and by
| my side-yes. there alive-sat one
whom I had thought no longer living.
Her shining eyes looked into mine
again, and then h told me Of our res
cue from the waves. The night had
| passed, and now the dawn had come,
and with its coming the futtering of
sails and the rafting Of anchor chain
informed us that a port was reached.
1t was that Of Grand Cayman, to the
southeast of Isle of Pines, a neutral
port, and we were safe.
and thus was achieved the consumma-
ton of u happiness. And the cap
tain Of the bark, who himself had TAX
en- Olivia from the raft, said solemnly
as he placed her hand in mine:
Her life belongs to me, for I saved
1t, but 1t is also yours because she gave
it to you. That was yesterday, and
hence last year; this is today, and
I hence the new year. That which per-
ished in the old year the new year sees
restored to life. God bless you both
! and sanctify this New Years gift."-
Buffalo Evening News.