The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-04-22
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brown hair plastered down and matted
with the salt of the sea, her hat hang
ing limp and desolate over her shout
der. DO you suppose they will send
boats out to search for us, Eric?'
OF course they will" he cried cheer,
fully. But there was no sail to be seen,
strain their eyes as they would in the
direction OF the mainland.
We might as well explore the ISL
and,' he went on, hiding the anxious
note in his voice. 1T can't be later
than s o'clock. They'll be here before
dark, sure. Waltz Let me think a min
ute"
He stood there looking quizzically up
at the sky. The June sun had resumed
its boiling eat. The breeze, though
brisk, was warm nj soft, with the
smell of the land n vegetation.
Our clothes will soon dry out in this
sunshine" he reflected aloud. Were
no worse than If we'd just come out Of
the surf and were summing ourselves
on h beach. Maybe you'd" He hes
itated in some embarrassment. Maybe
you'd like to be left alone for awhile,
Joan. toto tidy yourself up a bit"
She looked surprised and grateful.
I'll take q look about the island my
self, first, n be back in an hour"
Il am a perfect fright" she said dis
consolately.
mo, you're not" he cried warmly.
Then he left her. She watched him
and then. with a sigh Of despair, began
fulhbling for combs in the hopelessly
gnarled mass of hair. .
When he came back whistling from
his detour Of the bleak little island, on
which grew not a single spear of vege-
tatlon, she was sitting composedly in
h sun, her long brown hair hanging
nnGA Do 9~v l1- t~
out over the water in the direction Of
home. She had removed her shoes and
stockings, and they, too, We're drying
near at hand. Somehow, you had the
feeling that her shirt waist and the
luck skirt also had been wrung out
and dried and pressed into an amaz-
lngly ~presentable shape. The eternal
feminine in her!
He, too, was barefooted. The rocks
We're growing hot beneath the rays Of
the sun. He walked with the tender
care Of n who finds discomfort in the
act of putting down his foot.
"Good!' he exclaimed. That's the
way Mary dries her hair" he added in
the most matter Of fact way.
She pouted. Don't you like 1t this
way? I'll put 1t up at"
Don't! 1 like it! It's gorgeous. Good
ness, I'd think you had SO much
hair. You-you can sit on 1t, can't your"
No one sits on her hair" she re-
torted, not quite sure whether to be
pleased. Eric, I must have a drink
of water"
His face Frightened. There isn't a
said.
What" she walled.
But" he added triumphantly. II
found a pool Of rain water up there at
the top and covered it with a slab of
stone. sos 1t wouldn't evaporate. Come
along. III how you over the island
if-Gee! Doesn't it burn your feet?"
Ooh! 1 should say it does!" she
cried, screwing her face into an exag-
gerated expression of pain. They were
young.
together they picked their way to
the pool he had SO t%houghtfully located
ana preserved. Then they sought the
shade OF n shelving rock and sat
down to wait, their gaze turned ever
shoreWard. searching the horizon for
sails or the smoke of tugs.
Inc afternoon wore away, and the
gloom of dusk began to settle over the
blue waters, the evening mist creeping
out from the shore to meet the shad-
o@s from the mysterious east. The cast
always. so near to home yet SO for from
Its security. fell into a dull, brooding
silence, their thoughts crowded with
vague fears and a certain owl re-
sentiment toward those on shore who
were failing them. They could not un-
derstand why a whole fleet Of boats
nad not put forth at once to search for
them. Was not she the daughter OF
a supreme court judge? Was NOT he
the nephew of the great Horace Blag-
DER! Why, then, We're they being treat
ed with such indifference, such inex-
pilcable disdain? Could it be possible
that no one cared what became OF
them? A thousand bitter thoughts as
sailed them as they sat there. staring
out over the darkening sea. Neithas
complained aloud. and yet both had
come to feel that they would NOT he
found that night. oe
The great revolving lantern IN ~.
distant lighthouse sent out its beams.
the stars struggled through the scat,
lering mists, and the solemn moon
spread a soft glow over their world nP
desoiation. The tapping of the waves
the regular swish of disturbed waters
against the lonely reef were the nn1n
SOUNDS that fell upon their ears. q
We're hungry, exhausted, despairinp
OUT there alone on the breast of tho
sea. the
Don't be afraid, Joan." he vh,z
pered, leaning close to her, infinite tan
uerness In his hushed voice. Nothing
can happen to us tonight. THEY'LL sure
~ come In the morning."
IN not really afraid, Eric" she
saio: put there was awe in her voice
IS sui isn't it lonely? Isn't it awful to
pc alone out here?" She crept a iittIe
closer to him. little
he quelled the tender tmnu,sa -
SIasp her in his arms, and hold her
IN security all the night long with h NV
neaa on his shoulder. her hand in his
"A bashfulness came over him
sufpassing anything he had ever felt
psaoIe. II was a part Of the infinitalv
ssn.le low that was In his heart: some.
.hlng that came out Of the loneliness n
snow MIN how sacred, how pure love 10
very gently he babe her lear hanL
ana rest her head against his shouIdsr
ana sleep. He would keep watch
The moon passed slowly over tha
Great dome above n disappeared he
INC n wall of rock that shelterad
.nem. She had been asleep for ho,1rs
Inen MS tired eyes closed and thar
heads touched in sweet oblivion.
sun was shining brightly when
a man stood over them, with 4 n,ty.
ING, tnoug satisfied half smile IN ~.
nard FACE. Eric blinked his eyes ana
RUBBED them. staring harder and hard
.Why-.why,' he IN ~.
The babes ~ ~ -.. y