Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-12-29
A New Years Gift
The Story Of q Cuban Convict. , sss By F. A. Ober.

and my beloved reclined in my ham
hook, l prepared a simple repast, with
cool water from a spring that gushed
from the hillside near, and soon set il
before her.
After she had partaken and had been
refreshed by a SieSta she Joined me at
the caves mouth, where we sat hand
In hand until the plain below was all
In shadow, only the white trunks of
the 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 cave, which was sacred to
their privacy, while 1 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
ther, Don Amadeo, should overcome
mis- pride n the inevitable
search for his daughter. 1t could not
be long deferred, and so we lived in
daily apprehension of capture and sep
arat1On, 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 vas The solitary shore
OF Il land locked bay. beyond which
were innumerable days. and still far
Their off he ocean. Neither sea nor
shore was often visited. save now and
then by a smuggler or filibuster.
Every day at sunrise, Olivia and her
maid accompanying, I went down to
the land-locked harbor and worked
upon a great raft Of bamboo, which,
when finished, I launched and anchored
In the placid bay behind the coral reefs.
Day by day thereafter during the Who'll
Of Christmas week 1 carried down
clothing, provisions, arms and ammu-
milton until at last our frail craft was
laden with everything necessary for a
voyage.
-Four days passed after we were
ready before we saw a sail upon the
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?" I asked.
Certainly" she answered, smiling
into my eyes. But first let me be in
deed sure 1T is approaching"
1t drew nearer, nearer, rising higher,
higher, until, rs the sun sank behind
n hill crest, the white sails were IL
lumined by its rays. Then, no longer
doubtful. we went at once to the shore.
But as we embarked the maid refused
to risk the voyage and chose to return
to brave. the wrath Of Don Amadeo. So
she and her mistress bad each other a
fearful farewell, and we set sail with
out her. We had a fair wind and 1
laid a course for the bark, which, as it
was sailing slowly, I hoped to over
haul within an our or two.
Half the distance had been traversed,
and. though darkness now ~overspread
the ocean,, we could still make out the
ships position by her lights. The sea
became rOugher and more turbulent,
and suddenly l sensed a new danger.
While l was watching the foam crested
pillows sweeping toward us in order to
avoid them l saw in their dark hollovs
rapidly moving streaks of phosphores-
cence.
flaming fins were cleaving the water
all about us. The black waves were
! 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
this assurance; but, without warming, a
fierce wave assailed us, and the raft
was overturned. The same wave car
ried my sweetheart away into the
darkness, but l swan swiftly to her
side and thrust u 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. ! clutched at her dress and
: strove to raise her. but my strength