Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-04-22

ing limp and deSolate over her Shoul-
der. DO o suppose they VIII seno
boats out to search for US, Eric?'
O 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.
I'VE might as we'll explore the ISL
and" he went on, hiding the anxious
note in his voice 1T can't be later
than 8 o'clock. They'll be here before
dark, sure. Wait. Let me think a min
ute
He stood there looking quizzically up
at the sky. The June sun had resumed
it's boiling heat. The breeze, though
brisk, was warm and soft, with the
smell of the land and vegetation.
our clothes will soon dry out in this
sunshine" he reflected aloud. "We're
no worse than If we'd just come out Of
the surf and We're summing ourselves
on the 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.
TIL take a look about the island my
self, first, and be back in an hour"
c%onsolately.
No. you're not" he cried warmly.
Then he left her. She watched him
scramble off among the cocks above,
and then. with a sigh of despair, began
fumbling for combs IL, 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-
%tation, she was sitting composedly in
the sum-, her long brown hair hanging
loose to dry, her wiStful eyes gazing
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
duck skirt also had been wrung out
n dried and pressed into an amaz-
lngly ~presentable shape. The eternal
feminine in her.
He, too. "a barefooted. The rocks
We're growing hot beneath the rays of
the sun. He walked with the tender
care of one 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 it this
way? I'll put it up at"
Don't! 1 like it! It's gorgeous. Good
ness, I'd never think you had SO much
hair. You-you IA sit on it, can't you?''
torted. not quite sure whether to be
pleased. Eric, l must have a drink
of water"
His face frightened. There isn't a
sign of a spring on Little Eddy" he
said.
What" she walled.
But he added triumphantly, 81
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 show you over the island
if-Gee! Doesn't 1T burr your feet?"
Ooh! [ should say 1t 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 thoughtfully located
and preserved. Then they sought the
shade of the shelving rock and sat
down to wait, their gaze turned ever
shoreward, searching the horizon for
sails or the smoke of tugs.
The afternoon wore away, and the
gloom of dusk began to settle over the
blue waters, the evening mist creeping
out from he shore to meet the shad-
ows 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 growing re-
sentiment toward those on shore who
We're falling them. They could not I'M
derstand why a whole fleet of boats
had not put forth at nee to search for
them. Was not she the daughter of
"a supreme judge? Was rot he
the nephew of the great Horace Blag-
ed with such indifference, such mex
plicable disdain? Could it be possible
hat no one cared what became or
them? A thousand bitter thoughts as
sailed them as they sat there, staring
out over the darkening sea. Neither
complained aloud, and yet both had
come to feel that they would MOI be
found that night.
The great revolving lantern in the
distant lighthouse sent out it's beams;
he stars struggled through the scat
tering mists, and the solemn moon
spread a soft glow over their world of
desolation. The tapping of the waves.
he regular swish Of disturbed waters
against the lonely reef were the only
sounds that fell upon their ears. They
were hungry. exhausted, despairing,
out there alone on the breast of the
sea-.
Don't be afraid. JOAN" he whis-
.pered. leaning close to her, infinite ten
derness in his hushed voice Nothing
a happen to us tonight. THEY'LL sure
ly come in the morning"
I'm not really afraid, Eric" she
said. but there was awe in her voice.
But isn't 1t lonely? Isn't it awful to
be alone out here?" She crept a little
closer to him.
He auelled the tender impulse to
clasp her in his arms, and nold her
in security all the night long, with her
head on his shoulder, her hand in his.
A strange bashfulness came over him.
surprising anything he had ever felt
before. 1t was a part of the infinitely
gentle love hat was in his heart; some
thing that came out of the loneliness to
show him how sacred. how pure love is.
Very gently he babe her lean back
and rest her head against his shoulder,
and sleep. He would keep watch. .
The noon passed slowly over the
great dome above and disappeared be-
hind the wall of rock that sheltered
them. She had been asleep for hours.
Then his tired eyes closed and their
heads touched in sweet oblivion. > > :
The sun was shining brightly when
he opened his eyes.
A man stood over them. with q pity
ing. though satisfied half smile on his
hard face. Eric blinked his eyes, and
rubbed them. staring harder and hard
er.
"Why-why-' he murmured in ut
ter bewilder1nent.
THE babes in the woods" remarked
the thick set man. with a satirical
chuekle. only it happens to be the
sea instead Of a wood. DO you know
what time it is?.
How did you get here." demanded
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