Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-12-30

refreshed by a siesta she Joined me az
the caves mouth, where we sat land
In hand until the plain below was all
In shadow, only the white trunk 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 i guarded the
caves mouth and the outer room. We
both knew well our ives were in the
hands of the authorities when her ia
ther. Don Amadeo, should overcome
his pride and command the inevitable
search for his daughter. 1t could not
be long deferred. and so we lived in
daily apprehension of capture and 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
or 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
n by a smuggler or flibuster.
Every day at sunrise. Olivia and her
iAAt Jan lIiS, L went uO"Jl W
the INC locked harbor and worked
upon a great raft 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 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 ~yenture?' ] asked.
"Certainly," she answered, smiling
into my eyes. But first let me be in
deed sure it is approaching"
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 1 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 hollows
rapidly moving streaks Of p~hosphores-
cence.
We were beset by sharks! Their
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 | was mad too confident by
this assurance; but, without warning, a
fierce assailed US, and the raft
was overturned. The same wave car
ried my sweetheart away into the
darkness, but I 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. I clutched at her dress and
strove to raise her, but my strength
was u%navailing as against that of the
monster that a seized her.
Down, down, below the turmoil of
waves and roaring pillows we sank to-
gether. I wrenched my knife from it's
sheath, and in my fury plunged it into
the man-eater's body, gray and ghast-
~, alongside of me-. The grim jaws re-
Taxed their hold, and, dragging the APP
bore 1T to the raft and cast myself
down beside her. There while the
waves swept over US, while the fins of
the sharks Kissed II cleaned in the
foamlng waters, I called to her, bent
over her, pressed my lips to hers.
Then. overcome by fatigue and de-
spair' swooned by her side.
From a dreamless sleep, from hover
ing on the borders of oblivion, 1 was
awakened by strange voices. I was on
the deck of a ship. 1 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, n then she 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
saiis 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.
We were married that day at noon,
and thus was achieved the consumma-
ton of our happiness. And the cap
tain of the bark, who himself had TAX
en- Olivia from the raft, said solemnly
as he placed her han in mine:
Her life belongs to me, for I saved
it, but it Is also yours because she gave
1T to you. That was yesterday, and
hence last year; this is today, and
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.