The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1916-02-25

~ aAAAN AAMNN wv NNNA ~ w
as she found herself separated from
these powerful friends? Once more
she found herself alonc-and once
more In the blind instinct for self.
preservation she did what she could
for her own safety.
She dared not think Of the fate Of
her friends. She mourned them now
as dead. but still in her subconscious
mind kept bitterly fighting the convic
tion even as II came. And as che ar.
guod. she found herself swept away
farther and farther from the place
whero last she had seen them.
In some way, she knew not how,
Kitty found herself among many 9th
ers upon the same considerable piece
OF ~wreckage where Roleau and Fred
erick had endeavored TO place her
soon after the explosion. Many others
now chung to this. She s%huddered as
she east a glance about her over the
water, and drew closer to the center
OF the raft. One after another she
saw them lose their hold; one after
another she saw them carried away
by the waves. As for herself. pre-
served miraculously, she knew not
how, she fastened herself as best she
could t the frail floating floor and
ceased TO struggle. Mcrcifully her
senses left her for a time.
When she came once more slowly
and painfully 70 a realizing sense OF
what had befallen, she looked about
her YEARLY.
She was alone upon the sea. OF
those who had been about her zone
now survived! Not far from hcr a
body or two noated, but not a living
being was to be seen, not a survivor
save herself had found this means OF
safety.
There was no food. There "a no
fresh water for her. There was no
means OF raising a sail. OF usir" an
oar, even Of hosting a signal mad she
lad one. And yet the sky above her
was so blue and gentle, the sea around
her So kind. that all now seemed less
terrible than IL had been but now.
Hungry and thirsty as she was she
EAANANAtA tN AN aAAf NAlNAhIN VI NAi NAhANA
pangs that might be hers. She called
aloud In her distress, her despair
There came no answer, save In the
shrieks Of the circling birds which
lowered. ghostlike. above her.
The waves bore her onward. she
knew not whore. and cared not how
for how many hours she could no tell
Face to face with herself, her past, her
future, the unhappy girl passed a
period of unknown duration, engaged
in her reflections.
Il was not her own life she feared TO
lose, so she said, for life after all was
a little thing. a temporary passage at
best. But II only she might have
iiycd now for the sake OF that which
she felt IN hor own heart-ior the
sake Of that uncompleted period Of her
own life whose dawn she acknowl
edged to have seen but now.
He was gone! She had seen him
swept away before her very eyes. He
was her enemy, who had so often
tainted her and dened her, who had
fought her in every contest Of wits
yet IN turn he had aided her 10 escape
and saved her but now-instead OF
enemy he had turned into friend OF
moro than friend and he was gone
The sunset Of her day came even with
its dawn.
Eyes" she said to herself, "he saved
me at tho cost Of his own life And
the life Of that other faithful friend
Roleau, the dauntless, IL. too, had
been wasted to save her own-the life
she now could hold but worthless
since II must be lived alone. They
were dead-and she had been the
cause OF that! What could life hold
further for her?
Kitty Gray bent her head down upon
hc- knees. Her hair fell about hel
face. And thus she sat, she knew not
how long, r~esigning herself to heI
fate, making her peace with what she
felt now must come. 'Now," said she
"lct me die" And when once more
the sleep OF exhaustion came upon hel
she thought It that OF death itself.
She wakened, none the less, II
time-for strong indeed are the tei
that bind us whether or not We like
TO this life into which We are bon
without our asking. She Weakened anC
stared with hollow eyes about her a
a world which she neither knew mo-
loved. But even 30, at length her gaz'
found something to cause her eyes e
kindle, her breath 10 come a triht
faster.
Far IN the distance she had caugh
sight cf the shore Of distant land
tho same sight which in turn had me
the gaze OF hat friend WHOM now sh.
incurred. II lay there low on the SCI
and distant-land. some sort Of land
she know not what.
She looked at II DULY, alphabetically
In truth, she was too far gone to care
Whether or not she retained con
seriousness through the remaiader o
her voyage, she herself could neye