Courier Democrat., 1916-07-06

he uOuueu. lay awake all night
listening. So did Trevor. He's begin
ming to worry already"
ALREADY? If the breakwater stands
this'-
'"rhe storm hasn't half started.
Come! Well watch it together" He
took her hand, and they lunged into
the gale, battling their way back to
his point of vantage. He paused at
length and, with his arm about her,
pointed to the milk white chaosewhich
marked Treyor's handiwork. The rain
pelted against their faces and stream
ed from their slickers.
After long time he spoke. "See!
It's coming up!" he said.
She felt no increase in the wind, but
she noted that particles of sand and
tiny pebbles from the beach were fly
ing with the salt raindrops. Her mus
cles began to tremble from the con-
slant effort at resistance. and she was
relieved when Murray looked about for
place Of refuge. She pointed to pile
| Of bridge timbers, but he shook his head
They'll go flying if this keeps up"
He dragged her into the shelter of
little knoll. Here the blasts struck
them with diminished force, the roar
ing in their ears grew less, and the Ia
Dor of breathing was easier.
High up beyond reach Of the surf
dory had been dragged and left bottom
up. Under this the wind found fin
ger hold and sent it flying.
Even where the man and the woman
crouclled the wind harried them like
a hound pack, but by clinging to the
branches Of a gnarled juniper bush
they held their position and let the
spray whine over their heads.
"Farther west I've seen houses chain
ed to the earth with ships cables,'' he
shouted in her ear. ITO think Of
building a harbor in Il place like this!'
81 prayed for you last night. pray
ed for the wind to come.' said the girl
after time.
O'Neil looked at her, curiously star
tied; then he looked out at the sea
once more. All in moment he real
lied that Eliza was beautiful and that
she had a heart. 1t seemed wonder
full that she should be interested in
his fortunes. He was lonely man.
Beneath his open friendliness lay
deep reserve. A curiously warm feel
ing of gratitude famed through him
now, and he silently blessed her for
bearing him company in the deciding
hour Of his life.
Noon came, and still the two crouch
ed in their half shelter, drenched, chill
ed, stiff with exposure, watching Kyak
bay lash itself into a boiling smoth-
er. The light grew dim; night was
settling. The air seemed full Of
screaming furies. Then O'Neil noticed
bits of driftwood racing in upon the
billows, and he rose with loud cry.
Its breaking up" he shouted. "Its
breaking up!'
Eliza lifted herself and clung to him,
but she could see nothing except q
misty confusion. In few moments
the fiotsam came thicker. Splintered
piling, huge square hewn timbers with
fragments of twisted iron or broken
bolts came floating into sight. A con-
fusion OF wreckage began to clutter
the shore. and into it the sea churned.
The spindrift tore asunder at length,
and the watchers caught brief
glimpse of the tumbling ocean. The
breakWater was gone. Over the place
where it had stood the billows raced
unhindered.
poor Trevorr said O'Neil. "Poor
Trevor! He did his best, but he didn't
know" He looked down to find Eliza
crying. whats this? I've kept you
here too long!'
mo, no! I'm just glad-so glad!
Don't you understands
"I'll take you back. must get
ready to leave"
Leave? Where
"For New York! I've made my fight,
and I've won" His eyes kindled fever.
ishly. 1--WE won in spite of them all.
l hold the key to kingdom. It's mine
! -mine! hold the gateway to an en-
pire, and those who pass through must
pay" The girl had never seen such
fierce triumph in face. II saw it in
a dream, only it was more than a
dream" The wind snatched O'Neils
words from his lips, but he ran on: 81
saw deserted fishing village become
thriving city. saw the glaciers part
to let pass a great traffic in men and
merchandise. I saw the unpeopled
north grow into a land Of homes, of
farms, of mining camps, where people
lived and bred children. I heard the
mountain passes echo to steam whistles
and the whir Of flying wheels. 1t was
a wonderful vision that saw, but my
eyes were true. They called me fool.
and it took the sea and the hurricane
to show them was right" He paus-
ed, ashamed Of his outburst, and, TAX
ing the girls hand in his, Went stum-
bling ahead the storm.
| Their limbs We're cramped. their teeth
chnttarad- thav wallnwad thrnu9h n,,rn