Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-05-15

49,
threw the dinghy over. had loosened
the gripes as yon went aloft. | thought
you would fall Still. no one would
come"
"And you came alone" he said In a
broken voice. "And pulled this boat to
windward In this sea. You are won
der"
81 saw you catch the lifebuoy. Why
did you fall? You were cautioned"
II forgot the foot rope. was think
ing Of you"
"You are like the mate. He forgot
the foot rope all day because he was
thinking Of me. I should have gone
aloft and seized It myself"
There was no reproof or sarcasm In
the tired voice. She had simply made
an assertion.
why are you at sea. before the
mast. a man of your talentsT'
II was foolish. he knew. but the
word "man" sent thrill through him.
ITO please you II | may. to cultivate
what you did not find in me-"
"Yes, I knew. When you came on
board ! knew 1t. But you might have
spoken to me-"
There was petulance In the tone now.
and the soul Of the man rejoiced. The
woman In her was asserting itself.
Miss Folsom" be answered warm.
". 81 could not. You had made 1t i'm
possible. II was your right. your duty.
if you wished IT, But you ignored my
existence"
II was testing you. am glad now.
Mr.. Owen"
The petulance was gone, but there
was something chilling in this answer.
Can you see the shipT he asked
after moments silence. 1.-The moon
light is stronger"
I'VE will not reach her. They have
squared away. The mate had the deck.
and father Is asleep"
"And left you in an open boatT' he
answered angrily.
"He knew ! was with you"
What was irrelevant In this explana-
ton Of the mates conduct escaped
him at the time. The full moon
had emerged from behind the racing
clouds, and it frightened her face.
fringed by the tangled hair and yellow
sou u'wester, TO an unearthly beauty
that he had never seen before. He
wondered at It, and for moment
grisly thought crossed his mind that
this was not life, but death; that he
had died In the fall, and in some man
ner the girl had followed.
She was standing erect, her 1.-the
figure swaying to the boats motion.
and pointing to leeward, while the
moonlit face was now sweetened by
the smile Of happy child. He stood
up and looked where she pointed, but
saw nothing and seated himself to
look at her.
"See! she exclaimed gleefully. They
have hauled out the spanker and are
sheeting home the royal. will never
be married! will never be married!
he knew / was with you"
Again he stood up and searched the
sea to leeward. There was nothing In
sight.
"Unhinged." he thought, "by this
nights trouble. Freda," he said gen.
tly, 'please sit down. You may fall
overheard"
II am not insane" she said. as
though reading his thought, and. smil.
Ing radiantly in his face. she obeyed
him.
do you know where we areY he
asked tentatively. Are we In the
track of ships?"
no. she answered, while her race
took on the dreamy look again; I'VE
are out Of all the tracks. We will not
be picked up. We are due west from
lilo island. saw 1t at sundown
broad on the starboard bow. The
wind is due south. II you will pull In
the trough of the sea we can reach 1t
before daylight. am tred-so tired
and sleepy. Will you watch outT
"Why, certainly. Lie down IN the
stern sheets and sleep If you can"
She curled up in her yellow oil coat
and slumbered through the night, while
be pulled easily on the oars, not that
be had full faith In her navigation,
but to keep himself warm. The sea
became smoother. and as the moon
rose higher 1t attained a brightness
almost equal to that Of the sun. cast
ing over the clear sky a deep blue
tint that shaded indefinitely into the
darkness extending from itself to the
horizon. Late In the night he remem-
bered the danger Of sleeping In strong
moonlight. und. arising softly to cover
her face with his damp handkerchief.
he found her looking at him.
I'VE are almost there. John. Wake
me when We arrive" she said and
closed her eyes.
he covered her cace and, marveling
at her words, looked ahead. he was
within q half mile Of sandy beach
which bordered q wooded island. The
sea was now like glass In Its level
smoothness. and the air was warm and
fragrant with the smell Of flowers and
foliage. He shipped the oars and pull
ed to the beach. As the boat grounded
she arose. and he helped her ashore.
The beach shone white under the
moonlight, and dotting II were large