The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-01-18

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From the island they could see the
distant coast. with the white houses,
but they had been there two weeks
and no fishing boat had come near
them. The island was quite uninhab.
tied. 1t was about mile in diameter.
1t had contained small settlement
at one time, and the cultivated grapes
and wheat had run wild. affording
sustenance for the castaways. Elsa
ground the ripe grains between two
stones. mixing unleavened flour for
them.
They reckoned that they could live
while the wheat lasted. That meant
two weeks longer. Then it would he
slow starvation. or a diet of mussels
and wild fruits.
Sometimes fishing boat was seen
far away. but nobody ever seemed to
see the white skirt waving from the
pole on tall tree.
Foscari lay in the sun most of the
day. He scowled savagely whenever
Harding went near him. Harding and
Elsa were unconcernedly interested in
each other. They spoke of their
plans.
"You are not bound to him, dear"
said Harding. "His act in DESERVING
his mother has robbed him of human
rights. He is like a dead man."
And he bent and kissed her. Wheth.
er or not Foscari saw that kiss, his
glances were so malignant afterward
that Elsa grew afraid. However, on
the following day he withdrew to the
other side Of the island.
They did not see him, and there fol.
lowed golden days Of happiness in
each others love. They had decided
that, being dead to the world. they
would never return. Harding had a
little money. and he meant to take
Elsa to some quiet place in southern
Europe where they could live with
each other for the rest of their lives.
Then came the hoped-for fishing
boat. It came sailing toward the isl.
land In the dawn. and the two came
out of the hut to see the swarthy Por.
tuguese looking in wonder at their
shack. They started hack in terror as
the two emerged; they thought they
were spirits.
Harding, speaking In Italian. man.
aged to make himself understood
The fishermen agreed to take them to
the main island as soon rs they had
made their catch that afternoon on
the tide.
And they went away. and the hours
went by. It was early afternoon
when suddenly Foscari burst through
the trees eXultantly and ran up to
them.
1--WE are savcd!" he shouted.
Elsa looked at him, but said moth.
ing.
"A steamship is on the other side of
the island. She has seen the flag. A
boat is coming. Elsa. we will forget
what has happened. We shall be
aboard in half an hour"
Elsa's lip quivered. With the pros.
pect of this new rescue all the happy
dreams Of the past were shattered.
Again she seemed to he in Foscari's
power, so strong was the conventional
bond. She turned to Harding. "What
do you say?" she asked.
ELISA ="
II must go. suppose. After all.
my parents are mourning for me. They
love me. have my duty. You will
come"
''No." said Harding. II shall stay
here"
The struggle was a piteous one.
Foscari watched with quiet triumph
in his eyes. And Elsa yielded. With
out word. with lowered head. she
followed him.
Half an hour later the fishing boat
returned. Harding was waiting on
the shore. His life seemed altogether
empty now. and he did not know what
he was going to do. but he wanted
to leave the island where life had be-
come so fair. only to cloud itself again
In gloom.
"Push Oft" he said. and stepped
into the boat.
And at that moment there came a
rustling among the trees. and Elsa
stood before him. radiant. She sprang
forward. and Harding took her in his
arms and placed her in the boat.
There was no need of explanations.
At the last. love had triumphed.
; Quietly the little craft put out n
tn fragrance Of the Afternoon.