Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1918-03-22

SriSiy tnouyht 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 liths
figure swaytng to the boats motion,
and pointing to leeward, while the
moonlit face was now sweetened BY
the smile OF a happy child He stood
up and looked where she pointed, but
saw nothing and seated himself to
look at her.
"SeeT she exclaimed gleefully. They
have hauled out the spanker and are
sheeting home the royal. will never
he married! viii never be married.
He knew was with you"
Again he stood up and searched the
sea to leeward. There was nothing In
sight.
"unhInged." be thought, by this
nights trouble. Freda." he said gen.
tly. please sit down. You may fall
overheard"
Il am not insane" she said. as
though reading his thought. and, smii-
Ing radiantly In his face. she obeyed
him.
do you know where We arer' he
asked tentatively. Are we In the
track of ships2'
"No, she answered, while her face
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 viii pull In
the trough Of the sea We can reach It
before daylight. am tired-so tired
and sleepy. WIN 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 q 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 lie remem. |
bered the danger VI sleeping In strong |
moonlight. and. 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 face and. marveling
at her words, looked ahead. He was
within a half mile of a sandy beach
which borjered a wooded island. The
sea was now like glass in its level
and the air was warm and
with the smell Of flowers and
foliage. he shipped the oars and pulE
ed 10 the beach. As the boat grounded
she arose, aud he helped her ashore.
The beach shone white under the
moonlight, and dotting it were large
'helliish and moving crabs that scut-
led away from them. Bordering the .
beach were forest and underground
With interlacery Of towering vines. A
fdge OF rocks near by disclosed caves
md hollows, some filled by the water
f tinkllng cascades. Oranges showed
n the branches Of trees, and cocoa
'alms lifted their heads high In the
distance. A small deer arose, looked
It them and lay down, while Q rabbit =
Inspected them from another direction
nd began nibbling. 9
can earthly paradise, should say
10 observed as he hauled the boat up
he beach. "Plenty Of food and water. z
I any rate"
ut Is lilo island" she answered, with O
hat same dreamy voice. "It is unin-
abited and never visited"
But surely. Freda. something win l
ONE along and take Us Of"
No. If | am taken OF | must be
of course, and will never be L
larried."
Who to- Freda? Whom must you o
larry ir we are rescued?' l.
THE mate. Mr.. Adams. Not you.
ohm Owen, not you. ! do not like |
ou.' l1
She was unbalanced, of course, but
lie speech panied him immeasurably.
I'D he made no answer. he searched 2
le clean cut horizon for moment.
ld when he looked back SHE was close
!, him. with the infantile smile on hes !
Ice. candOr and sanity In her graz
res. lnvoIuntarily he extended his -
lzJ Z
You will be married, Freda," he
lid: you will he married, and to me-"
He held her tightly and kissed her
Ds but the kiss ended In q crashing
'und and shock Of pain in his whole
,dy which expelled the breath from
s lungs. The m0onlit island, sandy F..
zach. blue sea and sky were swal
wed III bIaze Of light, which gave