The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-09-13
THE E. BARRIER
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By Augustus Goodrich Sherwin
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union.

pointment, false friendship and pow
erty. Wealth had finally come to him,
but the aching void in his heart had
not been filled until in quiet, seashore
village he had met Regina Ashleigh.
Eyes like the sea were hers, a face
classic as nodded Roman medal. :
Arden Morse came to the home Re-
gina made with humble worthy peo-
pie one day, and suggested walk
along the beach. He knew the spots
Of beauty and solitude, and the shade
of a wooded cliff were grateful to her
as he constructed an impromptu settee.
II have something I must say to
you," he began seriously. II was i'm
PEELED week ago to tell you how I
loved you. You spoke Of barrier,
aid ! know you never use d word or
q phrase Specifically. It is well-you
MQW your mind: There shall be no
further ahhoyance-'
!. ooh, no! She said, looking into his
eyes, her hand resting upon his own.
"Disobedience, then," he substituted,
forcing smile. II ask you to forget
my words. am content to be with
you, near you, to drink in your presence
and live glorified because you are
my true friend. If thus unified, though
parted by some degree don't seek to
fathon1, we pass through life together,
I will bless its fullness."
: The glow in her eyes, reused from
their forced calmness, seemed to alb
sorb him. Her words, tremulous with
emotion, repaid him for his great sac
rifce. II thank you" she said, for
to have lost you utterly would have
Been blight and darkness. You bless
my life-so weary, oh, so hapless and
troubled!'
."And call me to your side, command
all I am and possess when my loyalty
can save you one pang of sorrow. And
so I am content and we have found
peace"
That was all, friends; yet each knew
that absolute love was theirs. The
very wholesomeness and purity Of their
ideals was perfect, sustaining-life i'm
maculate, kiss or caress banished, but
present a higher, nobler instinct Of
utter harmony that fed the soul with
the mama Of mutual sacrifice glorified.
He never sought to read her closed
book of life. Every month for week
she was gone; he never asked her why
or whittier. Her face was shade
more serious when she returned.
One day when he called at her home
he was told that she was i'll. His
anxiety grew to-grief and deep concern
when the physician apprised him that
she was Frustrated with wasting
fever.
j. "My patient is in delirium q great
portion Of the time," he told Morse,
#'and what is aggravating her condition
is some secret mental trouble. I
caught name constantly from her
lips. Notwithstanding connected
with this person Is constantly tortur-
ing her, She raves Of him. She speaks
of the month passing and of money
she must take to this Baynham. She
names, too, Desert island. That Is
one of those desolate, isolated rocky
tIcttS Oll iIlS' NtStSt ICSleISNlE
her landlady had to use actual force
to prevent her from leaving her bed
to get to thic Baynham at Desert
isIand.'
Morse reflected seriously over all
this. He formed Il sudden resolve.
Some mystery connected with man
and island certainly haunted the mind
of Regina and would not let her rest
Mnrso travelled down the coast to
find that Desert island was one of the
numerous barren areas peopled main
ly by sea fishermen.
~- He managed to induce one to row
him TO the island. It had only few
houses. and when he mentioned the
name RnnyhaT. the curioUS-eyed old
sai,or he questioned Immediately rec
ornize1 the name.
"EavnI%in? Oh. you mean the wild
man. His wife brought him here about
year 90. and comes once a month
to- see that he is cared for right IN
til lately Il hnusekeeper and man
nurse We're constantly with him.
Baynl,am was Il regular demon, half
paralyzed. full of drink all the time.
cursing. abusing his servants and sure
out of his mind"
His wife? Regina married! This
then, was her secret-tied to mere
wreck Of man whose care was her
rst,thou.ht. but for some reason I'M
willing to live with him.
-, HE slipped those guarding him yes
terday," proceeded the old sailor, ''got
among the cliffs and slipped over them.
or threw himself into the sea. They
recovered his body this morning"
Morse visited the house where this
hermit fugitive, or whatever he was,
had lived From his nurse Morse
CLEANED some startling facts. Gerald
Baynham was man wanted in two
continents for a great swindling
scheme, stricken down before he could
reap results OF his infamy, isolated by
the wife whom he had abused-the
"barrier" to which Regina had al