Courier Democrat., 1918-09-19

when he spoke to Norine of turning |
gestion.
"No, no!' she cried, anSiously. "We
must get him away. His heart is set on
going through and it would-kill him
to &C back"
"Then I guess We'll have to go
through" he smiled.
For the first time in their acquaint-
ance Norine lost control of herself.
"Promise that you won't go back"
she implored him.
every well, if you'll consent to risk
this miserable tub we found On the
beach"
"I'll risk anything-a raft, even. Is
there an even chance of our getting
across?"
"Perhaps. 1t all depends upon the
weather."
When morning came O'Reilly made
closer examination of the abandoned
boat. The result was not encouraging,
but he determined to make use Of it,
and the crazy craft was launched. It
| was ACSCSSIly W ICA SluSCAAJS
and when she took the water she leak
ed abominably. But during the night
she swelled and in the morning it was
possible to bail her out.
From the point of leaving it was per-
haps five miles across the sound to the
fringe of keys which in this neighbor-
hood bordered the old Bahama chan
mel with its unplumbed depths Of blue
water. Here it was calm, so the run
was soon made.
When the coastline Of Cuba had be-
come a blur astern Rosa crept back
and seated herself beside her husband.
GLOW much love you," she whispered.
"But never can tell you, for we are
never alone. Was there ever such a
courtship, such marriage, and such q
wedding journey as ours?"
, 1t proved to be long, long night, for
the boat, though roomy was uncom-
Portable. Daylight brought an in
creased breeze which heeled the boat
further. Fortunately the haze was not
. thick enough to wholly obscure the sun
= and so O'Reilly was enabled to hold his
course. But he did not like the look
2 Of things. In time there came spite
full drizzle which completely hid the
+ sun and left no indication of the course
a except the direction whence drove the
y rain.
$ No one spoke now. Even Esteban lay
. silent, shivering miserably upon his
n sodden bed. Rosa finally Strengthened
d her aching back and smiled at her hus
;. = band.
"Are we going DOWN." she asked.
!. "Oh no! This is merely a squall," HI
Il told her, with an assumption of conf
derce he was far from feeling.
q Deliverance came suddenly, and from
= the least-expected quarter. Out of th'
mist to starboard there materialized ,
n shape, a schooner driving ahead of th'
Q wind. The refugees deserted her simul
taneously and stood ankle deep in th'
n wash, waving their hats and their Gala
n bashes, and shouting crazily until sh
3 saw them and fetched up.
3 There was babb1e of voices, shout
I ed questions, hysterical answers. Ros'
a was weeping softly; Norine had lifte'
y Esteban and now clutched him tight
. while her tears fell upon his face.
q The schooner was SpOnger bOun
for Nassau; it's blackbird crew spok
3 English and they willingly helped tn
4 strangers oversize, laughing and shout
$ ing in a childlike display Of excitement
Soon there was hot food and coffee
i dry beds and blankets for those VIII
g needed them.
8 Johnnie tucked his bride snug]y int
y one Of the hard berths, then stoope
and kissed her. Rosa's teeth wer
y chattering, but she smiled happily.
i Goods hand directed u.s." she sai6
g zone only needs to pray long enoug
and strong enough and he will hear"
= =
d 1t was month later. Quaint old Mas
= sau lay doing under an afternoon sur
Up from the beach came O'Reilly an
" his youthful alter ego, Jacket. The
were clad in clean white clothes;
month Of rest had done them good
Jacket was no longer wizened; he wa
e pump and sleek and as full Of mischie
u as u Gull, WullC " NELLY 1cduQCS
It had disappeared and he filed his gar
Il ments as a man should.
e They turned in through picket gat
and up walk. At the end stood cot
+ tage with wide porches hidden beEeatl
Il jasmine and honeysuckle and morning
glory vines.
"Look, Rosa" !" Jacket lifted tn
u heavy string Of fish. "We had stu
pendous luck" But Rosa was in he
husbands arms and neither she no
{ O'Reilly had eyes for anything bu
each other.
= Rosa had vastly changed. She wa
= clad in charming little muslin dress
there were dlmples in her cheeks, sh
:. wore heavy Marechal Neil bud at he
y breast. O'Rellly held her Off and de
, voured her with his eyes.
n Sweetheart, you grow fresher ant