The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1920-11-12
Faithful
By R. RAY BAKER

Il am ahapt ready to give up.
What's the use Of defying Fate3"
please don't talk that way, Carson.
Tim afraid to think of IT,"
The young woman and young man
were seated on a bowlder. beyond
reach of the most ambitious waves that
Numbered along the island shore and
dashed foam over the smaller rocks.
a red semicircle peeplng over the blue
horizon was all that was visible of the
retiring orb Of day.
Already, far in the east. a gray disk
vas growing more distinct. Luna was
taking her place as sentinel of the
heavens.
The girls garments tapped in the
slight breeze. They had once been Of
a fashionable cut, but now they were
torn and patched. The young mans
clothes looked as though they had been
purloined from a cornfleld scarecrow.
But it's so hopeless" he wen on,
ignoring his companions pleading.
"We're doomed forever to remain on
this speck OF dust on the sea. Here
It's six months and not q ship has
been sighted. 1t looks to me, Sue,
as though Fate put us aboard the III
fated Seymour and then wrecked 1t,
Just 50 you and | should be brought
together. It's so difficult 10 continue
this way. Just say the word and our
companion In misery, who happens to
be q minister of the Gospel-more Of
Fate's handiwork-will perform the
ceremony that ought 10 make US both
happy"
The girl drew away.
ut can't be-" she said firmly. Il
remember my promise, and you should
remember yours. | told Manuel CARR.
sou ! would be true to him. come what
may, and ] intend to observe that
pledge. See. I still wear his ring. And
how about Elsie Glenwell2 Didn't you
tell her the same thingf How do we
know that Fate didn't arrange these
things just as a test of our faithful
ness? No, things u go on as they
have. It's d~ificult-as much so for
me as for you--but they must con
tinue."
The semlcircle dropped below the
line that Joined sky and water in the
west. The shadow of dusk drew theiI
shadowy folds tighter about the earth
The girl shivered.
But, Sue" the nan persisted, 2
love you more than ] ever could care
for Elsie. She is a wonderful girl ant
all that. but after you and ! have
shared all these hardships | never
could be happy with her. Besides, 1
we're doomed to spend all our live
on the island. why shouldn't We b
MS happy as we can make ourselves
Could-couldn't you be happy witl
met"
She grlpped his arm.
Carson. don't tempt me any more
i beg you. II It makes you feel any
better, ! care for you, too. ] waseen
gagged to Manuel when ! was to'
young to know what l was doing. He'l
a wonderful fellow-and a promise 4
4 promise. 1t was about a year ego
IN New York. that ! saw him las,
He was preparing to take his frs
voyage as commander of a coastwisl
passenger ship. And at that time wi
renewed our pledge. Now, please
don't talk that way any more"
"rhat's where I saw Elsie last" tn,
mar unused. -She was on her way t
join her father in Argentina. W
promised the same thing and I've trie'
-tried so hard but these circum
stances are unbearabie. Let's go bacI
to the shack"
He assisted her from the rock ant
they walked up the slope to a crud
habitation built OF ship wreckage Il
the center Of q cluster Of trees. AT th
doorway a middle-aged man, clad Il
tattered garments OF black. met then
and smiled ~beatihcally.
Ola uiNnAHo tuu NJ oAhh vi iNSiuNs
he sighed. but he quickly dispelled tn
frown thar flashed to his face an
smiled ~jovially. "Let ny pray one
more for dellverance."
They kneltr and prayed. Then the
part0ok Of a lunch the minister ha
provided. It was a frugal repast whe
considered, from the STANDPOINT Of var
ETY.. but was plentiful. The menu cor
sisted mostly Of Wild fruits, althoug
there was Dish from the islands fires
water lake and a kind Of tea brewe
from forest herbs.
The evening was spent in readln
the only boob that was available. IN
minister's Bible, and the trio retire
Early to the uncomfortable hunks the
had built IN the three box-like alcovS
they called bedrooms. They sIeI
soundly, for they had been workin
hard. constructing a new and moi
elaborate home further up the slope.
The yellow moon was high IN II
heavens when, up from the horIzo'
crept a tiny speck, increasing In sii
as It nearrd the island. Soon It WI
not more than a-half mile away, an
from Il flashed a beam Of light thu
played across che water and inal'
rested On the strip OF land, An inteI
listener might have heard the creakiI
or 4 windlass as an anchor vas 10y
arcd ,nfn cha danihe