San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-26
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Ned Cornet, his fiancee, Lenort
Hardenworth, and Bess Gilbert. ,
scamstress, are shipwrecked an,
they take refuge on an island occu
pied solely by man named Dooms
Lo-f and Lis Indian wife.
DOomdOrf takes Ned and tn,
girls prisoners and introduces then
To slavery. Lcnore gains leniency
from her master through flattery
but Bess and Ned defy the brute
and are made to work until they
fall unconscious.
Ned and Bcss, with very little
help from LenOre. build a cabin and
when it is completed. the master o.
the island sends Ned d Dess on
different trapping routes. Lenore
remains with the sQuaw. When
Lcnore is told of plans for an es-
cape from the island she treacher-
ously tells Doomsdorf. Bess and
Ned start to walk out on the ice.
Now go on with the story.
Instinctively Ned's arms went
about her, pressing her close: and
tremulous with this chest of happi-
ness. the high-born strength of wo-
mans love surged through her again,
more compelling than ever before.
Once more her purpose famed. wan
and dim at first, then slowly bright
ening until its ineffable beauty filled
her eyes with tears. Once more she
saw Il course Of action whereby Ned
might have a fighting chance for life.
Her first plan, denied her because Of
Ned's refusal TO lead faster than she
could follow. had embodied her own
unhappy death from the simple
burning IN of her life forces from
over-eXertion but this that occurred
10 her now was not SO merciful. 1t
might easily preclude fate that
was ten times worse than death. Yet
she was only glad that she had
thought of it. She suddenly lifted
her face, trying to piece the press
ing gloom and behold Ned's.
Il want you to promise me some
thing, Ned" she told him quietly.
He answered her clearly. from full
What is it,"
Il want you to pronise-that if
YOU see there's no hope for me
that you'll go on-without me. Sup
pose Doomsd0rf almost overlook us
and you saw that he could seize me
-but'you could escape-I want you
10 promise that you won. wait" .
ITO run off and desert you"
Listen. Ned. Use your good
sense. Say | was in a place where
couldn't get away, and you could.
Suppose we became separted some
how on the ice, and he should be
overtaking me. but you'd have
good chance to go TO safety. Oh,
YOU would go on, wouldn't you?"
Her tone was one of infinite plead
ing. Would there be any Ase OF
your returning-and getting killed
you couldn't posi-
ply save me? Don't you see the
thing to do would be to keep on
with the hone of coming out at last
and then getting up an expedition
o rescue me? Promise me you won't
destroy what little hope we have by
loing such a foolish thing as that"
Wondering. mystified by her ear
lestness, half inclined to believe.
hat she was at the verge Of delirium
rom cold and exertior, his arms
tightened about her and he gave her
his promise 50 that she might rest.
'Of course I'll do the wise thing"
lie told her. The only thing"
Her strong little arms responded 70
he embrace. and slowly joyOusly
'he drew his face toward her. "Theh
Kiss me. Ned" she told him. soberly
yet happily. as a child might beg a
kiss at bedtime. Her love for him
yelled in her heart. Il want you to
Kiss me, good night
Slowly, with all the tenderness of
lis noble manhood. he pressed Mis-
ips to hers. Good night. Bess." he
old her simply. For an instant,
hight and cold were forgotten. GOOD
night. little girl"
Their lips met again, hut now they
lid not fall away, SO that lie could
peak. There was no neeL for words. |
His arm about her held her lips to
lis, and thus they lay, forgetting the |