Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-04-29

From the island they could see the
distant coast, with the white houses,
but they had been there two weeks
and no fishing boat had come near
them The island was quite uninhab-
tied. 1t was about mile in diameter
It had contained a small settlement at
one time, and the cultivated grapes
and wheat had run wild. affording sus-
tenance for the castaways Elsa
ground the ripe grains between two
stones, mixing unleavened -four for
them.
They reckoned that they could live
while the wheat lasted. That meant
two weeks longer. Then 1t would be
slow starvation, or diet Of mussels
and wild fruits.
Sometimes a fishing boat was seen
far away but nobody ever seemed to
see the white skirt waving from the
pole on tall tree.
Foscari lay In the sun most Of the
day. He scowled savagely whenever
Harding went near him. Harding and
Elsa were unconcernedly interested in
each other. They spoke of their plans.
"You are not bound to him, dear"
said Harding. His act In deserving
his mother has robbed him Of human
rights. He is like a dead man."
And he bent and kissed her, Wheth-
er or not Foscari saw that kiss, his
glances were so malignant afterward
that Elsa grew afraid. However, on
the following day he withdrew to the
other side Of the island.
They did not see him, and there fol-
lowed golden days Of happiness In
each others love- They had decided
that, being dead to the world, they
would never return. Harding had a
little money, and he meant to take
Elsa to some quiet place in southern
Europe where they could live with
each other for the rest Of their lives.
Then came the hoped-for fishing
boat 1t came sailing toward the
island In the dawn, and the two came
out Of the hut to see the swarthy Por-
tuguese looking in wonder at their
shack. They started back in terror as
the two emerged; they thought they
were spirits.
Harding, speaking In Italian, man.
aged to make himself understood. The
fishermen agreed to take them to the
main island as soon as they had made
their catch that afternoon on the tide.
And they went away, and the hours
went by. It was early afternoon when
suddenly Toscari burst through the
trees exultantly and ran up to them.
I'VE are savedt" he shouted.
Elsa looked at him, but said nothing.
"A steamship is on the other side Of
the island. She has seen the flag. A
boat is coming. Elsa, we will forget
what has happened. We shall be
aboard In half an hour"
Elsa's lips qulvered. With the pros
pect of this new rescue all the happy
dreams of the past were shattered.
Again she seemed to be in Foscari's
power, so strong was the conventional
bond She turned to Harding. what
do you say?" she asked.
ELSA"
II must go, suppose. After all, my
parents are mourning for me. They
love me. I have my duty. You viii
| come"
mo" said Harding. 81 shall stay
here"
The struggle was a piteous one
Foscari watched with quiet triumph
in his eyes. And Elsa yielded. With
out a word, with lowered head, she
followed him.
Half an hour later the fishing boat
returned. Harding was waiting on the
shore. His life seemed altogether
empty now, and he did not know what
he was going to do, but he wanted to
leave the island where life had be-
come so fair, only to cloud itself again
In gloom.
Push on" he said, and stepped
into the boat.
And at that moment there came a
rustling among the trees, and Elsa
stood before him, radiant. She sprang
forward, and Harding took her ip his
arms and placed her In the boat
There was no need of explanations
At the last love had triumphed.
Quietly the little craft put out In
the fragrance Of the afternoon.