Loading...
The Wingham Times, 1916-11-16, Page 7November 16, 1916 THE WI GHAM TIMES eS'i g.S'i;,r'v$'&r"e"8:S LZ' S S&S VS US US/C%] JUS^Lz -s LINKED BY FATE vr^S.SSSuS "'BY CHARLES GARVIS ec,'cir� n S�c�'r�r here rEN REM T in rne{ise iluantities! It lies, most of it, on the surface, in what the minors call 'placers.' It is quite . 'easy to get, It is, I verily believe, en island of gold.. And it is ours, •.ours! Nina, Mam)et'ing, Fleeting, we are rich, millionaires, uutlti-million- alms, as the phrases o goes. , It is in •.torr ect, but no matter, the gold is theroli How hot it is!" He drew his trembling hand across his wet brow and sank, alinoSt collapsed, on to the table. - Nina went to him and laid a sooth- ing hand on his shoulder. "You are tired, father; you m' st rest, be quint-" • "Rest! Nonsense! You -you t Ilk like a child! You don't understand, Nina! I tell you it is gold! I can - •not have made a mistake. We hr.vo been cast ashore on an Eldorar,o! • Mr, Mannering, Fleming, you e ill share it' with me. Int � •,: it ca. lur j'v belongs to you, Mannering, for hely for you we should never have reacltott the island alive: Gold! Gold in practi- •tally unlimited quantities! Think of it! Nina, I -I am thirsty. I have been in the sun -water -water!" Ile was gasping for breath, his face was livid and his features twitching. Mannering ran out of the hut and brought some water, and. a draught somewhat restored the old man. "Go, now," said Nina in a low voice. "1 will get him to lin down and sleep. Ile will, be better in the morning." She extended her hand to Manner- ing, and, as ho took it, she murmur- ed: "Good night -and thank you!" "That's all right, Miss Nina," he said, in true Englishman's fashion. "Do you think there is anything in the Doctor's discovery?" asked Flom-, ing, hesitatingly, as he and Manner- ing walked towards their hut. Mannering shrufr;ed his broad .shoulders, "I don't know. There may be, 'Gold is found o nd in all sorts of places. But it would have been more to the point if the Doctor had discovered a banana tree, a' hoot tree or a coat tree. What is the use of gold to us? Youcan't make even a decent crock •out of lit. Fleming coughed violently. • "That is true. Menncring, what a lesson to some of us who spend our lives amassing useless ,cealth! I wish that some of our millionaires could he herr, to learn that lesson!" His pious reflection wes broken by the cough which shook him from top to toe." "Turn in and get some sleep," said 1tfannoring, "And you? You, too, will get some sleep to -night, Mannering?" "Yes; oh, yes! But I'll look round fkrst," Fleming entered. their het and dropped into tho rough bed, ex- hausted by the physical. and -mental strain; but Mannering, ;as soon as he, had assured himself that Fleeting tvas asleep, went up to the 'Vernons' hut and, revolver in haiul, dropped down •outside tho door. . Though he had firmly resolved that he would not sleep,' he Must have fallen into a, semi -done, for he was startled, as one is startled out of sleep, by a cry in Nina's voice. `•tttr. Mannering-my father!„ He was on his feet in it moment .and followed her into the nut. But he could do nothing. Tho Doc- tor was dead. Tho excitement of his discovery, on the top of the fever, had proved fatal. The girt stood be- side the lifeless forrn, her eyes dry, all her tears, shut; tie in her bereavedi heart. Mannering round hitnsell bereft of speech, a dumb dog. With scarcely a glance at her, he went its search of Fleming. Ho root hint coming up from the beach, his frail figure bent, his arms hanging limply at his side, almost •every step punctuated by his cough. "Mannering," he said, in the tone of,-(ltig• who .brings bad news, "they ©©:1",.A PPATIRON TAia cc mmemesT ILL. Constipation is one of the commonest ills of mankind and one too often allowed to ge• unlooked after until some serious urn licatiott sets in • . . p If the bowls arc properly looked after there will be no coustipation, jaundice, ski: or bilious .hcadaelwt,. heartburn, - coated tongue, sour .tentuch, Iloatiui;, spzckt before the eyes, etc. Milburn's taxa -Liver Pills will keen . a the Rowels retailer and cure. rill liver ills. Mr. Philip 11eT,eod, 'Atrbet, N•S., writes: I suffered fro.n sonatipatio:t ever since I can remember, and for 1 cars • had pains in the left side of the back. IE•I walked across the kitei.on floor 1 woulti ltave to sit down and relit, ~i he t 1 think was terrible for a man of 20 years - of age.. The condition of zuy s' ee t was hewn by pimples brcal ittn teat :et my face. Ise red so u=nit :tai:t and stiff- ness tit lay back T Writ sure my tsystetn teas full cf poison. 1'iiilbern's Taxa= Liver fills have entirely cured me, ' I thoroughly recommend that to rrer'ybotiy,' . 1'ritbtlt'n's Tet.a4Liver hills ere a vitt ,.; •• : 1.'41 MO, .ts rt .:.t'r•r s , . ttilic it 4 1C a: t , ..0 j t t , . e 1 •) ,i' Mir BURN Co r I,ti+f) rtlfi, Toronto, Out, -they have gee, - "Gone? Who?" asked Mannering, dully. "The men -all of them. They have taken the boat and left us." Mannering nodded grimly. "It is like them The boat gone! There c goes our only h o a of escape. I, too, have had bad news, Doctor Vernon is dead. Go up to the hut, ]Fleming, She wants you," Flonilng caught his breath, then, Without a word, went up the beach. Mannering stood on the edge of the sand and looked out seaward. With the boat had gone their last chance, hope, of escaping. He and Fleming and Nina were now left sole inhabitants of this lonely island. He stared out to sea, and the sea mock- ed hint with its splendour and majes- ty. It seemed to him to say, "I am Master; you are i'tty Slave. I laugh atou Y and all your efforts. I am supreme. 1 0. M,y will is law. I have cast you here to live in a living death. There is no escape! " How long he remained staring at the waves as they lapped on the sand he never knew. Ile was recalled to life and its exigencies by Fleming, who, crawling up weakly, said: "Is there a spade, .Mannering?" Manna•ing made a mute assent, found tee spade, and the two men dug the grave. They went up to the hut and carried the dead Ivan down. Nina followed them, her head bowed almost to her bosom; and she stood motionless, tearless, while Fleming• recited the Burial Service he gasps. Then, still with bent head, she went back to the hut; a girl, an orphan, with these two men as sole compan- ions. Fleming, as a clergyman, had offer- ed the usual condolences, and she had accepted thorn meekly, with the docile humility of her sex. It was evening before he left her and met Mannering at the entrance of their hut. Fleming was wan and pale, and his cough was like a war cry. "How is she?" asked Mannering. Fleming made a gesture of despair." "Who should say? Very bad. Poor girl! oh, poor girl! It's terrible, ter- rible! And -and Mannering, I've been thinking -I -I want to speak to you." "Well, what is it?" asked Manner- ing, dully. Fleming had sunk upon his bed and was gasping as if for breath. "I -I must do•my duty. I must face it, Mannering. The Doctor is dente." "Well„ I know. What then?" asked Mannering, doggedly. , "And -and I -I don't think I shall last long." "Nonsense!" said Mannering, brus- quely. •"I don't. I'm -I've never been strong, and this place, beautiful. as it is, seems to -to sap all nay re- maining strength. Mannering, if if I go, you two, you and Nina, will bo alone!" ' He paused and fought for breath, holding his Weak chest, as if he would fain hole] the strength in it. "Well?" said Mannering. Fleming looked at him with poig- nant' anguish. "Alone! You and she!' Mannering, for her sake, file yours, you must be - Can you not guess? Olt, help me, Mannering! You must be married!" Mannering stared at hint, at first vaguely,. then with an intense anxie- ty and gravity. "Married!" broke from his parched lips. "Yes, married!" breathed Flern- ing• . CIIAI'TElf, III, Manitering`Sank en to the upturned box which served as a seat and stared over Fletning's head. "You -you had never thought of it -never thought of the situation in which sho would be' placed if I were to die and you and she were left alone?" said Fleming, huskily, Mannering shookhis head. "No. You wi11 think me selfish, inconsid- erate, but.-" "No, no l" Fleeting broke in eager- ly. "Yon have had so much to think of, Mannering. The wonder is that you have not broken 'down :under the long, .the terrible strain,. But I - well, thio responsibility has not rest- ed on ntv weak shoulders, aitch have lutd tithe to blink, turd I"-itteehly, modestly --`•ate a clergyman; it was my, duty td think of you and for you both. • It hag been in: thy ntittd cease- lessly, ever since T began to 'fear,, that •t he Defter. Might ,lie, and I knew that I should." 'Von will pull. round," muttered .11en tering, stul,hornly; but fleeting shook his head. ' "Don't let us waste time arguing. it," he saki, quietly. "My Unit, . is sltort-T feel it.And, think bore glee. will he placed, that ',wiplt se. girl, Mannc•rfng! Let us consider it grave - "A vessel might sight the signal, the bettcol, any moment,'' pert in Mannering under his breath. "Ti it dill so before I died nil • Would be well; but it might trot. And if one 'came afta tt ds aftort I em gone, and foutul Not: two ]sere: amt took you off, what tto'll.l be Ilei' position? lent, tt, malt of the world, know only teo well, ;donne t mi , She -•-oh, poor girl, Itoor girl!' -;'could be Compsoiuin't in the eyes of the world hewn+,+ i':t ready to lie suap;eietetant1 itenseritius. atweye, ."to nIet(. -a ttnd pitilois to the Woman in her llo'Siy tial w t "I' know," muttered Mannering' "But if you were married all would be well. No ono, not the most ntalig. meet or heartless, could cast a stone. You will not hesitate, Mannering? Why should you? Sho is young and beautiful and good -the sweetest, noblest girl-" Mannering sprang up, then sank down again. "She is!" he said, doggedly. "But what about me? You know nothing about me. You propose . that this young and beautiful girl with all her sweetness and nobility should marry a man of whose past you know no- thing. .I am quite poor. I may be, probably am, worthless, a cutnberer of the earth, a waste-" Fleming shook his head, and, after a paroxysm of toughing, said, em- phatically: "Poor, yes, but not worthless and not a cumberet' of the earth. You forget that wo were friends one: the voyage, that 1, Itave lived with you here on the island, have had oppor- tunities of reading your character-" "Tho marriage would not be va- lid," said Mannering. "Yes, I think so. I ate not up in tho marriage laws, as I should be, but I ant almost sure it would bo; and if you were not fully married in the civil sense, you would be in the spiritual, the solemn one. If you WPM rescued you could be married again at the first port, or on reach- ing England," said Fleming with grave earnestness. "1 have thought of the case in all its bearings; I ate not blind to its difficulties-" "She may refuse to -to marry me," Mannering put in In a lots voice and with his eyes fixed on the patch of sand and sky framed by the doorway of the hut. "I do not think site will," return- ed Fleming in almost as low a tone. "You must ask her -put the case to her-" "No, no!" Mannering exclaimed, springing to Itis feet and standing at the.door, with cic b to Ilcining "I can'this a I-1• should break down. I should so put° it that she tvoukd have to refuse. What? Go and tell a girl - young, beautiful, noble -your words haunt tee, Fleming -that I am going to take advantage of her position and chain her for life to a num who -of. whom she knows nothing! I can't do it -and I won't!" Fleming lay bock on the rough pil- low of sun-dried seaweed and cover- ed his eyes with his Bands. "I sec -I understand. I will tell her -ask her, Mannering. 1 will make it plain to her that she must -yes must -consent. I will go at once, while -while 1 am able. Will you give me a hand?" Mannering held him up and gave him some of the precious brandy which they had sav- ed. "Thanks. Half of that; only a drop or two. Thank you, thank you, Man- nering! I was not wrong in my esti- mation of you. 1t is good of you to yield so soon. Some sten-I tear most hien-Would have stood out or refus- ed altogether. 'They would have thought of themselves and cared no- thing for her -for her reputation, her future:" "Don't try to make the out an an- gel or a plaster saint, Fleming," Mannering said, curt ly and huskily. "In fact, .I've more than half a sus- picion that you're wrong and that I'm a fool for yielding to you. But -We've been pals, and when you pull out the Consckonvc aitd Principle stops I'm done." "No, I am right; and you are act- ing like a gentleman and an honest man," Flettling gashed. "Well!" Mannering sighed; then he looked at him ha If angrily. "But doesn't it occur to you that your trust and confidence in me are rather too thick? IIow do you know that I am not already- married?" • ` Fleming smiled wank'. "Yon would haee fold me so the very first moment you heard of my proposal," he said, simply. lianncring_aiutost groaned. "There is no. batilkime you. Well. go to her:- Wait!" as F1'nming got to his feet slowly and feebly. "Tell her tell her-" ]Mannering ; stopped and swore andel; Itis hreut h; t heft ,lir . went nn, hoarsely, "tell her that it is: your iciest not mine, .tnind! And that --that it is not to be a real ntar- riage," Flemittg's blue eyes. set its theft dark hollows, rested on his face pa tiently. -'"flint we • trill . go Oleo -ugh the forte to please you and Sla't' her front--.frdm• scanditl end the 'rest; of it:. but that 1-1 do not intend to take .advattttt,e of it. No! I. may be a bad lot, but T'tn not sit bad aS t o siint•e a your girl, Fleming, see 1; that she tuulorstamis shut this mar- riage is to be' nit.' in Mame-•-fot'nx l rtet v l md. rstatid only. � ]t C--sht well t Make.t her. Veldt" A faint color ' used 1`iettking'ti' death -like fact~: "1 will tell Iter," he said in. a loin. vedee, " Maiuteringi •yctu are behav ing: nobly--" "Oh, rot!" Matmet•iiig treko ifs, gas 1f he could not restrain edinself,• "Did you think 1 woe a cru'. a mean Mond? No on3short of that would act tjitterent]y. Oh. poor girl, • poor girlI dere, I'll give you a hand pats of the way. And if you're wroug this bueluestl, may trod forgive you, Fleming!" 71 echo your prayer, Mattering," tett Saiti, solemnly. The t\to mot went slowly tot%ard§ itutugiemina,,Teningrons .rvoulTd 1 COULD NOT SWEEP AACKoWAS S0 SOAK Women are coming to understand that weak, lame and aching backs from which they suffer se much excruciating pain and. agony are due to wrotlg action g the kidneys, , t atsy�hRiptt,l".9ri. On the first sign of any weakness in the back Dean's Kidney Pills should be taken, e-• Mrs, I. Gonshaw, 683 Manning Ave,, Toronto, Ont,, writes; "I take great pleasure in writing you, stating the bene- fit I have received by using Doan's Kid- ney Pills, About three years ago I was terribly afflicted with lame back, and was so bad I could not even sweep the floor. I was advised to use Doan's Kid- ney Pills, and before I had used one box there was a great improvement, and my back was completely cured, I highly recommend 'Doan's' for lame back." Doan"s Kidney Pills are put up in an oblong grey box, the trade -mark is a Maple Leaf, so accept no other. Price 50c, per box,3 boxes for l2 $1,25, at all dealers, or mailed direct on receipt of price by Tatt, T. Mn,Btrl Co., I.ntrrno, Torontp, Ont, When ordering, ng, direct specify"Doan's." . width fn•avily licit that 'thee wad' is grotesquely inapplicable, for he was but a shadow of a maul -on Manner- ing's arm; then Mannering stopped, and, without a word, turned, strode to the beach . and stood staring out to sea. Fleming knocked at the door of -Nina's hut, though the door was open, and she called tohim to come in. She was sitting on her bed mend- ing a skirt, and she went an with har work -for there was notch to cto and ivaluable-as - tine washe enter- ed. She was ,very pale, but with that ivory pallor which is not in- consistent with perfect Intuit h, and her eyes were dull and heavy with the tears that had weakened though they had relieved her. She signed to the rough chair which Mannering had made for her father, and Flem- ing sank into it.. "Aro you -better?" ho asked. She know that. he meant was her grief less poignant, and answered "Yes," in a low voice and with a stifled sigh. "1)o you think you are strong enough to listen to something I want to say to you?" he asked. "Sunli thing very important, ser- ious?" ••Oh, yes!" she replied; and she stopped in her work and let her hands lie motionless on it. "Yes; but you -you are not looking well, SMF. Fleming. Is your cough worse - are you feeling weaker?" "Yes," replied Fleming, simply, "I am w eeker,.., Wale, very •all. • P]ease don't bb sorry for rue! ' I am obliged to tell you, because my condition is connected with what I have to say to you, Miss Nina. Have you thought of your position, situation, here if anything should happen to me -ii', plainly. I were to die? And, I think -indeed I know -that I am dying! Alt, no," as a low cry of pity, of sorrow escaped her, "you will not grieve for rhe; you will be sorry; but you will rerucn,her that for ne heath means a release and -a gain. But," Ile went on with a slight wave of his hand, "it was not of •myself that I came to speak, but of you. Miss Nina, you and I have, I hope and trust, become something liko broth- er and sister. Of my love and re- spect for you you will have no doubt." She made a gesture of assent, and he went on in earnest tones, broken by fits of coughing and struggling for the painful breath: • "When I ant gone you will be alone on this island with Mr. Man- nering." Sho raised her eyes for a moment to his saint -like face, then drop4ied theta to .her hands again. "It may be that you are fated to remain here for the rest of your lives-" Her hands shook and her lips quivered at the dreadful suggestion. -"Or God may will that a pass- ing vessel, one drifting out of her course, may see the signal on the cliff and cone. to 'oar rescue," He foilght for i,reath, and she cast a look of pity and tender ,sympathy at him. "In that case they will find you here with -with Mannering-will take yott back to ]ire ;!incl and tell the t4Hi, 1-•nl yy Wretchedness X6�,it•�►+d^^"M,7E',nt;'q� � - - ! p• -s ConstIpation Can quickly Le overcome by CARTER'S LITTLE LIVER BILLS Purely vegetable -act tardy and ligently on the ver, Cure Biliau sretr, Head. a • atlte,le;'• bixxl= acs, end iddiigcstien.� They do their duty. $tnall I'111, Sinoll Dose, Small pricy, Genttilitle must tem Signature ti+dJ$RTEG rityrnr,IVER rJt.,e 7 story el your' --your solitary coni- patti) whit hint." ShoitShie raised her eyes, a lotn- preltension, of a wotuatl's aplokofn'ehenco- rion 1n them. "Ah, you uitderstandl" he gasped. "The world would say- You know What it would For You. will foi'givo etcsay for sgivpeakingeane! so plainly. Alas, there is no help for it; I must speak plainly!" "I understand," she said in a low voice, "If -if you were titan and wife-" he went on. She looked at hint, with a vague doubt on her face, "Blit wo are not," she said. • "But there is no reason why you should not be," he saki, 'slowly, and yet' with a throbbing heart. "In- deed, Mr. Mannering has sent,,rno to ask you-" Her hand clutched at the skirt, but she said noth -''To ask youing. to -marry hint" "To marry Mint" Her lips form-, ed the words ds but no sound came; but. Fleming answered, as if he had heard her mute exclautation, Yes. Ile sees the necessity of de- fending you against the suspicion, the evil suspicion and calumny of the i T world- Matt, dear Miss Nina: do not speak unr,il 1 havo told you ail. And I will conceal, keep back, nothing; for it is right that you should know the -whole. It, was I who pointed out me him how gravely you would suffer, now terribly your future would be imperilled -nay, wrecked -if -if yoti two were dia. covered here alone and were not married. That he should not have thought of it is a proof of his purity, high mindedness. But I aur a clergy- man, and it is my duty-" "Oh, 1 cannot, cannot!" broke from her lips, which were white though the scarlet burnt in her cheeks. "ely clear, you must!" he said with gentle firmness, "To marry etc -out of pity!" she said, inaudibly, her eyes full of shame and womanly protest. "No, no!" he panted, his hand pressing against his hollow chest. "You do not know him or you would not say that -put it that way. It is true he pities you -what Tuan with a spark of manliness could do otherwise, my poor child? -but he sees; with me, that it is the right, the only course to pursue. Ah, no, no; you must not think that he regards you as an object of 'pity -that he takes a superior, a condescending view of his responsibility. On the contrary -oh, if you had heard him speak of his unworthiness, of his inferiority, of his presumption, in offering mar- riage to you, you would understand how he feels towards you!" Nina, her protest uttered, sat sil- ent, her hands tightly clenched, her eyes fixed on the ground. "You are thinking, reflecting?" said Fleming, quietly. "1 would that I could give you tine -a week, a month -to consider; but there is no time; there may not be many hours. My child," his voice grew solemn and tender, "I have considered prayfully, and ;I take upon myself the great re- sponsibility, o1 advising you -if 1 thtred say so, of exhorting you, Your .future welfare is clear to me; I must. I must, guard it for youl There is no way of rendering that future, if you are restored to the world, safe and possible, than by marrying Mr. Mannering. There was 0 pause: then she looked at him -a look which Fleming would havo t•ehetetttbered if he had lived to ben hundred. "If -if a vessel were to come -if we w eee to be rescued, T -I should be his wife, bound to hint and Ito to me -a marriage without love! You, a clergyman, bid me---" The color had left her face and she Was now deathly pule. ]Teeing net her eyes unflinchingly. "'1 hero is • st ill something to tell you," he said. "I hear a message front Mr. Mannering. Ile bids the say that the ntnrria,ce shall be one in name -form or h•, that you will be its free as you are now:•that you will ire his wife in name only. Ah, do you understand? You do not doubt his word, his promisee" 1Ter e}es left his face and wander- ing to the open doorway. ile knew, by the writhing of the white lips, the torture she was undergoing. The sil- ence was so intense as to be an ac- tual harden and pain. It was he whobroke it. "You decide?" he said, huskily. "Why did he -send you? Why dill he not come himself?" she asked al- most inaudibly. "Can you not understand and ap- preciate his feeling? Ho was desir- ous that you shoal ho free to dis- cuss it with me. Be would not be the one to bias, tewee ttie, yea. His instinct was a rigttt, a noble OIte. Ito is a gentleman, you know," he w'ottttd up. simply. "Yes, he was right -I suppose," she admitted, but with the faintest qualific(it Ion. "And you will decide?" said nem - Mg. • She wrung her hands. '"Oh, I can- not!" she answered. "Give me --give 1110 a little time to think -only an hour or two. I have never thought is so sudden, 80 uiienp,•cted, 1 feel as if it were not real -as if it were a dreant--a nighttnnre," Fleming ruse end laid his hand on. her trentblieg ones, "Do you think ] do not know what you are stttieri)t ! ' ire Said in a low v'olee "Ah, L(•lit•tr 1ste + 1, ,t ' t1 v i Yee' take ono hour,. 1 will 'conte back to you." , As he crept out of tho hut Mon- tering, tvilie was stilT mending' gar tug at the • tion, he+ilei )line, hht would not, turn Ms head. '"li'ell1' he said, honestly, his taea still averted, d, 'Fleming- took.' hili arta andloaned e^ttte d ctrl it.. "I haat Spglo,en to her, She is turaily ttttlr'h div<rt ssed-•-" "I shouid think so!" commented 14ianu(•ring, grimly. site is considering it. Poor girl, she saw , Wit the quickness of her sex, the n'eessity for the step. MAI drink sh;• would have hem bet- ter le 'SS h „ if y 0 u 0 t lig.", >� it tI , l N442 The Proprietaryo'PatentMedicinekt AVe getable Preparation forAa , similatingiheroodand Reg' ting the Stomachs and Bowels of, Promotes Aigeslion,Cheerfk ness and Rest,Containsneltlr Opiurn,Morphine norNinet aL C. ,NOT ISAscO.Tx Y.: Roo, o/Old1IrSL'IOPL litineida Sand ALK Sema /!oe•/ulGr'frd�i• Aare.Prd pRAankinata,lda Ws:Ikpema lifdepre.4 (km: cl Remedyfor Conslip t0fl. Sour Stomach, Diarrhoea' Worms, Feverishness and L,os OF SLEEP. Fac Simile 5i0a• nattne of Inc CENTAUR ▪ COMPANY' MONTREAL & NOV t n ,I' rex Exact Copy of Wrapper. CA$TORIA' For Infants and Children Mothers Know That Genuine Castoria Always Bear s the Signature of In Use For Over Thirty Years IA THE CCNTAUR"C']Mt,ANY, NEW Tank CITY. %'.'1 Vie tri d' , 'Y_ e" x , r r:1.;•lF �rv� ....... .' ?H:a' °e�iSifi " i1 Tiv?'' demanded Mannering, shortly. Fleeting shook his head. "1 do not. know. She seemed to think that. , were sacrificing yourself -at any rate as much as she was herself.•. "(food Lord!" ejaculated Manner- ing. Ile drew his hand across his brow impatiently. "See here, Fleet- ing, though I can see your side of the case -the gravity of the situation for her -I've still a feeling that thi, -this marriage must he averted. I've been thinking, and I've got a proposal. The weather is still tine. Icot t Id knock ,t raft tugether, and she and you could venture to sell on it. You could get out un the tide and might mike one of the larger islands of the group -un inhtth!te•1 one. 11'Iutt do you say?" "Dow long world it take to make the raft?" asked Fleming. •'A couple of days. 1 could ria up a sail. It is a chance. Will you con- sent?" "Yes,'" gasped Flooring, calmly. "The risk is terrible -for her; there is none for rne. heath in any shape I do not fear. thank God'" he add- ed, devoutly. -But. for her -- "She may prefer the risk. death it- self, to -to ,your plan." said Man- nering, brusquely. "She shall decide I'll ask iter." He strode away before Fleming could stay Miter, and, without paus- ing. as if he were afraid to hesi- tate, reached Nina's hut. CIIAPTE1t IV. She heard the knock. "So soon!" she said to herself with a start; for she thought the hour had passed and that it was Fleming returned for her answer, the; decision which she had not yet ar- rived at. If she had been given a week, a month, would she have been able to decide? She sprang to her feet as Manner- ing catered, then sank down again, her eyes fixed on his face with. as it seemed to hint, physical fear; and at the thought he set his teeth and frowned; that a woman should be in- spired by fear at the sight of him. "T have just left Mr, Fleming," he said, and his voice, by reason of the enut ions conflicting nit inn him. sounded harsh anti almost forbid- ding. "He has told you --what he ell1110 to tell you. I want you to know that it is his proposal, not inine, Miss Nina." Her lips framed an assent, and he went on constrainedly. •'thhi:e he was with you I have been thinking, and 1 have got an idea -a proposal that may avert the -the sacrifice he wants you to make." She looked up quickly and drew a breath of relief, "It. is this," he said. heart z almost flu' ,•xaet words he had used to 1'!••t.;ii, . ';Thr weather is fine. the we,.! is set, and T thine ler some Hine, from the isleed. ] can make a raft with a sail. It could he provi- sioned for some time. tine] you and he ni ;tit eetapt . 1„t,ht r• tach one of teac larder i'.'.lnuls--,w nitai.aed om•. It ie a '. a , g1.1.411 Mit -Inst 1 the } • r t would r . ,:.'r it o -to h I r.•jtoca1." Tier eyes w.'rt l,'u tl on hint 'with itrt a t i,l,•ss (41111+'4,4t ne•.ti tt 11 'II,. tie ty,l!a spetlkimg, then th.•• tir,o••l:ree "lroes--•floes liTr. I'iemi.it et.n ••et^'• she a sl.i• ci its a loF. c.,ia 11 ri•,k the. well is • s •t 1 '• a 1 a. t , ,t T iter • nti rigid to let hen take '1' Ile consents," 1,r• `,..id• She raised her Oyo..it t,IIn. And '' roll- lou ,.17' I 144 left 114.A.1olit" Alone!" Sj„ ,'t to rr•jti'esta tern shudder that °,41, 4,4!, !tet' at the • •Tl at is all right ' Ie t.`t td. • "Awl the pro isiou.--y(,u wield he lett without st,iTeeele T sitati not i+t,'.rt,•." he said, glee? ly. 'Th.•tt• ',e' 1 :rely ,(f 14j1110, ntli., MOO. T hilt L,,•p the tont. 'I'!mre iv the teltitee - tilt, 1 rh,tll .ln t"!1 ,•nough!" "Vithe.•-;you Wish it?" she asked al- t:to t inaudibly, iter fees hidden from i hint by (Tien- 'long ladies. "I don't know," he said almost roughly, for his nerves were, on edge, his pity for her making a kind of madness in his brain. "I think any- thing would be stetter than -the thing he wishes you to do. Do you think I don't realize it? You know nothing of lee. You would commit yourself to the keeping of a man who, for all you know, may be the greatest villain unhanged-••would be the wife, on compulsion, against your desire and will, of one I'or whom yoU dot not care. Oh, I know how it nivab seem to you -how you must think of it! My plan is full of risk and dart- er, but I fancy that you will consid- er it a better one than his." For one moment she looked him full in the eyes. In hers was -the ques- tion: But you, you, too, realize that you would be chained to one for whom you do not care -do you wish her, for your own sake, to go? His eyes were averted and he did not see the interrogation in hers; his face was 'glowering, frowning with tate strain on nerve and brain; and it is little wonder that she read an af- firmative to her question. "I will go," she said almost in- audibly. Mannering made a slight gesture with his hands. "1 thought you would," he said in a voice almost. as low as her own. •f think you are right." Ile :vent to their hitt, to which 1•'ier,:inr• had cr,in1ed. "5!.,4 has d+•c•i,:ed.- be said, curtly. "nth,• will go.'• 1'!• yin t had It••,•tt sitting with his head toe...1 in his Itnntls. He let t !L':u la11 and iuukeu steadily at 1lane••:iutf. "\•' well." h•• said. resignedly. Fou twist Ise uui:•k. Manner- ;ng,- 1t' t;it!ea, nit eautly. Sl;tn;:• rite 1.. .~d, 1, ,.;, tip an axe 444A a, n. ,".�: �� t o tit.. t,iee wood. He u.•:ke:l H., e 1.011 ;•u<.v"rsra, and r • . II h• it r. the strokes of IJs nee pith a dell crash wheel nm cited Nina where she sat list' n - top, Ile wori.ed mit it ne.irly night- fall, then he renv•ntler",1 the salt wanted mending. Ile took 1'. up o%im Ids shoulder and 0,11 I t,• her. Sit' e.a reul.itlg tlt'• 4411 4.4 meal and el arc',•'', turned h.•r Itena when h t s'"":I at the door and Fait!: Ito vuu think y,ttt ceuui :n•'nd 111,1 rl, Miss Nina? I could titan :t. I, tt 1 should be a lona v Fite , 1..'at; it,111,1 time is shut." "Y's " sire repI !. t.0''••ono of t i•e ship's needles and cart do it. Snl,t„ 1 s newly r..,10' '•.111 right ,•' he sat•: • You and ',eta tro one meet t I want to w;•rk while 1l:t re's 1!,' ween. buck ,,t 1 he wood drag - h.• a - i. t•1!, d , to 11... I,ieaeh, anti t2., t t!.•• • u .. .,..It:eta two rocks. then string :1 1•,e, wen:,ll that neriine o1 lir• 1"t, ut:rt s :t' it as tt hitt'+ I'll Je,i dt•o r t . u•tts. It this (lurk wt,,r, 1 .• eta,t got ilia to that ' it ny .31,! . gad It Wog „ i t With tth.tut•tL.n 1110 1t•• • 1�.•i 1,, •.it 1,•' 1l nee reel. Ile \i- :, t, t e"al' voice called to 111:11, ..I I• got 114', 4,1,1, t•tirtiaii,g' 0, r: , .. ..--h' tn,0 trioti '.o 11111:1 -• tt n. towa:111. 1110 ane:.', h,:' !n wilr:t tit. i;41'4.4.• tutee, tete:(' t ..., . t. i., la'ttl p ,•tall' 1 _ , . a lite:' filed; 1,11) :AA, had ht ed tors t•ud as 1471 • pi) \",,rt ,,t•itag'ti l i "0,1.01,” .Y V't .r 1, }Fi tt. , co. 1 n t , ttl at ler.tld went t tr,• sail. !. Ft`.• w,,., attt.*1',! too 1ire,i io eat, 't•1 he foree,l 1 tt+.elf lit t':t, cls, 13t:4 v fi'i•'.t tin it: t t,ittf•• 1Olt prt'4e4tt" fy i:e lo,'L'tI at leg, roe. 1tn,1 'meet .lett . "Pet this otl Salle' ilei+'r,'' ,1d ''Mate, wt' et 1'e vette. teat'`,, tiro:mime et Sall• t,.at'., t•'s tionade on her hip: "your hold will lie r. t Intl. It. is 'fortunate 1 1'N:,• Int:erect lt."• '"Thane. ,X00," c>]:t' siti,i, ;untidy, I'}endug,. yt•otrt cal:erc ite begat the fire which they matte etcry night, tCatt'he(t thrill with sail intt:litneit'l. "You forget nothing." he Said, etre tel' awTiile. "At edge tura l: firth; Cro Ll Com71NG1';YS.).