The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 168: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

638 his hand accidentally touched hers over our rude table. ° The result was, of course, that he turned his hatred on myself. I could not allow personal feeling to interfere with my duty to save outward unity and peace, so I refrained as much as possible from being in his company and took no notice of his sneers and innuendos. But the breaking point was nearing, and Nelson and I secretly scanned the empty sea around us with burning eyes. We had kept careful count of the days of the week and of the dates. Time had elapsed sufficient for the skiff to have arrived at Honolulu and for a rescue steamer to come for us. But Nelson refused to discuss the mat- ter. So at last I took it up with Meta one blowy morning while she tended the corn. She dropped her rough hoe and looked at me long and intently when I had briefly stated the fact that every day made hope of rescue fainter. “Yes,” she admitted. ‘“‘ That is true. And Mrs. Evans will not live long.” She wrinkled her brows a little, glanced at the fat stalks amid which she stood, and then came to a sudden decision. She picked up her knife and told me to hold out my hands. Into them she piled ear after ear of milky corn. Then she smiled faintly. “‘ My little seed!” One Hop received this accession to the larder with the first expression of triumph I had ever seen on his brown visage, and within the hour we were ravenously devouring the corn and chewing even on the silk and the stalks. But I noticed that Meta ate dream- ily, nibbling daintily at the little grains and wrapped in meditation. ‘“There’s enough to keep us off that salmon a while, anyway,” said Nelson. ‘““And the sugar means my wife’s life,’ Evans whispered to me. So that day passed, a celebration. In the evening, under the rising moon, THE ARGOSY. Meta walked with me on the other side of the island. She was very: thin and pale, and for the first time I noticed how feeble her step was. My heart swelled within my breast. Then all my blood grew hot with desire to take this slender form into my arms forever and always see that gentle and tender smile and have the love of those eyes so full of mystery. As simply as a child, she turned to me swiftly, with her eyes alight. “Take me in your arms and hold me while I cry,” she whispered. “For sorrow?” I ifelt her quiver and a hot tear scalded my cheek. “No,” she whispered. “ For joy! My little seed! My little motherless grain of corn! And I saved it and it grew.” Mothered it? Mothered it? I touched her gently on her loose hair. ‘And in that thrill I seemed for an in- stant to catch a glimpse of her pure and womanly heart, of all her dreams, of her lovely meditations. “There is something else you’ve made grow, too,’ I found myself say- ing hoarsely. “ Will you take it and mother it, Meta darling? ” She twisted herself out of my arms and stared at me, wonder on her face. Then the color flooded to her brow and she held out her own arms, glo- riously calling to her mate. As we came back to the camp across the little cornfield we met Anerson. He stopped in front of us, and I saw the dark menace of his contorted visage. “Now for. the settlement, Meta Braun,” he said hoarsely. “ And with you later, my fine fellow,” he added, scowling at me. Meta brushed me with her fingers, and I obeyed and stood still. “Why have you avoided me?” he demanded of her, his veins swelling. She faced him gallantly in the moon- light, her hair blowing about her throat. COMicdoo S CO@