Books › The Red Book 1911-06: Vol 17 Iss 2, 1911 › scan 125
Scan 125
The Red Book 1911-06: Vol 17 Iss 2, 1911
44 lines. Read by computer on 14 September 2026. Printed page 316. See the scan on archive.org.
1midsummer sky—the joyousness of wings—the flight was broken; the violin stopped with a discord, as Marjory's wrist gave way.
3"Oh, my God!" she moaned. Had she wept, Garrard might have borne it better; it was the somber despair of her eyes—"eyes colored like a water-flower"—that was beyond his power to endure.
5"I love you, I love you!" he cried insistently, in spite of himself, in spite of his purpose not to tell her yet. "Let me take you away with me when I go; let my love shelter you. When the strength comes back to your arm again, into what waste places of the earth will you bring music, what far corners will you make glad! Oh, Marjory, be my wife!"
7She arose, startled and frightened, and somehow (it happened so quickly that Garrard never understood) the violin slipped from her hands into the waters lapping the rocks beneath.
9As quick as the flash of the gull's wing which she had just interpreted, the girl leaped after it into the sea.
11Garrard's leap was almost as quick and as instinctive. He was not aware of the wrench of pain as his ankle turned on the slippery rock nor the icy chill of the water, but only of the thrill of thanksgiving as he caught Marjory's shoulder and realized that she was his to save.
13The tide was running out swiftly, and it was a difficult matter to gain foothold on the jagged rocks, covered with wet sea-grass, but the flood tide of strength seemed running in his own veins, and somehow up the treacherous slope he made his way with his burden. When they had reached safety again, he said as to a wayward child:
15"Oh, little dear girl, little bad girl, you did not even know how to swim!"
17"I forgot I didn't. I saw the padre's violin slippi—"
19Her words died on her lips, for without a sound, Garrard had crumpled up like a broken thing, and fallen at her feet.
21She stared for a moment, unable to believe that the strength which had been sheltering her all these weeks and upon which she had unconsciously grown to depend, had suddenly failed them both.
23She called his name wildly, but the ears were deaf which had been so quick to catch her lowest sigh. She stretched him upon the ground, loosening the collar at his throat and chafing his hands. Never had he seemed so big and tall, nor she so incompetently small. The coldness of his face and hands terrified her; the cool breeze blowing upon his wet clothing she feared might chill out his life. She seized the coat which he had so lately spread to do her service and put it over him.
25"Oh for blankets—for a fire!" she groaned.
27She felt the box of matches in the pocket of his coat, and she looked about on the desolate coast for a bit of driftwood. Nothing but rocks met her gaze, and the little pools between them, gay with mosses and tiny barnacles. Yes, there was the violin.
29Without a moment's hesitation, she broke it against the rocks, shivered it into splinters and tried to light its damp wood with the matches. The tears rolled down her cheeks as she tried again and again in vain. She fell to work once more, desperately chafing and rubbing him, with all the might of her slim, supple hands.
31Garrard opened his eyes dully, not seeing anything for a moment; but the cry of "Thank God!" from the lips he loved best was like cordial to restore strength.
33"It's my ankle," he said after a few moments, his thoughts slowly regaining coherency. "I didn't know I had hurt it until I felt that sharp twinge, and everything grew dark. I'm sorry I played the baby act, just when you needed me."
35He turned away for a moment, for the sweet pity in the face bending over him was too poignantly dear. He saw the splintered violin, the burnt-out matches, the futile, pathetic attempt at a fire.
37"Marjory! You did that for me?"
39Wonder and a great joy surged through his being, as he held out his arms and drew her to him.
41"It—it wouldn't light," she sobbed against his breast.
43But it had served to light the divine fire that alone has power to keep its flame steady and unswerving through life.
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