The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-07-23

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lights like great glow-worms, lifting
sea-songs, repeating all the lore and
romance of the melancholy main. -
Colonel Audenreid's Arctic expedition
as well as his Indian voyages furnished
material for conversation, even had he
not been once shipwrecked and once in
peril from mutiny; but he seemed the
merest dilettante while he lounged upon
the sand, quoting poetry and carolline
snatches of ballads to tive pretty girls.
"'The sea hath its pearls,
The heaven hath its stars:
But my heart, my heart,
My heart hath its love-"
he repeated one night, as he gave his
hand to Stella to rise.
'.Did you noticep'' said Felicia, later;
che spoke in the present tense. He ig-
nored the past"
HE was quoting from the German -
Chow stupid you are, Stella! If you
if you care?''
'And what makes you think that ]
care?''
'How can you help it? Oh, why
doesn't he make love to me that way''
NOASCAcCs CCACInS AO uuSthOS OuC
same sort of love to every girl he meets,
I suppose"
II don't suppose anything of the
kind"
The following day the wind turned
east, drizzling, lazy rain set in, blot
ting out everything. and obliging them
to fold their tents and take refuge in
the little Sea-shell House at hand; and
by midnight all the powers of the air
were abroad; the sea seemed to beat
and below under their very windows.
the wind whipped it into fine feathers
of spray, and the darkness was like a
garment. There was a gray sickly
dawn creeping up the sky, when Stella,
looking from her window. saw in the
distance the outlines of a ragged wreck
painted boldly against the horizon, and
the shore swarming with people moving
about uncertainty.
''Oh. Stella" cried Felicia, "here's .
real shipwreck! Let us put on our
wraps and creep down to the shore. and
hear all about it. wouldn't miss it for
worldsr'
Felicia's teeth were chattering might
lily as they took their way to the shore,
and mingled among the groups of men
andwomen.
''She'n 60 to pieces in no time at all,
some one was prophesying. "Jim saw
folks a-clinging to the masts and things,
with his glass"
CHATS a master glass of his H." said
another. ''But amt they going for to
do nothing?''
They've sent out a lifeline; but it
amt no pleasant places that lines fallen
into, let me tell you. Jim he was go
ing with it but for me and the children.
I'm powerful glad he didn't"
"Girls! girls!" cried Mr.. Martin.
busting up, "this is no place for you.
Better 90 back to your beds. Trying
scene. None of these clOd-hoppers
would carry out the line to save soul.
Audenreid has gone out with it himself
"a terrible risk. So much brilliancy
and cultivation, SO much wit and expe-
rience, as good as thrown away. They'll
have to pull the line in presently, no
doubt. and it would be painful for you
to be here, my dears, after so much
pleasant companlonship. Oh, Stella!
Stella! my dear girl"
Stella had tainted away.
It was a stirring morning that fol-
lowed at the little Sea-shell House, pro-
viding for the rescued, listening to their
story, and talking over the event.
When Stella left her room, about noon,
she was met by fisherman's wife bring
ing her q sealed note. Il found it in the
pocket of Jim's pea-jacket, and I made
out how it was for Miss Stella Ames,
and they told me you were the lady as
tainted on the beach, she explained.
+" You see, Jim has gone for the doctor
up to town, and he changed his coat
first to look ship-shape like"
"Thank you," said Stella. "Who
can have written to me here?" as she
tore it open and read:
"I am going to carry the lifeline out to
crew. 1 shall probably never re-
turn alive, but it is their only chance. While
you are dreaming on your pillow I shall, per
haps, be tasting the bitterness of death and
no no more till the sea gives up its dead. Ny
darling, my darling. let me have the happiness
of repeating love you. love you, Stella
Good-by' sweetheart gecd,6y; A,,,rxpr,n"
Then she turned to the torn envelope
addressed to :. Miss Stella Ames, Sea-
shell House. lobe given her only in
case never return" The revelation
was premature. Colonel Audenreid
had returned. but so spent that the
doctor had been summoned from town.
Mr.. Martin took his family back to
Martinvale, but Colonel Audenreid re-
NAMED at the seaside fortnight long
er under treatment. In the mean time,
Stella went home-home for Stella
attendance on the whims of
wealthy hypochondriac. with small
stipend, without relaxation. One
the post brought her letter
from Felicia. Perhaps it contained
e A,,1.--~sI Isl