The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-06-15

| her and come out upon the deck holding
to her fathers arm. "Surely. papa.
that is no ordinary seaman. DO Yet;
think he is dead?"
Not dead, certainly, for the heavy lids
lifted, pair of blue eyes looked up at
her, weak CLEAN fiickered across his
pale countenance, and he half lifted a
dropping hand.
''Oh, Gree, have I found you?r he
murmured; then the light died, the hand
fell. Whether fainting or dead. this
big, blonde young man had made an
impression upon Dana Oliphant which
she would not soon forget.
He looked as if he recognized me.
papa" she said, wonderingly; ''and as
if he were glad. certainly never saw
him anywhere before. Go and ask who
he is, please. May be you can tell US.
sir?''
One of the rescued sailors touched a
dripping forelock.
"Yes'm. / can. He's Mr.. Gordon
Markiss, o. New York, a picter-drawin'
gent what's been roughin' it along of
us fishin' off the Banks. He caught
second-best weight o cod this trip, and
he kept up the skipper, who broke his
arm when the bark went down, and he
dived twict after Jim, poor chap! afore
he got that cut on the head and had to
give it up as bad job. He's a white
man, clean through, if the Lord ever
made one."
1t was an assertion which was hearth
ly seconded by the remainder of the
rescued crew. The picter-drawin'
gent was favorite with them all.
MIR. Oliphant brought the Doctors re-
port into the cabin, later; favorable
Ifs" which gave the hearers very little
hope of seeing this hero of the hour be-
fore port should be reached.
Yet he was the first person whom
Dana saw when she assembled to the deck
next morning.
A patch of his golden hair had been
shaved away, and a triangle of court
plaster disfgured the spot; but he
looked what he was, "a gentleman by
courtesy and the grace of God" I'm
mistakably gentleman, though he was
engaged just then in splicing a rope
under the tutelage of an old salt. He
looked up from the task to give her so
bright smile that Dana walked over
to him at once.
1T doesn't require the Formally of
an introduction to allow me to con-
graduate YOU upon your brave conduct
of yesterday. Mr. Marquis" she said
If YOU are not overwhelmed with
plaudits already, you will be soon; but
YOU arere brave, and | honor you for it. y
An eager flush came into the artists
face.
Grateful. very," he murmured.
"All the same, don't deserve any
praise. To have won it from YOU
makes yesterdays shipwreck the hap
piest misfortune of my life"
Compliments came glibly 10 the
tongue of this young man, but they
were spoken with the sincerity which
springs from the heart.
Didn't see you floating around
somewhere in the clouds when / was
brought aboard he asked, "or was
it only in my dreams?'
You saw me. and you called me
Names" Dana answered. laughing.
"By-the-way. l am Miss Oliphant.
You never saw my double, did YOU. Mr..
Marquis? | ask. because you looked
SO certain of knowing me that
couldn't resist coming up like an old
friend
81 never set eyes on your double, but
| have been looking for you these six
months past. Fact. assure you, though
it wasn't Miss Oliphant 1 was hunting
for. understand. 1t was Circe-my
modern Circe-whom | had almost de-
SPARED of finding. You realize the
thought which l could never put into
shape.
Il Circer' cried Dana, opening her
eyes, do | look deceptive and
cruel?"
"You look like an enchantress, who
could count her victims by the score.
If YOU haven't arrived at that experience
Yet, Miss Oliphant. you will in time.
Put me down rs a prophet.
Mr.. Marquis was made the center of
an admiring circle before long. 1t
would seem that he had local reputa-
ton, at least; and he had thoroughly
frank and off-hand manner which rec
commended him at once. Mrs. Oliphant
took liking to him on sight.
Il would get him to paint Your
fathers portrait. Dana. if we We're to
remain in New York. Perhaps we can
persuade him to come to us when we
are settled in our new home
:. As if there We're not painters and
painters" laughed Dana. but, then,
Philadelphia is not at the other end of
the world. Haven't heard it said that
Ia l. tlA.
New York to come over to dinner? l
don't really believe that your artist will
require much urging"
The last evening on shipboard came.
a perfect evening. with a still sea and
flaming sunset, and the whole "happy
family" turned out upon deck, the
younger ones promenading in pairs,
those older conversing in groups. Even
Mr.. Killuth displayed an interest in the
companionship which he had ignored
by the way.
(which are your ELEPHANTS, Launt"-
he asked. "By-the-way, | ought to
know that name-O liphant. Where
have l heard it before?"
almost the identical words which
Mrs. Ohphant used in relation to you.
l felt sure that YOU could fix the ac-
quaintanceship if any had ever existed.
That is she. the fair-haired lady in that
group. 1t is only occasionally that one
finds eyes like hers with those golden
locks"
But it was not at Mrs. Oliphant that
Mr.. Killuth was gazing, with look of
horror and incredulity most unusual on
his generally impassive countenance. 1t
was at the slim young shape. the dusk,