Iron County register., 1883-05-03

The voice was rich and full, with lit
tie undertone of tremulous eagerness
pulsing through it.
Il SnoaU that there is no doubt about
it," Ralph replied.
Afterward, an ehour, perhaps, and
after great deal of scientific beating
about the bush by little, sweet-voiced
Minna Waite. to whom was delegated
tue task of making the revelation SO
Viola, Mr.. Montford was admitted to
his daughter presence, with great
alany charges to "be calm," and to
e. be CAREFUL" and the like.
Viola cried little, softly, but on the
whole she behaved admirably for such
an excitable little thing, and Minna
Waite was rather proud of her success
as preparation.
"You look just as you used to. papa
Viola said, smiling through her tears;
- remember so we'll"
After while the story of his strange
disappearance and long absence was
told. will give it as briefly as posi-
BILE.
He went, by the special invitation of
Alfred DeVr.es, on yachting expedl-
ton which was to cross the channel and
tOuCu dt SchCiai poih ., <'heA' "ieSi I"
week absence, to return. 1t came up
suddenly rough soon after they sailed,
and the night shut down early and
stormily. Still they had no fear but
they should be able to outride the gale
easily enough, and he had been talking
to that effect with the Captain, who
then left him and went forward. He
was about midway the boat, trying to
II ,,tn rhnv
some one pushed suddenly and violently
against him. He caught at the side of
the boat. but through the darkness a
face was bent down and 4 voice Kissed:
"Who is the victor now? What shall [
tell Genevieve Mallard for you"' and
his hands were struck suddenly from
their hold; and he fell over into the
boiling sea. He remembered a sensa-
ton as if he was going down, down,
hundreds of fathOms, into the depths OF
the sea. and among the thoughts that
few like lightning through his brain
was this: Alfred DeVries had invited
him on this trip, hoping and mean ;ng
that, if it was possible. he should never
return. He understood full well his
last taunting speech, for Genevieve had
told him that DeVries had shown he
"Oulu SOIuc udf oNCt D'lH ACi
and the man who had won her from
him. DeVries having been former low
er of hers, though never favored one.
His last thought was vague wonder if
Genevieye would ever suspect that De-
Vries had anything to do with his being
drowned, and then all was blank, a
long, dreary blank, in which he, knew
or realized nothing. save sometimes an
intense sense of physical agony, but 70
thought, or fancy, or speculation-not
the vaguest or most indefinite thought
or wish.
Three months afterward he reused
from what seemed to him long. panied
sleep-roused with sti1 a heaviness, a
weight, as it were, pressing on his
brain. He felt, still, like one in a sort
of lethargic trance, though he was able
to sit on the deck and walk a few steps.
Physical health came back to him after
time, but his mind was under cloud
still. He had no idea of time-no con-
nected thought of anything, and no
memory of the past. save vague sense
of something painful and oppressive.
Since, he had learned that he was
picked up floating on his back. in
motionless, unconscious state, long,
narrow strip of thin board under his
shoulders. caught in rent in his coat,
which held it fast. A fash of lightning
had revealed him to the lookout on the
ship, and they had taken him on board,
very doubtful that he was living at first.
but the surgeon said the pulse was not
quite gone. and so hope excited them
TO efforts for his resuscitation, which
was, however. a long and laborious work.
There was an ugly and terrible wound
on his head. caused probably by its com
ing in contact with the bottom of the
Yacht when he rose after his first swift
plunge.
The Captain at first thought of put
ting into port somewhere and leaving
him, but having been already driven out
of his way bv the sudden gale, he con-
cluded to keep on his course, hoping
that he might recover consciousness be-
fore reaching any of the ports at which
he was to touch before reaching his
final destinat on, which was Australia
But he did not, and the surgeon. who
had become greatly interested ia the
case. begged that he might remain on
the ship, which he did, and was finally
landed at Melbourne, some four months
from the time he was picked up. Up
10 tLlS llille uC udll DceIi uHdDic W give
his name or place of residence. though
he had nearly recovered his physical
health, and had a confused idea o.
things about him. but could remember
little or nothing.
Looking back, now. the next year and
half seemed like terrible. oppressive
nightmare, which gradually wore off as
thought and memory came slowly and
reluctantly back. He was now poor.
friend.ess, and in strange country.
He was not used to manual labor, and
what little, unsk He'd as he was. he ac
complished. barely paid for the food he
ate. He was ragged and utterly penni
less. In this condition he joined a party
going to the mines, hoping to earn
sufficient to take him back to England.
for, as memory returned, he was almost
wild to get back TO his wife and child.
the more so as their marriage had been
a clandestine one. he being still in his
minority when it was consummated.s
and his father having widely different
plans for him. He now cursed his own
in, ,-p a1inp