Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-11-08
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: THE LAST TWENTY MINUTES.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
II should say that she won't Last
more than 20 minutes.
And - the man spoke he cast cal
cuAsting glance at the ships deck,
which lay TILTED on one side in curl
ously slanung position. The boat
had struck upon one of the dangerous
groups of sunken rocks in the Eng
lish Channel, and there seemed no
likelihood that the vessel, stately and
strong as it had been so short a time
before, could be saved from destruc-
ton.
Roger Winford turned away from
the man whom he had questioned with
a sharp gesture which he would not
have liked anyone to see so expressive
was it of great despair. He was man
in middle life, with dark hair slightly
grizzled, and "a grave impressive coun-
tenance, which did not often betray
his emotions.
"Was III for this" he said to himself,
as he moved away from the sailor,
that | have toiled for so many years,
and heaped up wealth, and denied my
self almost every enjoyment that !
may perish miserably within sight OF
home. Is it for this 1 have kept silent
all this time, and refrained from
snatching ait the good things that
dangled within my reach? | have
wasted my days. have been fool.
| have thrown the best part of my life
away, and the Nast 20 minutes of ones
life is not time in which anything
can be put right"
As he said the words to himself, ne
came upon a group of women and
children, who had been placed in the
most advantageous position as regard
ed safety, and his eye sought instantly
for the one face, the one figure, in
which he felt a peculiar interest. a
pdrl of some 10 years lifted a pale
brave countenance Ito his for q mo-
ment, and read in his eyes the con.
firmation OF the fears which had at
ready occurred to her.
us there no hops, them" she said TO-
him in an undertone.
.No.~ said the man, there d NO
hone"
"You don't think that we shall be
SEEN from "a distance, and that the
lBfeboat sent out Ito our help?"
"No 7 don't said Winford; -and II
could scarcely get here in time"
How much longer?" she asked; and
h. telt her hand cling to him little
tighter
IT thdnk-about 20 minutes. That is
what the ouartermaster told me. He
thinks the boat will break up in about
tbaH time"
"If only." said the girl, III could get
over to the other side of the deck, and
comfort moor Mrs. Cunlitfe a little!"
"You cannot said the man imor-
,,hlv "You must STAY where YOU are.
Yon cannot walk when the deck lis at
this angle. and a wave may break over
n MI any moment, and carry you
away."
He had previously done his utmost
for her safety. for he had dashed her
M one of the bulwarks, which was
wadned in n cleft of the rock, and
rhere was even "a possibility that she
might be left there when theshlp when
no pieces and, he thought ultimately
rescued.
"Wher's vivian?" he said abruptly.
HE was here just now" said Molly,
But went to the other side-to see il
he could find IA lifeboat, | believe"
"For you?"
"N-no," said Molly with some LITTLE
hesitation, "for himself"
AS should have imagined" said
Roger. in a harder voice.
"He is young said Molly, softly,
"and his life is dear to him
rs 1t not dear to you, too?" said
Winford.
81 suppose it must be to most of Us"
she answered.