The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-02-01
The Lost Twenty Minutes.
A Thrilling Story of Love
and Shipwreck.
By ADELINE SERGEANT.

81 should say that she won't last more
than 20 minutes"
And as the man spoke he cast calcu-
lating glance at the ships deck. which
Law tilted on one side in a curiousy slant
ing position. The boat had struck upon
one of the dangerous groups of sunken
rocks in the English 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 de-
structon.
Roger Winford turned away from the
man whom he had questioned with
sharp gesture which he would not have
liked any one else to see so expressive
was it of great despair He was a man
in middle life, with dark hair slightly
grizzled and Il grave, impassive counte-
nance, which did not often betray his
emotions.
"Was it for this" he said to himself as
he moved away from the sailor, that
have toilcd for 50 many years and heapcd
up wealth and denied myself almost ev-
cry enjoyment that | might perish miser-
ably within sight of home? Is il for this
that have kept silent all this time and
refraincd from snatching ut the good
things that dangled within my reach?
have wasted my days; have been a fool;
/ have thrown the best part of my life
away. and the last 20 minutes of ones
life is not time in which anything can
be put right
AS he said the words to himself he
came upon Il group of women and chill
dren, who had been placed in the most
advantageous position as regarded safety,
and his eye sought instantly for the one
fac, the one figure, in which he felt a pc
culiar interest y gill of some 10 years
lifted n pale brave countenancc to his for
a moment and read in his eyes the con-
sirmation Of he fears which had already
occurred to her.
LIS there no hope them she said to
hin in an undrrtone.
"No," said the man, there is no hope"
S"Nou don't think that we shall be seen
from a distance and that the lireboat will
be sent out to our help"
"No don't" said Winford, and it
could scarcely get here in time
"IIow much longer" she asked, and
he felt her hand cling to him a little
tighter.
81 think-about 90 minutes. That is
what the quartermastcr told me He
thinks the boat will break up in about
thai time"
elf only" said the girl, Il could get
over to the other side of the deck and
comfort poor Mrs. Gunliffe little
"Nou cannot" said the man immov-
ably You must stay where you are.
You cannot walk when the deck is at
this angle, and a wave may break over it
at any moment and carry you away"
/ He had previously done his utmost for
her safety, for he had dashed her to one
of the bulwarks, which was wedged in a
clelt of the rock, and there was even
possibility that she might be left there
when the ship went to pieces and, he
thought, ultimately rescued.
Il "Wheres Nivian| he said abruptly.
lie was here just now" said Molly,
''but went to the other side-to see if he
could find a ifeboat, believe"
For YOU
mo- said Molly, with some little hes
\ ration, FOR himself"
AS | should have imagined" said
Roger in harder voice.
File is young" said Molly softly, land
MS life is dear to him"
Is it not dear to you, too" said Win
ford
suppose 1t Is to most of us, she an
swercd
never thought so, for my own part"
sald her companion. but in these last
lev moments have discovered a certain
value in life which | never suspected. |
copd wish almost to live it over again.
~ Tact. if one could only profit by ones
owl mistakes, | would do 50 very gladly"
ron, yes" said Molly. with a sigh;
pnl one can never go back
Shc was always a pretty girl, but as
Winfurd looked at her he thought the
gra vlty of her expression, the usefulness
Of her blue eyes, made her positively
beautiful. She was a little woman, whom
peop always wanted to caress, for
mere vas something peculiarly soft and
singing about her But at this moment
deeper intelligence, a stronger spiritual
sense, had come to her, and her face was
uansiigured into beauty beyond itself
There was no fear in it, no sadness, but
brave calm acceptance of the fact that
she was face to face with another world
Winford almost felt as though they had
already passed beyond the regions of this
earth and might speak. not only face to
face, but soul to soul.
There was a perceptible change in his
voice when he addressed her. 1t was low
and steady, but seemed charged with pur-
pose, as though he had made up his mind
to say or do something which had not oc.
cured to him before. Even in the first
trivial question that he put to her Molly
Recognized the difference of intention and
gianced at him inquiringly.
Are you cod?' he said.
No, scarcely at all. We are so shell
tered here. 1t seems hardly possible that
~ few minutes we shall be here no lon
gen, does it?
We ought to make the best of our
hme," said Winford.
Shall we say prayer. then" said
Molly quite simply. knowing perhaps
mat this was the best thing they could
DO
No, no: wait a minute. There's some
ming that comes before prayer. isn't
thore? Confpssion?"
She looked at him dumbly: she did not
Understand
Confession of a wrongdoing," said
nford in a slightly altered tone. III
nave always had notion that it was lit
Sue use appealing for forgiveness until
me had confessed wrong that one