Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-02-27


the doctor up for information. Happi-
" she was in fair way of canvales.
csnce. The shock to her system had
been very great, but the symptoms of
fever had abated, and now the man of
medicine declared that all she needed
was rest. With that end In view he
had requested her to keep in bed for
that day. and also with the further
view. I thought, of banning the curiosi-
ty of the passengers. However, just
~ we were creeping up to an anchor
age he came to me and said that IL I
would wait until the people had gone
ashore Miss Hurst would like to see mo
I. for 4 minute On two. Naturally her
wish was a command, and. informing
my uncle of the circumstance, we
bided our time.
Her mother. with outatretched hand
and white. pathetic face, met me at
the door of the cabin.
MIR. Gray" she said, and the false
name struck me as contemplate under
such conditions. ~ thank you with all
my heart. My daughter il all the
world to. me. and you have brought her
back from the grave. God bless your,
She drew me to her and kissed me on
the forehead. and was seized with a
great longing to throw my arms about
her and kiss her us would have kiss
ed my own mother. But drew back,
mnmbllng stupidity that 1t was nothing,
that she WAS to think 1t nothing had
done. that was glad had been of
service-a mixture the idiocy Of which
appenicI 10 me even In the midst of
my embarrassment. for embarrassed I
was. aii,l deeply, for over the mothers
shoulder two great gray eyes set In a
syfFeet. pale face were watching me
from the top berth. People had spo-
Zen Of my courage in jumping into the
sea Well. 1t may have seemed bold
thing to do, but certainly hadn't the
courage to face the wide, inuuiring
eyes of this delicate girl.
MIR. Gray" she said, II hope you do
not think me unkind or remiss. want
ed to send for you before, but am
supposed to be under the doctors or
ders, though why can't imagine. Be-
lieve me. am perfectly well, but he
orders rest, and my mother wishes 1t.
Let me thank you now"
She held ont her wee white hand,
which pressed with nervous clasp,
and looked Into her face, right into
her eyes. and l knew that this pale girl
held my destiny In her hands.
Don't thank me- mumbled,
scarcely knowing what l was saying.
Don't say anything more about 1t. It
Is enough for me to know that have
been of service to you"
"And 1t Is enough for me to know"
she repeated slowly. world of mean
ing in her look and tone, that you
have saved my life.'
II am glad" said.
"And l." she answered In low voice,
looked her straight in the eyes, and
she returned the look frankly. without
flinching, and I believe we each strove
to read the deeper thoughts that lay
behind. To me she seemed living
piece Of pale perfection, for whom /
would have leaped into 80 raging seas
or the deadly maelstrom itself.
The doctor appearing at that moment
and cautioning me not to excite his
patient. we talked but little while
longer. and as shook hands with her
she said. II suppose you are going
ashore?"
ut Is very probable"
you will be careful?" There was al
most tone of entreaty in her voice.
II promise you"
They were only little common words.
but they were full Of meaning. knew
now that there was some one who took
more than passing interest in me.
Well. nothing of any moment hap
pened at Colombo, and the next day
when we were well at sea once more
Miss Hurst came up on deck and duly
received the congratulations Of the pas
sengers. Naturally people expected to
see me monopollze the greater part of
her time, but In this l think they were
disappointed. Indeed purposely kept
aloof from her, though 1t might have
been an act of charity II had stood by
to warn off some of the more foolish
people. However, in the afternoon she
sent for me to come and take tea with
her and her mother in their cabin, and
my reply to the invitation, which was
as delightful as 1t was unexpected, was
hasty brush up and Hurried appear
ance. thought 1t hard that poor old
Jim should have been left out in the
cold, and apologlzed to him before
going; but, dear old fellow. he never
looked for the slight and consequently
failed to ind 1t. Moreover, they had
not seen much of him. and they were
quite ignsrant of the fact that Mr..
George Carter was the uncle Of Mr..
Frederick Gray, who was not Mr..
Frederick Gray ct all.
was received with the utmost cour-
1tesy by the widow and her DAUGHTER,