Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-02-15
6be Wings ef the
~ . By LOUIS
" nferA - a TRACY
!. AVA AAAAA 40 Copyright 1905. by
. ~ ~ Globe
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poor steward, So dpplleu lOF u
transfer. AS the crew was short hand
ed, my offer was accepted"
Iris was now looking at him intently.
"You saved my life" she repeated
slowly. 1t seemed that this obvious
fact needed to be indelibly established
in her mind. Indeed the girl was over
wrought by all that she had gone
through. Only by degrees were her
thoughts marshaling themselves with
lucid conference. AS yet she recalled so
many dramatic incidents that they
failed to assume due proportion.
But quickly there came memories Of
Captain Ross, of Sir John and Lady
Tozer, Of the doctor, her maid, the
hundred and one Municipalities of her
pleasant life aboard ship. Gould it be
that they We're all dead? The notion
was monstrous. But its CHASTITY signif-
icance was instantly borne in upon her
by the plight in which she stood. Her
lips quivered; the tears trembled in her
eyes.
as it really true that all the ships
company except ourselves are lost?'
she brokenly demanded.
The sailors gravely earnest glance
fell before hers. "Unhappily there is
no room for doubt" he said.
care you quite, quite sure?"
II am sure-of some" Involuntarily
he turned seuward.
She understood him. She sank to her
70 witt, I, I, tic,
and broke into passion Of weeping.
With look of infinite pity he stopped
and would have touched her shoulder,
but he suddenly restrained the i'm
pulse. Something had hardened this
man. 1t cost him an effort to be cal
frightened. and his expression lost its
tenderness.
"Come, come, my dear lady," he ex-
claimed, and there was tinge of stud
led roughness in his voice, you must
calm yourself. 1t is the fortune of
shipwreck as well as Of war; you
know. We are alive and must look
after ourselves. Those who have gone
are beyond our help"
"But not beyond our sympathy"
walled Iris, uncovering her swimming
eyes for n fleeing look at him. Even
in the utter desolation of the moment
she could not help marveling that this
queer hammered sailor, who spoke like
gentleman and tried to pose as her
inferior, who had rescued her with the
utmost gallantry, who carried his quiX-
otto zeal to the point of first supplying
her needs when lie was in fdr worse
case himself should be so utterly in
different to the fate of others.
He waited silently until her sobs
ceased.
"Now, madam" he said, at is essen,
tial that we should obtain some food
l don't wish to leave you alone until
we are better acquainted with oul
whereabouts. Can you walk little
way toward the trees, or shall assis
you?'
Iris Immediately stood up. She press
ed her hair back defiantly.
Certainly can walk" she answer
ed. "What do you propose to do?"
"Well, madam
"what is your name?" she interrupt
ed imperiously.
"Jenks, madam. Robert jerks"
'Thank you. Now listen, Mr.. Rober
jerks. My name is Miss Iris Deane
On board ship I was passenger ant
you were n steward-that is, until 70,
became seaman. Here we are equal
in misfortune, but in all else you ar
the leader. am quite useless. l cal
only help in matters by your direction