Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-22
The shipowuer sighed heavily.

rleu WncincT give OF Wllilholu my
sanctionI"
Anstruther rose and opened the door.
81 have venturcd to tell you" he said,
"wby she should not marry Lord Vent
nor When | come TO you and ask you
for her, which | pray may be soon, 1t
will he time enough to answer that
question should you then decide to
put it,"
1t must be remembered that Robert
knew nothing whatever of the older
mans prcdicamcnt, while the baronct,
full Of his own troubles. was in no
mood to take a reasonable view OF
Anstruther's position.
Thus. for little while. these two
were driven apart and Anstruther dis
dained to urge the plea that not many
weeks would clapSe before he would
be richer man than his rival The
chief sufferer was Sir Arthur Deane.
Had Iris guessed how her father was
tormented she would not have remain
ed on the bridge radiant and mrthful,
while the gray haired baronet gazed
with stony eyed despair at some memo
pers.
"Ten thousand hounds" he muttered.
Not n great sum for TIE millionaire
financicr, Sir Arthur Denne, to raise
on his note OF hand. 4 few months ago
men offered mo one hundred times the
amount on no better security. And
now to think that n set Of jabbering
fools in London should so destroy my
credit and their own; that not n bank
will discount orr paper unless they
are assured Lord Ncntnor has Joined
the board, Fancy me oil all men, be-
ing willing 10 barter my child for
few pieces Of gold"
The thought was maddenng. For
little while lie yielded TO utter despond-
ency. 1t was quite true that a compar-
atively small amount of money would
restore the stability Of his firm. Even
without it, were his credit unimpaired.
he could easily tide over the period Of
depression until the first fruits Of his
enterprise were garncred Then all
men would hail him as genius.
YEARLY turning over his papers, he
written to him by Iris mother How
she dotted on their only child. He re-
called one night shortly before his wife
died when the little Iris was brought
into her room TO kiss her and lisp her
infantile prayers. She had devised a
formula of her own:
God bless father! God bless mother!
God bless me- their little girl
And what was it she cried to him
from the beacht
Your own little girl given back to
you
Given back to him. For what-to
marry that black hearted scoundrel
whose pastime was the degradation OF
women and the defaming Of honest
men? That settled it. Instantly the
cloud was lifted from his soul A great
peace came upon him. The ruin OF his
business he might not be able to avert.
but he would save from the wreck
that which he priced more than all
else, his daughters love.
The engines dropped to half speed.
They were entering the harbor of Sin
gapore. In few hours the worst
would be over. If Ventnor telegraphed
to London his withdrawal from the
board nothing short of n cabIed draft
for 10000 would prevent certain cred
itors from fling n bankruptcy petition.
In the local banks the baronct had
about thousand to his credit Surely
among the rich merchants Of the port,
men who knew the potentialities of his
scheme. he would be able to raise the
money needed. He would try hard.
Already he felt drawer. The old fire
had returned to his blood. The very
belief that he was acting in the way
best calculated to secure his dauGh-
ter's happiness stimulated and encour-
aged him.
He went on deck. to meet Iris skip
ping down the hatcbway.
"Oh. there you are!' she cried. II
was just coming to lind out why you
were moping in your cabin. Iou are
missing the most beautiful view-all
green's and blues and browns. Run.
quick! / want you to see every inch
OF it,"
She held out her hand and pulled
him gleefully up the steps. Leaning
against the taffrail, some distance
apart from each other, We're Anstruth-
or and Lord Ventnor. Need il be
said to whom Iris drew her father:
Here he is, Robert" she laughed.
II do believe he was sulklnS because
Captain Fitzroy was so very attentive
to me, Yet you didn't mind 1t bit"
The two men looked into each others
eyes, They smiled. How could they
resist the contagion Of her sunny m.
ture?
II have been thinking over what you
said to me just now, Anstruther,' said
the shipowner slowly.
"Oh! cried Iris. "Have you two
been talking secrets behind my back =
1T Is no secret to you, my little
girl Her fathers voice fingered on
the phrase. when we are on shore,
Robert, will explain matters to you
more fully. Just now l wish only to
tell you that where Iris has given Der
heart, l will not refuse her hand
She took his face between her hands
and kissed him. Lord Nentnor, won
dering at this effusiveness. strolled for
ward.
What has happened. Miss Deane"
he inquired. Have you just discover