The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-09-30
6be Wings Of
The Morning

By LOUIS TRACY

Thus, for a little wnue, Inese two
were driven apart, and Anstruther dis
dained to urge the plea that not many
weeks would elapse before he would
be a 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 mirthful
while the gray haired baronet gazed
with stony eyed despair at some memo
:. randa which ne extracted from his pa
pers.
"Ten thousand poundsv' he muttered.
.orNot great sum for the millionaire
financier, Sir Arthur Deane, to raise
on his note Of hand. A few months ago
men offered me one hundred times the
amount on no better security. And
now to think that a set of jabbering
fools in London should so destroy my
credit and their own; that not a bank
will discount our paper unless they
are assured Lord ventnor has Joined
the board! Fancy me, of all men, be-
ing willing to barter my child for a
few pieces of goldr'
The thought was maddening. For a
little while he yielded to utter despond-
ency. 1t was quite true that 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 garnered. Then all
men would hail him as a genius.
YEARLY turning over his papers, he
suddenly came across the last letter
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
infantiIe prayers. She had devised a
formula of her own:
"God bless father! God bless mother.
God bless me, their little giriv'
And what was it she cried to him
from the beach?
"Yonr own little girl given back to
your
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 Sim
gapore. In a few hours the worst
would be over. If yentnor telegraphed
to London his withdrawal from the
board nothing short of a cabled draft
for 10000 would prevent certain cred
ltors from fling a bankruptcy petition.
In the local banks the baronet had
about a thousand to his credit Surely
J lmeng the rich merchants of the port,
men who knew the pofentialities 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 Wars 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 hatchway
"Oh, there you arer' she cried. ST
was just coming to find out why you |
were moping in your cabin. You are |
missing the most beautiful view-all |
green's and blues and browns, Run.
quick! 1 want you to see every inch |
Df it."
i She held out her hand and pulled /
him gleefully up the steps. Leaning
against the taffrail, some distance
apart from each other, were Anstruth-
sr and Lord ventnor. Need it be
said to whom Iris drew her father?
Here he is, Robert" she laughed.
II do believe he was sulking because
Captain Fitzroy was so very attentive
to me. Yet you didn't mind it bitw
The two men looked into each others
Eyes. They smiled. How could they
resist the cOntagion of her sunny ma
lure?
81 have been thinking over what you
said to me just now, Anstruther," said
the shipowner slowly.
a"Ohi' cried Iris. "Have you two
been talking secrets behind my back 2"
1T is no secret to you, my little
Yirf'- Her fathers voice fingered on
the phrase. when we are on shore.
Robert, / will explain matters to you
more fully Just now / wish only to
tell you that where Iris has given her
heart / will not refuse her hand"
She took his face between her hands
Ind kissed him. Lord Tentnor, Won
aering at this effusiveness, stroIled for
ward.
What has happened. Miss Deane?"
ne inquired Have you just discover
I'd what an excellent parent you pos
sess?'
The baronet laughed almost hysteric-
lilly. "'Pon my honor" he cried, You
could not have hit upon a happier ex-
His lordship was not quite satisfied.
81 suppose You will take Iris to |
.mith's hctel?" he said. with cool Inn
,udence
Iris answered him.
YES. My father has just asked Rob-
TT to come with us-by inference, that
s. Where are YOU going?''
The adroit use of her lovers Christian
lame goaded his lordship to sudden
leat
"Indeedr' he Suarled ssSir Arthur