The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-13
cAAprER xxx.
m winch We Come to the End,

VI g6uullBut hlEedLuluB III through an
open port, and the clanking sound Of
machinery in my ears. l closed my
eyes again, YEARLY. my head Keeling
yet from the decisions OF the past. No,
this was real--a steamer, rising and
falling on the swell, but pushing stead.
i lily forward to the rapid revolutions OF
the screw. could hear the tramping
Of feet on deck, even the slush Of the
sea without. opened my eyes again,
watching a curtain wave to the fresh
air rushing In through the port, and
then turned my head on the pillow.
Doris sat on low stool gazing out
through the aperture on the sea, her
face partially turned away. She looked
pale, careworn, her eyes heavy and
sad. Suddenly she turned her glance
in my direction, and sprang up with a
glad cry.
ooh, Jack, you have been lying
there SO long unconscious!"
] could only clasp her hands and
gaze into the depths Of her gray eyes.
Il have proved rather a poor speci.
men Of a mar, fear, DEAR" l con-
fessed at last. ashamed OF my weak.
ness. How long?"
ut is three days since we we're
brought on board, and we were a day
and night In the boat after you lost
consciousness"
I endeaVored to think 1t out, to CON-
prehend. She leaned farther over, her
lips touching my cheek.
Don't worry about it, Jack; every
thing is all right now. Johnson took
your place at the tiller, and-and we
were picked up"
What vessel Is this?"
THE 81 Cid, Valparaiso to Buenos
Ayres-a coast-trader"
And the others? Do they live?"
@ ''All but Sanchez; he died the night
after our rescue. Kelly is half
crazed yet, but they think he will get
over It. De Nova was very badly
frozen, but Celeste was out on deck
! yesterday"
lay there looking at her, striving
valiantly to put all these horrors
away, and to face the present and the
future My handclasp frightened, for
could no longer keep back the one
question which trembled on my lips.
But you, Doris, you! Do you still
mean what you said yonder? Are
we only saved to lose each other?
Have you heard? Do you know any,
thing Of HING"
The red blood flooded the pale
cheeks the long lashes yelling the
gray eyes.
"oh. not now; don't speak of that
now"
But | must, cannot wait in sus.
pense,r ! insisted, lifting myself on
the pillow. You have heard-tell
me"
'I-I have been a coward" she fal.
tered. IL have not asked; have
) not even told my name TO those on
board, was afraid the knowledge
might place all under arrest; besides
III wanted to nurse you"
looked at her, my heart failing,
my voice trembling as spoke.
"But-but are you going to-Eng.
land2"
aYes."
"When?"
There was long pause, in which
heard her rapid breathing.
"They-they tell me l can get pas.
sage on an English vessel the Al.
batross, within a few days after We
reach Buenos Ayres."
Her hand frightened on mine, and
she dropped TO her knees, her face
buried In the coyerlet.
fought the devil in me like man,
4 my hands clenched. my teeth set fierce.
ly, but II was while before | could
control my voice sufficiently for re-
ply. She did not lift her head. and as
continued to gaze at her my heart
throbbed with a love which became
sacrifice.
Doris" | managed to whisper at
last, whatever you believe to be
3 right ! will think right also. Only let
I me be alone for little whlle-just
little while, until can fight this out
and conquer"
~. SIG HlISu nSI uettuI heT HdUu on my
hair. her gray eyes looking frankly
Into mine.
I'll thank you, Jack" she smiled
trembllngly. The next moment was
alone.
While was sitting up and partially
dressed that evening, Marsden, The
chief mate, came In and told me brief
lyfthe story of our rescue.
We were considerably to the west
: OF our course" he said, gravely, be.
cause we. had met headwlnds and
heavy sea all the way down the coast.
It was just at daybreak when we
sighted your boat In longitude rs de.
grees west and latitude So degrees,
~ minutes south. I've been knocking
about at sea for 20 years, Mr.. Ste
phenS, but never saw more pltiful
sight than that longboat presented
& when we got up alongside. The lib
held, but the mainsaiI was in tatters,
I andtor minute OF two didn't think
there was q living soul aboard. There
wasia man forward dashed down with
ropes dead; man and woman we're
ls t,.,a1 49,, a.,