The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-05-22

UYdldu One reef sheltered her she lay
upon another, straning and groaning, like
beast in pain Her bows had climbed the
hidden rock pointing scornfully upwards till
they had bent with their weight and saggcd down
ward again. Now the forccastlc half submerged,
and the water poured in and out through great
The vessel was twisted amidships, tho deck kplanking
had opened in places and part of the saloon had
fallen in, but the stern uninjurcd and lay deep
water. They carried aft the boats that available
and launched them there
Beyond the oasis of calm, heavy sea swept shore
wards in towering green waves, until it reached comb
OF Jagged rocks and poured through the openings in
sheets of foam to long sandy beach. Three tossing
boats were approaching the rocks slowly the cur
rcn, would suffer looking for passage through The
fourtl-tbc last remanlng-waS just leaving the ship
The who had lowered it. with appliances but
ropes rubbed their chafed hands their trousers
and moppcd their forehcads and gathered together
silenyexccpt tall gentleman of about forty He left
the rest and went toward lady, who stood back little
watching them The of the women, and all the
children, i'll the boats
She turned when he reached her, and they walked
forward together He pattcd her shoulder approvingly
and she smiled family him She was about hve-and-
thirty; could scarcely be called goodooking but very
likabe when she smiled
That's why she wouldn't go in the boat one of the
gathering observed
! "Ayc!" said an old sailor She's the right sort"
! Then they were silent again.
The and tho were silent too. When they
reached the end of the saloon promenade beside the
wrecked musc-Saoon, they stopped and rested their
arms the rail and gazcd at the shore mile away;
not if they wished to look at the shore, but if they
feared to look at each other The chief officer came
swiftly down the ladder from the navigation
deck, with two lifebcts his arm
Best put them on he advised "but don't think
they'll be much use" He nodded toward the breakers
"Shc'l go in ten minutes"
The man laid one belt the deck, while he put the
other round the woman She held up her arms and
smiled at him all the time When he finished his task,
and picked up the other belt, she took it from him.
Let do it for YOU" she offered Il should like
to if may"
His grave face lit up for moment
81 shall like you to-" he told her. You are brave
woman"
Bravcr than thought" she assented 81 used to
think that l ust-ordinary; that all Now
] think it was life that was ordinary, not What
shall We do with the rest of 1.-THE ten minutcs?"
Let open hearts" the proposed. "Wc
may venture now. Dear lady, have admired you and
liked you all the voyage. We shall go as friends to-
gethcr, think?"
L wish no better company" she told him
"Is there who has better right? he asked.
mo one And you?"
"No one"
"And that" she said, lis why VIC thought life or
dnary, suppose"
He nodded and they rested their arms on the rail
again and gazcd at the boats approaching the shore.
There were only two now-no, three Ono lay upturned
on the beach. Specks of humanity crawlcd out of the
foam Some rushed back, at the risk OF their lives, and
pulled out others.
Yes" he said "We arc drawer than thought
Do you the bounder man, as called him." He
pointed to the group at the stern. One might have
expected him to fight for place IN the boats. When
=.
an excuse get place for himself but he carried half
dozen more down and back chccrfully every
time He managed to cheer them, too wiped their eyes
and Jokcd at their fears his boorsh way; got some
packets of from the bar and threw them down to
the boat and kissed his hand to them Now he's light
ing a cigarette. Yes, were bravcr than VIC thought
You dear lady, the braycst and the best You gave
Up your life when you gave up your place the boat
Why?'
The children have mother she explained and
he is such good father to them They need him; and
have one
He took her hand.
"You have friend" he assured her.
"Yes" she said, simply THAT the other
why 1 remained"
"Me7" He looked at her quickly.
"You / wondcr-it doesn't matter what say now,
does it'll wonder if we really cared for each other
"Ahl" said the man. 81 wondered too, but l thought
women always knew"
She shools.her head
a liked W,i certainly; but have liked other men.
] never liked any of them enough You sce am not
marrying woman. haye-l had aims in lifc Marriage
meant sacrificing so much Itis sacrifice for an nde-
pendent woman-to give up your individuality; to be
Mrs Something Else; not your own namc lett!
And for what? To be toy and plaything Tor year
Perhaps not ycar-don't call it schshness I'd have
given up everything if had thought that love would
last My dear friend, it doesn't last You and arc
not children. We have seen life We know But the
woman's lasts longest l afraid OF that
81 know The nodded Il liked you too; liked
YOU more than was comfortable thought it out many
a time 1t was than liking Marian. quckcncd
at your coming; warmed at your beautiful smile"
Dear friend" she protested, "wc can be candid now
You know that not beautiful"
Indeed" he declared, 81 thought you were t>was