Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-06
CHAPTER Xxx.
In Which We Come to the End.

MdCHluery III my ears. i closed my
eyes again, YEARLY, my head reeling
yet from the delusions of the past. No.
this was real-a steamer, rising and
falling on the swell, but pushing stead
lily forward to the rapid revolutions of
the screw. / could hear the tramping
of feet on deck, even the slush of the
sea without. l opened my eyes again,
watching 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 q
glad cry.
ooh, Jack, you hare been lying
there so long unconscious!"
could only clasp her hands and
gaze into the depths of her gray eyes.
Il have proved rather poor speci-
men Of man, fear, DEAR" / con-
fessed at last, ashamed of my weak
ness. "How long?"
1T is three days since we were
brought on board, and we were day
and night in the boat after you lost
consciousness"
endeavored to think it out, to COM
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 Ell Cid, Valparaiso to Buenos
Ayres-a coast-trader."
And the others? Do they live?"
Cali 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
l 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 him."
The red blood flooded the pale
cheeks, the long lashes yelling the
gray eyes.
ooh, not now; don't speak Of that
now"
But I must, cannot wait in sus-
pense," insisted, lifting myself on
the pillow. "You have heard-tell
me-"
Il have been a coward" she fall
tered. Il have not asked; 1 have
not even told my name to those on
board. was afraid the knowledge
might place all under arrest; besides
IL wanted to nurse you"
looked at her, my heart failing,
my voice trembling as 1 spoke.
"But-but are you going tong
land?"
Yes"
"When?"
There was long pause, In which I
heard her rapid breathing.
"They-they tell me / can get pas
sage on an English vessel, the AL
batross, within few days after we
reach Buenos Ayres"
Her hand frightened on mine, and
she dropped to her knees, her face
buried in the coverlet.
fought the devil in me like man,
my hands clenched, my teeth set fierce.
ly. but 1t was while before l could
control my voice sufficiently for re-
ply. She did not lift her head, and as
I continued to gaze at her my heart
throbbed with a love which became
sacrifice.
Doris" managed to whisper al
last, whatever you believe to be
right will think right also. Only lei
me be alone for little while-just a
little while, until 1 can fight this ou1
and conquer"
She lifted her head, her hand on my
hair, her gray eyes looking frankly
into mine.
IL thank you Jack" she smiled
tremblingly. The next moment was
alone.
While I was sitting m and partially
dressed that evening, Marsden, the
chief mate, came in and told me brief
ly the story Of our rescue.
OWo yyora II xIo 81,
of our course" he said, gravely, "be
cause we had met headwinds and &
heavy sea all the way down the coast
1t was just at daybreak when We
sighted your boat in longitude Is de
grees west and latitude So degrees
IL minutes south. I've been knocking
about at sea for 20 years, Mr.. Ste
phens, but never saw a more pitifu
sight than that longboat presented
when we got up alongside. The jill
held, but the mainsail was In tatters
, and for minute or two didn't athinl
: there was living soul aboard. There
was a man forward dashed down will
ropes, dead; man and Q woman wer,
wrapped up in blankets amidships
leaning against each other, their eye
closed. Close up to the stern anothe
woman was lying with her arms abou
your neck and hiding your face"
Doris, with her arms about me-!
l thought. How well knew the desper
alton that could lead her to the EN-