The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-11-08


s,ilx. Il found a boat down on the
..c,. ana came up here to see if
ould not ind its owner. 1t is rather
,nusiial 70 land here. you know-a biz
isky at high tide" He smiled pleas
andy.
The girl looked relieved. Il didn't
come here from choice" she ex'
planned soberly.
"You don't mean that you were
washed ashore-shipwrecked?"
She nodded. 1T happened yester-
day. | vas on the yacht Blaucine-
she belongs to my father. At dusk last
ni.ht sudden squall struck US and
was washed overheard. can swim.
but it was dark and the waves were
choppy. heard my father ordering a
hoat overheard and a couple of sailors
rescued me with the aid of the ten.
| der. We were on the way back to
the yacht when a big wave struck US
and the tender capsized. throwing all
three OF US into the water.
I'm ashamed to say the sailors
swam off and left me clinging to the
boat. managed to turn it over and
climb in, but I had drifted around SO
that could not locate the yacht. !
could hear the whistle blowing al!
night and | screamed and called. Just
before dawn the tender floated into
Quiet water and drifted up on the
beach below.
Il remained on the beach until day
light, then beached the boat and
found this place. l was so exhausted
that fell asleep and you have just
| awakened me-"
Good gracious!" exclaimed Jack.
what an experience you've been
through. Why, you must be plucky
to have stood all that hardship-and
still--be able to tell about it,"
"My father has taught me that men
and women who 60 down to the sea
in ships must have due respect for
its wilder moods and be prepared to
meet them." she said quietly.
"You must be very hungry" sug-
gested Jack tactfully. my launch is
always provided for emergencies and
l can give you sandwich and cup
of hot beef tea"
81 am hungry" she acknowledged
"and it is very kind Of YOU"
Jack held up a restraining hand.
''If your father told you always to
be prepared for emergencies at sea h
also told you always to have help
ing hand for the stranded marine
eh?" he smiled.
"voS." She smiled too and her fac,
was wonderfully sweet.
Jack disappeared from tho rock m
went down to the boat where he b."
led himself in preparing something I,
eat for the girl. Presently she cam.
down The rocky path and stood b.
SIDE him.
Il viii take you to Snug Harhor-our
cottage is there and my sister. Mrs
Frame. will take excellent care OF
you. OF course you will want to com
municate with your father at once"
"IIe can be reached by wireless
from the nearest station. My father
is Arthur Debrys," she said as she
slipped the hot beef tea.
arthur Debrys!" Jack stared-it
this girl was Penelope Debrys she
was one of the richest girls in the
land. He had heard about her.
He told her who he was and all
about the little island which he had
luckily visited that afternoon. 1t was
so seldom visited that II he had not
arrived she might have starved there
unless she had set signal of distress
flying.
They started for Snug Harbor tow
ing the Blaucine's tender The wind
blew up cold and Jack insisted upon
putting his coat around her shoulders
1t thrilled him to see her smuggling
under its warmth. Already he was in
love with her and there was some
thing in her eyes that seemed to tel
that she, too, had found some new
emotion.
But there was Nora Smith, with
whom he was supposed to be in love
Nora was born firt and exacted this
devotion from all her male friends
But Jack had qualms of conscience
he had been serious about Nora at one
time, but Nora was years older thar
ne. Still he might ask Nora.
The eyes of Penelope Debrys me-
his and she smiled. "Ah. this is m,
girl saved her from the sea-wt
belong to each other" he told himself
iecklessly.
When he led this strange youn,
woman into the living room of the
Sea Shell Mrs. Frame started up IL
surprise. "fcu poor child" she crec
after they had told the story. "comt
with me and get into some dry clio
thing while Jack tries to communicate
with your father. Jack, there's tele
sram on the table for you"
Jack was alone when he read tn,
message
Married to Tony Pike this morn
ing. Congratulate us both Nor.