The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1914-09-18

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) speaker, held on to me, encouragin
me with q deep. sonorous voice tina
did not indicate the slightest fear o
excitement, and somehow, under hi
protecting care, felt perfectly safe
We chung there together till the trail
had passed over about ten miles. whel
we reached station. l got into tn,
compartment to which | was clingng
and my preserver returned to his own
I did not see him again till the trail
rcac hed Dijon. when he handed out ,
fat woman ana Ave children. disap
pearing with them in the station. HI
was evidently married"
How unfortunater exclaimed sew
era ladies at once.
Two romances nipped in the bud"
u pursued my journey to Paris and
thence to London. where | attempted
to engage passage on the next steam.
err to sail for New York. Every room
was taken, and | must be at home
within ten days to attend the wedding
Of my dearest friend. for whom I was
to be bridesmaid. So the day the
steamer sailed went aboard. trust
Ing that some passenger might miss
reaching the steamer on time or some
thing like that. but when I went to
the purser after we were OF he told
me there was not vacant room, not
even a vacant berth In the ship.
"A gentleman was standing at the
purser's window waiting till I had got
through with my questions and. hear
Ing what said and seeing my disap-
pointment, raised his hat, not with the
flourish Of parvenu. but to the man.
ner born. and with sympathetic ex-
preston In his glorious eyes said:
xviii you do me the honor to &C.
cept my stateroom?'
"Of course | told him | wouldn't
think OF incommoding him and oil
that. but he insisted. and when the
purser told him that one Of the officers
on the upper deck would. for u consid-
GRAFTON. give up his room to him ac-
cepted the sacrifice"
This Is going to be delightful" was
whispered from one lady to another.
Il was seasick and didn't leave my
room till one nlght-there wis dense
fog-l lay listening to the whistle re-
peat 'toot-toot' every few moments
| heard crash and felt the ship ca
reen. ! knew Mt once that there had
been Q collision and. springfng up. put
on what l could find. seized life pre-
server and ran on deck. One of the
first persons met was the gentleman
who had SO kindly given up his room
to me-"
"Ah he saved you! have always
heard you married brave mani"
He did no such thing. He snatched
my life preserver and ram away with
t."
"Oh, dear! How disappointing!"
Il made my way to one OF the boats.
An officer was experimenting its load
ng. Keeping the men back and put
Ing IN the women and children. The
nan who had taken my life preserver.
'razed with fear. tried to force his
way Into the boat. and the officer was
obliged to threaten to shoot him to
leep him away.
THE boat was filed before could
'et Into 1t. and was obliged to seek
afety In another direction. There
we're not boats enough for half those
n board. and before / ould get place
n one the last had be,,n lowered and
ulled AWAY from the ship.
"Oh. that awful night! I looked
bout tor something to float me-for
ne vessel was raIddly sinking-but
ould get only a steamer chair. It
eemcd to me not tnat the vessel was ,,
hiking but that the water was rising
engulf me. Slowly 1t came up like
hungry monster stealing upon its
reg; then suddenly the bow pitched, /
1e stern rose. and T was engulfed In
he cold black ocean.
when I came up I was still cling.
e to the steamer chair. But knew
would not serve me long. for I was ,
lpidly becoming penumbed with the
'ld. ! was losing: consciousness when
felt a hand seiz e my arm and was
ragged on to IN improvised raft. Then
felt rope being placed around my
by and knew that was being lash
to my support But there was no
ne on t with me. Presently l felt a
llr OF lips presse d against mine.
'ened my eyes ar ID saw a mans face.
e had fiery red hair. That's all /
'thered Of his appearance-his hair
as very red. Then | felt my raft
lightly lighter ed. l knew that a man
10 pulled me on to the raft. and. since
would not bear two. he had got or
10 the water. lost consciousness
I'm the knowledge that he had given
$ life for mine.-
'loor Fellow! remarked the hostess.
Ihe wireless telegraph had called
neip and ] was picked up by Il
mt rro' N steamer that had come to
r res ne. AS was carried on to the
OK From the boat who should l see
'n0lng with his hands in his pockets
Vi ng at me BUT
''ionr preserver?"
The red headed man. He saw me