The Ronan pioneer., 1914-06-26

Informed that it was a decoration Civ
) en- for saving life.
Naturally this story served to slim
ulate the interest already excited in
me with regard to the decoration and
it's wearer. Was there any connection
between my rescue and this man? l
had always regretted not being able to
express my gratitude to my rescuer.
and now a wild hope sprang up within
me that he had been discovered-dis-
covered. but not attained He was
drifting near me as one ship may drift
near another in a fog. unseen by me.
only reported by others.
One evening at dance | met and
received marked attention from one
Howard Woodruff. ! told him that
there was a young man floating on the
social sea who Wore a gold cross in
which l was interested. He seemed
much interested himself and asked me
what there was in the cross that CON
cerned me, whereupon | told him the
circumstances Of my rescue. He prom
ised me that he would keep his eyes
| open for the possesSor of the cross and
| If he saw him wearing it would inter-
rOgate him with regard to it and re-
port to Inc at once.
| For the rest Of the winter Mr. Wood
ruff was continually tantalizing me
with reports of this man who was
wearing a decoration for life saving
He was always hearing of him. but
never getting near him. At one time
he told me that the man had won his
decoration by saving some one from
burning building; at another he had
heard an entirely different story-the
honor had been bestowed for having
snatched child from befor" q loco
motive.
Either Of these stories would have
settled my mind as to the matter if
could have depended on it. But upon
questioning my informer l drew forth
the fact that what he had heard was
the merest hearsay.
AS the winter was drawing to
close Mr.. Woodruff's attentions to me
increased. and he began to display
some jealousy of this unknown person
in whom l took such an interest IL
believe you are in love with him." he
said to me one day. ain love with
him?' l replied. How can be in
love with one l have never SEEM" |
"Well. then. you are in love with a
fancy picture you have created of him.
Ten to one it is no decoration he
wears. but has been given him by
some girl with whom he is spoons.''
| grew fond of my admirer-indeed.
so fond of him that when he asked me
to be his wife consented. He was
always quiZZing me, and the man who
was wearing the Maltese cross was a
favorite subject with him. He asked |
me when the spring came on whether
| would go to the seaside resort. and |
when l said that would. but should |
not be so venturesOme as BEFORE he
said he would spend his vacation with |
me there
"Perhaps We will meet the man who
Is sporting your cross" he added. IF
we do | shall get him out in the water
and drown him"
This display of jealousy pleased me.
and | retorted | had sentimental
fancy that the man who wore the cross
was the person who had saved my life,
and if l should meet him | was sure
| should fall in love with him. Then
my fance looked grave. and l laugh
ed him back to his former status.
When the summer came l went to
my usual resort several weeks before
my lover Joined me. AS soon as he
came he asked me ii l had seen any
thing of the fellow who had saved me
or the one who wore my prize and if
they had turned out to be one and the
same person. l teased him for awhile
by limiting that bad met him and
that he was an AdSnis. Whether he
believed me or not l didn't know. At
any rate, he pretended he did. Low
ers are never very certain about any
thing concerning the loved one and
are easily frightened.
The morning after my fance's ar
rival we went to the beach together
for bath. We met on the sands.
each in bathing costume, and what
did l see pinned to his bathing suit
but my Maltese cross. l looked at
him with eyes big as saucers. He
burst into a laugh.
you have been very stupid" he
said
els that my CROSSE"
"Of course it is"
"Where did you get it?'
Last summer. when you collapsed
In the water and brought you In. in
some way or other 1t became detached
from your bathing dress and got
caught In mine"
| was paralyzed.
II thought l would keep it." he
went on. "and fool my friends by let
ting them think it was decoration of
some sort. I've had no end of fun with
it. At last l heard Of your inquiries