Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-01

er to sail for New York. Every roo-.
was taken, and l must be at hon.
within ten days to attend the wedd;r.
of my dearest friend, for whom | vss
to be bridesmaid. SO the day tbs
steamer sailed / went aboard. tru.,
ing that some passenger might mis-,
reaching the steamer on time or ann.
thing Ike that, but when went !,
the purser after we were off he told
me there was not vacant room ~,
even a vacant berth In the ship.
"a gentleman was standing ar N.
purser's window waiting till 1 had got
through with my questions and. hear
ing what l said and seeing my disan.
pointment. raised bis hat, not with N.
flourish of parvenu, but to the man.
ner born, and with sympathetic ex.
preston in his glorious eyes said:
"'Will you do me the honor to ar
cept my stateroom?
"Of course l told him wouldnt
think of incommoding him and an
that, but he insisted. and when tbs
purser told him that one of the Officers
on the upper deck would, for consd.
Grafton, give up bis room to him l az.
cepted the sacrifice"
This is going to be delightful" was
whispered from one lady to another
81 was seasick and didn't leave nv
room till one night-there was dense
fog-I lay listening to the whistle "a
peat 'toot-toot' every few moments
I heard crash and felt the ship ca.
reen. I knew at once that there had
been a collision and. springing ID put
on what could find, seized life pre-
server and ran on deck One OF tha
first persons / met was the gentleman
who had so kindly given up his room
to me-"
'Ah, he saved you! I have always
heard you married brave man.
HE did no such thing. He snatched
my life preserver and ran away with
it,
"Oh, dear, How Disappointing"
81 made my way to one OF the boats
An officer was experimenting its load
ing. keeping the men back and put
ting in the women and children. The
man who had taken my life preserver.
crazed with fear, tried to force his
way into the boat, and the officer was
obliged to threaten to shoot him to /,
keep him away.
The boat was filed before could
get into it, and I was obliged to seek
safety in another direction. There
were not boats enough for half those
on board. and before 1 could get place
IN hn Lost bod hnnT1 lnxrarod md
pulled away from the ship.
'Oh, that awful night! 1 looked
about for something to float me-for
the vessel was rapidly sinking-but
could get only a steamer chair. il
seemed to me not that the vessel was
sinking, but that the water was rising
to engulf me- Slowly it came up Ike
a hungry monster stealing upon its
prey; then suddenly the bow pitched.
the stern rose, and l was engulfed in
the cold black ocean.
when 1 came up I was still cling.
ing to the steamer chair. But ! knew
it would not serve me long, for was
rapidly becoming benumbed with the
cold. was losing consciousness when
felt hand seize my arm and I was
dragged on to an improvised raft. Then
l felt a rope being placed around my
body and knew that was being lash.
ed to my support. But there was no
one on it with me. Presently felt
pair of lips pressed against mine i
opened my eyes and saw a mans face.
He had fiery red hair. That's all
gathered of his appearance-his hair
was very red. Then l felt my raft
slightly lightened. l knew that man
had pulled me on to the raft, and. since
it would not bear two. he had got Oh
into the water. ] lost consciousness
with the knowledge that he had given
his life for mine"
"Poor fellowi' remarked the hostess
1.-THE wireless telegraph had called
for help, and was picked up by
boat from a steamer that had come TO
our rescue. AS I was carried on TO the
deck from the boat who should l see
standing with his hands in his pockets
looking at me but
your prescrverT
1.-THE red headed man. He saw me
and blushed. Coming TO me. be Saiu'
4 beg your pardon for what did.
"'What do you mean? l asked.
1.-The kiss. 1 didn't expect TO ever
see you again.
at know you didn't. You expecte'
to give your life for mine. Coms
here
HE came to. me shrinkingly as
child expecting a whipping. tnrss
my arms about his neck and c'e'
with my lips against his"
Ladies'" said the hostess. the speaN
er having finished. 1--WE don't neeu !"
ask who is Mr.. Dorrance. It's pan
enough
The story teller did not deny '"s
fact. and the party broke up.
THAT was a very affecting story U
Mrs. Dorrance's," said lady 10 an
other
Every. But what a pity it was tps'
le had red head