The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-22

a miracle Of Joy to Both Of them, being
together there, the only human beings
in that little world of smoking planks
and steel that was slowly settling be-
meath the water.
Dear" said Margey, 81 want to
tell you now that have always loved
you, and only you"
"And I you, Margery." he answered. J
And they forgot their peril, and the
approach of death, and, side by side.
their arms about each other, they
watched the Kissing fight of fire and
water until the water won.
The submerged stern blazed no
longer. Only the sea threatened them
now. But the deck was getting lower.
and the bow uplifting, and, anxious
only to prolong those moments of hap
piness that had come back out Of the
past, too late, they sought the upper
bridge.
Silently they sat there, watching the
slow. up-creeping of the water. Over
the horizon faint light was creeping.
and slowly dawn hung out her flaming
banners in the sky.
A drizzling rain began, and. forget
ting that in a little while they would
be struggling in the waters, they
moved within the shelter Of the little
f, room that had been occupied by the
wireless telegrapher. There they
crouched together.
III we could have our lives over
again." said Gardiner. 81 never knew
how sweet life was meant to be-"
I'VE would be wiser. dear" an
swered Margery.
f! Mechanically she turned over the
papers heaped upon the little table,
! representing messages received for
many on board, but not delivered.
Gardiner stared out into the sea. 1t
seemed impossible that the ship could
j remain afloat more than half an hour
longer.
"Margery." he said. 81 believe there
will be a chance for us. am going
to throw this table overheard when
the end comes, and we will spring to-
gether. 1t will keep US afloat until
until some possible rescue. And. II we
live, you will come with me. You
shall be mine forever, dear, and we
will start our new life in a new
world"
Eyes, will come with you." she an
swered mechanically. Her face wat
very pale. Gardiner looked at her; he
was surprised at her ready acquies
cence; he had expected that the pas
sion which swept him of his fee
would at least be met by the plea O.
! duty. There was no shrinking In
Margery's mind.
II will come with you. to the world
, end" she answered, slipping her hant
in his.
. He strobe out on the tilted deck
. and, clinging to the rail. peered sea
, ward, where the ball of the sun wa
springing into the sky. Black agains
It rode . tiny craft.
+ "Margery!" he shouted. drawing he
to the rail.
II II carried the hope Of life. And tn
minutes passed and they stayed there
watching the ship grow larger. TIL
vessel had been sighted. and. thong
the stranger could not know that Their
were living beings aboard this der'
lict, she was pushing hard towar
them for Investigation.
| Half an hour had passed. The vel
| sci was now plainly to be seen. Sh
was a British cruiser. 1t was fur
Gus race between her and the SCI
Clinging to the rail, Gardiner felt tn
deck at an angle Of 60 degrees beneat
him. The ship was trembling. pr
i cursor of the final plunge under tn
waves. But life was looking at thel
again, and the war vessel was yer
near.
He tore his coat from his back an
waved It frantically. The cruiser wa
now less than a mile away. Suddenl
a boat shot forth from her side.
j And the last minutes of the ffgl
we're never clear In the mans min
Il so close was the finish. But he SCENE
j to remember that, as the ship straine
and heaved, and gathered herself II
destruction, they slid down the u
r. raised side into the boat that lay b
> meath, manned by q dozen sturdy blu
4 jackets. There came the hard ply I
oars to escape the dreadful vortex. an
suddenly where the liner had bee
. was only q great swirl of bubbling W
!. ter.
= Half an hour later the two sat cid
= by side upon the warship's deck
a Gardner was studying his compa
- ions face. Would she regret! Woul
y she change! Would life alter her VII
!. ingness to 90 with him. while her hu
a band lived.
He knew that, ~ she had draw
!. him, 30 she had the power to send hi
out into life. hopeless.
"A Margery turned toward him ar
- slipped . paper into his hand.
Read that" she said. II found 1t
- the wireless ROOM"
- Gardiner read: your husband di'
~ last night"
~ Copyright 1914. by ". q. Chapman.)
Polish That Brings Out Natural Tir
1s-A k.t L.. a. a,