The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-02-19

Dear, said MarEety, i want 20
tell you now that / have always loved
you, and only you"
And | you, Margery," he answered
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 ard
water until the water won
The submerged stern bla2ed no
longer. Only the sea threatened them
now. Rut the deck was getting lower,
and tho bow uplifting, and, anxious
only to prolonE those moments of hap
piuess that had come back out Of the
past, too late, they sought the upper
bridge.
silently they sat there, watching The
slow, up.crceping Of the water. over
the horizon a faint light was creeping
aud slowly dawn hung out her flaming
banners in the sky.
A drt1zhnE rain began, and, forget
ting that in n little while they would
be struggling IN tho waters, they
moved within the shelter of the ll't'o
room that had been occupied by tho
wireless telegraphrr. There they
CrouChed together.
"If We could have our lives over
again. said Gardiner, Il never knew
how sweet life vas meant to be"
I'VE would be wiser, dear" an
swered Margery,
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. IL
seemed impossible that the ship could
remain afiont more than half an hour
longer.
"Margery," he said, Il 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. IL 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"
yes, I will come with you" she an
swered mechanically. Her face was
very pale. Gardiner looked at her: he
was surprised at her ready acquies-
renee; he had expected that the pas
sion which swept him off his feet
would at least be met by the plea or
duty. There was no shrinking IN
Margery's mind.
II will come with you, to the worlds
end" she answered, slipping her hama
In his.
He strobe out on the tilted deck.
and, clinging to the rail, peered sea
ward, where the ball of the sun was
%springing into the sky, Black against
It rode a tiny craft.
"Margery!" he shouted. drawing her
to the rail.
1t carried the hope Of life. And the
minutes passed and they stayed there,
watching the ship grow larger. The
vessel had been sighted, and, though
the stranger could not know that there
were living beings aboard this dere
lict. she was pushing hard toward
them for investigation.
Half an hour had passed, The yes
sci was now plainly to be seen. She
was a British cruiser. II was a fnri
GUS race between her and the sea
Clinging to the rail, Gardiner felt thu
deck at an angle Of 90 degrees beneath
him. The ship was trembling, pre-
cursor OF the final plunge under tho
waves. But life was looking at then
again, and the wal vessel was very
near.
He tore his coat from his back ant
waved 1t frantically. The cruiser wal
now less than a mile away, SUDDEN,
a boat shot forth from her side.
And the last minutes of the fight
we're never clear In the mans mind
SO close was the finish. But he seemed
to remember that, as the ship strained
and heaved, and gathered herself fol
destruction. they slid down the up
raised side into the boat that lay be
meath, manned by a dozen sturdy blue
] Jackets. There came the hard ply Of
oars to escape the dreadful vortex, and
suddenly where the liner had been
r was only a great swirl Of bubbling wa
ter.
Halt an hour later the two sat side
by side upon the warship's decks
Gardiner was studying his compan
IONS face. Would she regret? Would
she change? Would life alter her will
!, ingncss to go with him. while her bus
band lived.
He knew that, AZ she had drawn
him, 30 she had the power to send hin
out into life, hopeless.
, Margery turned toward him ant
| slipped a paper into his hand.
Read that" she said. II found It II
!, the wireless room"
Gardiner read: Your husband diet
| last night"
Copyright. 1914, by w. @. Chapman.)