The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-19

d miracle 81 Joy 70 10Th OF them, oens
together there, the only human Deiheo
in that little world of smoking pianAs
and steel that was slowly settling Dc
Meath The water.
Dear" said Margery, Il want 10
tell you now that have always io'eu
you, and only you"
"And you, Margery," he answered.
And they forgot their peril, ana Tue
approach Of death, and, side by sue
their arms about each other tney
watched the Kissing fight of hre anu
water until the water won.
The submerged stern blazed no
longer. Only the sea threatened them
now. But the deck was getting io"ei'
and the bow uplifting, and, anxious
only to prolong those moments OF nap
piness that had come back out OF tne
past, too late, they sought the upper
bridge.
Silently they sat there. watching the
slow, up-creeping Of the water. over
the horizon a faint light was creepihs'
and slowly dawn hung out her naming
banners in the sky.
A drizzling rain began, and, forget.
ting that in q little while they wouio
be struggling in the waters tney
moved within the shelter Of the littie
room that had been occupied by tne
wireless telegrapher. There tneS
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.
Mechanically she turned over the
papers heaped upon the little table,
representing messages received 1or
many on board, but not delivered
Gardiner stared out into the sea. II
seemed impossible that the ship could
remain afloat more than half an hour
longer.
"Margery," he said, II believe there
will be a chance for us. I am going
to throw this table overheard when
the end comes, and we will spring to-
gether. It 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-
cence; he had expected that the pas
sion which swept him of his feet
would at least be met by the plea OF
duty. There was no shrinking IN
Margery's mind.
II will come with you. to the worlds
end" she answered. slipping her hand
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 tiny craft.
''Margery!" he shouted, drawing hel
to the rail.
It 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
thovvn Coz }nvoata wotAou
Half an hour had passed. The YES
sci was now plainly to be seen. She
was q British cruiser. It was . furi
Gus race between her and the sea
CIinging to the rail. Gardiner felt the
deck at an angle of 60 degrees beneath
him. The ship was trembling, pre-
cursor of the final plunge under the
waves. But life was looking at then
again, and the war vessel was very
near.
He tore his coat from his back and
waved It frantically. The cruiser was
now less than a mile away. Suddenly
a boat shot forth from her side.
And the last minutes Of the fight
were 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 q dozen sturdy blue
Jackets. There came the hard ply o.
oars to escape the dreadful vortex. ant
| suddenly where the liner had beer
was only great swirl of bubbling wa
ter.
Half an hour later the two sat sid,
by side upon the warship's decks
Gardiner was studying his compan
ions face. Would she regret! Woult
she change? Would life alter her will
ingness to 90 with him, while her hus
band lived.
He knew that. % she had draw
him. 80 she had the power to send hin
out into life. hopeless.
Margery turned toward him an,
slipped . paper into his hand.
Read that" she said. II found It II
the wireless ROOM"
Gardiner read: "Your husband die,
last night"
Copyright. 1914. hy- ". G. Chapman)
| Scatter Sunshine.
4 little thought will show you hov
vastly your own happiness depends O,
the way other people bear themselve,
toward you. The looks and tones .