The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-28

you on. I'm afraid your boat isn't
much good"
She choked back the tears. Its
the best boat we've got and the only
one. Grandfather said it wasn't safe
to go out, but"
You liked the danger?" he finished.
''No-no," she almost shrieked. Il
came out her to fish because l was
hungry. II you'd lived on bread and
tea and tea and bread for weeks-I
can't help it II I'm hungry all the
time. There's something about the
air down here" She was talking
to the empty air. for Raymond had
remembered the luncheon basket and
had returned for it to his coy nook.
He recovered II Just in time and was
rejoiced to find that the sandwiches
were dry and unframed.
Nov, see here" he said authori-
tatively. I've been shipwrecked and
I know what 1t is to be hungry and
thirsty on q desert shore. Please
don't make any protests-let's lunch
together, fellow castaway."
She looked wistfully at the daintily
prepared food. Il ought not TO-" she
was Directing. when Raymond spread
. paper napkin in her lap. placed the
sandwiches before her and filled the
thermos cup with hot coffee.
Drink this!" he ordered. And
eat those sandwiches-every crrmb
Then you've got to answer . few
questions. Meantime, I'm going to
swim out and get my boat"
He slipped OF his shoes and dropped
into the water. Once he looked over
his shoulder and saw that the girl
was watching him. He lifted his arm
and she waved in response.
He swan easily with the tide and
had almost reached the boat when.
without the slightest warning, he was
overpowered by an attack Of cramps.
He waved his arms desperately be-
fore he went down.
A long, shrill cry came back over
the water. When he rose to the sur
face he saw a round, dark, wet OBJ
ject bobbing through the water at
incredible speed.
1t was the girl. He went down for
the second time, swooning from that
gripping agony. When he came up
again, she was very near-so close
that he could see her scared brown
eyes. He tried to smile as he felt
himself sinking, but she hurled her.
self through the water and gripped
his shirt collar with firm, steady
fingers.
Pantingly she dragged him toward
the motor boat, clinging to it's sides
for long time before she could
help him into it. He sank in an un'
conscious heap on the bottom while
she found the emergency oar, lifted
the anchor and sculled the motor
boat slowly toward the sandy beach.
When he opened his eyes he was
on the warm sand before a shabby
cottage. A tall old man was chaflne
his wrists and pumping his arms
while the girl sped neetly down the
beach for assistance.
It was hours afterward when hi
awoke from q refreshing sleep in tn
living room of the cottage. Painfully
he recalled the events of the after
4, noon, remembering that the fishel
girl had saved his life. Her voice
reached him now, low pitched ant
melodious: "Come. grandfather, you
soup is ready. You better eat 1
while It's hot"
Just as I thought" muttered Ray
mond. "She's starving herself to feet
the old man! I'm glad owe my LII
to her. It will serve as my excuse t
rescue them from this certain dealt
by starvation"
Then the grandfather came In. HI
proved to be feeble old man o
nearly eighty. Raymond's gratitud
and sympathy invited confidence an
presently the young man was listen
ing to a pathetic story of how
once-famous artist had been ovel
taken by relentless poverty.
Little by little his money ha
dwindled. He knew that his grand
daughter was starving herself 10
his sake, but she evaded all his al
tempts to compel an equal divisio
Of the scanty store. Now winter wa
coming nearer every day-what woul
be the outcome? He shuddered an
his eyes filed with bitter tears.
It took hours of argument to PEI
suade them to let him come to thei
! rescue, but Raymond succeeded
quieting their scruples and took thel
away with him in the Sea Urchil
Under the tender and watchful mai
agement of his mother. the hal
famished maiden who had saved hl
life was restored to normal and alt
gether charming young womanhood.
Although the aged painter did M
long survive the hardships which ha
been the burden of his later year
. he lived long enough to see his gram
daughter become the happy wife
the man whom she had saved at I'll
risk of her own life.
copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure Newsp
per Syndicate)