Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-02

ht NApuknt ne was the victim OF cruel
hallucination when triss tremulous accents
reached his ears
Father, tatherl Don't you know me?'
lie stood up. amazed and trembling
res, father dear IL Is ], your own
little girl given back to YOU Oh dearl Oh
dear! l cannot see you for my tears"
They had some difficulty to keep him In
the boat and the man pulling stroke
smashed stout oar with the next wrench.
And 80 they met at last, and the sailors
lett Them alone, to crowd round Anstruther
ana ply him with a hundred questions Al.
though he fell In with their humor, and
gradually poced together the stirring story
which was supplemented each instant by
the arrival of disconsolate Dyaks and the
comments OF the men who returned from
cave and beach, his soul was filled with the
sight of Iris and her father. and the happy
inconsequcnt demands with which each
sought TO ascertain and relieve the extent
OF the others anxiety.
Then Iris called to him
Robert, want you"
The use of his Christian name created
something akin to "A sensation. Sir. Arthur
Deaue was startled even In his immeasura.
BILE delight at finding his child uninjured-
the picture Of rude health and happiness.
Austruther advanced.
This Is my father" she cried. shrill with
JOY, And father darling. this Is Captain
Robert Anstruther. to whom alone, under
Gods will, l owe my life many, many
times since the moment the Sirdar was
lost"
II was no time for questioning. Sir
Arthur Deane took OF his hat and held out
his hand
Captain Anstruther" he said, "as I owe
you my daughters life, l owe you that
which l can never repay And owe you
my own life, too, for l could not have
survived the knowledge that she was dead"
Robert took the proffered hand
81 think. Sir Arthur, that of the two,
am the more deeply indebted. There are
some privileges whose value cannot be
measured, and among them the privilege OF
restoring your daughter to your arms takes
the highest place"
Then, being much more self-possessed
than the older man, who was naturally In a
state OF agitation that was almost painful,
he turned to Iris
"I think" he said that your father
should take you on board the Orient Iris
There you may. perhaps. find some suitable
clothing, eat something and recover from
the exciting events OF the morning. After
ward you must bring Sir Arthur ashore
again and we will guide him over the island
| am sure you will find much to tell him
meanwhile"
The baronet could not fail to note the
manner In which these two addressed each
eye to eye. the calm acceptance of rela =
tionship not be questioned or gainsaid
Robert and Iris, without spoken word on
the subject, had tactily agreed to avoid the
slightest semblance of subterfuge as un-
worthy alike of their achievements and their
love. Yet what could Sir Arthur Deane do ?
To frame suitable protest at such a
moment was not to be dreamed of AS
yet he was too shaken to collect his
thoughts. Anstruther's proposal. however.
helped him to blurt out what he intuitively
felt 20 be disagreeable fact Yet some
thing must be said, for his brain reeled,
Your suggestion Is admirable" he cried
striving desperately 10 affect a careless COM
plaisance The ships stores may provide
Iris with some sort of rig-out, and an old
friend of hers is on board at this moment
little expecting her presence Lord Ventnor
mas accompanied me In my search. He Will,
OF course be delighted--"
Anstruther flushed a deep bronze hut
Iris broke in-
Father. why did he come with your"
Sir Arthur, driven into this sudden soualI
OF explanation, became dignihed
Well you see, my dear. under the cir
cumstances, he felt an anxiety almost com
mensurate with my own"
But why why?'
Iris was quite calm. with Robert MAN.
she was courageous. Even the perturbed
baronet experienced a new sensation as
his troubled glance fell before her searching
eyes. Ills daughter had left him a tovous
needless girl. He found her a Yoman
strong, self-reliant. purposeful Yet he Kent
on, choosing the most straightforward I'd
means as the only honorable way of clear
ing course so beset with unsuspected
obstacles.
1T is only reasonable. Iris. that vo,r
affanced husband should suffer an aSon,,
OF apprehension on your account. and 40 ali
that was possible to effect your rescue % WI
-afiianced-husband?
Well. my dear girl. perhaps that ia hard
ly the correct phrase from your point of
view. Yet you cannot fail 10 remenhor
that Lord Ventnor-"
Father, dear" said Iris solemnIy. bur I'm
voice free from all uncertainty. 'mv AZ.
hanced husband stands here We nlJgh,ad
our troth at the very gate of death n
was ratified In the presence Of God and ha
Deen blessed by Him have made no com
pact with Lord Ventnor. He is a base ana
unworthy man. Did you but know the tr,,sh
concerning him you would not mention hIs
name In the same breath with mine. WonId
he. Robert?"
Never was man so perplexed as the nm.
fortunate shipowner In the instant that
his beloved daughter was restored 10 him
out of the very depths of the sea he was
asked either TO undertake the role OF a dIs
appointed and unforgiving parent or sane.
tion her marriage to "a truculent-lookInQ
person OF most forbidding II otherwise
manly appearance, who had certainly saved
her from death In ways not presently clear
TO him. but who could not be regarded as a
suitable son-in-law solely on that account
What could he do, what could he say TO
make the position less intolerable?
Anstruther. quicker than Iris TO apprecl.
ate Sir Arthur Deane's dilemma. CALAMITY
helped him. He placed a loving hand on
the girls shoulder.
BE advised by me. Sir Arthur, and you
too Miss Iris" he said. "This is no hour
for such explanations. Leave me 10 deal
with Lord Nentnor. i am content to trust
the ultimate verdict 10 you, Sir Arthur
You will learn in due course all that has
happened Go on board. Iris. Meet Lord
Nentnor as you would meet any other
friend. You will not marry him, / know
can trust you" He said this with a smile
that robbed the words or serious purport
believe me, you two can find plenty TO
occupy your minds today without troubling
yourselves about Lord Ventnor"
Il am very much Obliged TO YOU" muir
INJURED the baronet who, Notwithstanding
his worry, was far too experienced a man
OF the world not TO acknowledge the good
sense OF this advice. no matter now rufiianly
might be the guise OF the strange person
who gave II.
That Is settled, then" said Robert laugh.