The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-06-30
Adrift
The Story of a
Castaway
By CLARISSA MACKIE
By CLARISSA MACKIE

the two rivers that flow east and ives
Of Manhattan Island and the great ba.
south of 1t yachts were being over
hauled. their engines oiled, their sails
repaired, their furniture uncovered
Indeed, everything was being done Il
| prepare them for commission.
| From the dock OF yacht club In the
East river n party was pulled In 0
dinghy to trim auxiliary craft anchor
| ed n short distance out In the river
1t had already been prepared for O
| lengthy trip. They were DR.. and Mrs
Mortimer and their daughter Evelyn
n girl Of eighteen. Frederic Doerr
engaged TO Evelyn. went out with the
others to the yacht. but after going
| down the companiOnway, ostensibly tC
inspect the cabin. but really to bid
| each other fond goodby. the young
| couple returned to the deck. and Doerl
| was pulled ashore There he fingered
while the anchor Of the yacht was got
| up and began to steam down the river
Then. with a last wave. which was re-
turned by his young iiancee. he turned
away.
Dr. Mortimer and his family were
bent on cruise In souther waters
1t was late In the season for a land
trip TO the south but not on the ocean,
and 1t was their intention to visit
Cuba. the Panama canal and other OBJ
jects Of interest. remaining ashore
on1y a In or two Of n tirpo
They had reached point off the coast
OF Florida and were stcaming along at
midnight in fog when there came a
crash. Those in their berths below
arose. dressed hastily and went on
deck. Down in the hold the water was
coming through hole. DR.. Mortimer
examined II and. believing that the
yacht would surely sink. went on deck
again and told his wife and daugh.
ter that they had better prepare for
such result. Mrs. Mortimer preferred
to die aboard the yacht rather than
commit herself to the black waters, but
Evelyn. remembering her lover and
that It was her duty to try TO live for
him, suffered her father to get together
articles for a raft. and when he had
bound them together and dashed her TO
it he launched her upon the deep.
This was unfortunate. The water
did not gain In the yacht rs rapidly as
had been expected. and when dawn
came and the fog cleared away there
was a steamer on the port bow not a
mile away. Assistance was Immediate
ly afforded. and the pumps were man
ned. Before the day ended the yacht
was in condition to pursue Its journey
and arrived safely ut n Cuban port.
The sun shone down on the stretch
of white beach on the fringe Of palms
bending in the soft south wind.
Blake Worthing ut the wheel Of his
motorboat idled in these pleasant Flor.
ida waters. wondering If it was time to
return to his cottage on the beach and
waiting for his mothers signal that
luncheon was ready.
Something strange came bobbing over
the waters toward him. In the distance
It looked like a gray island. Later 1t
resolved into various articles of ship
with human being dashed upon it.
AS soon as Blake made this discov-
cry he turned the motorboat about and
met the approaching raft.
When he had made 1t fast to his
own craft he gently touched the sea
soaked bundle Of humanity and dis
covered 1t to be girl-a girl so pale
and lifeless that he believed her to be
dead.
His mother met him at the little pier
and took the bundle from his arms.
She was tall, majestic woman, strong
and vigorous and young.
'Where did you find her. BlakeT
asked Mrs. Worthing
Blake told her in few words.
I'm going over to Barnacle after the
doctor-do the best you can for her,
mother" said Blake, as he changed his
vet clothing and hurried off up the
beach.
Mrs. Worthing put the castaway into
her little spare room under the cot
tage roof. and with the help of Mandy.
the maid she endeavored to bring con.
seriousness to the girl.
But in vain. 1t was mot until after
the physician had arrived and worked
over her for another hour that mt last
the girl opened pair of forgetmenot
blue. eyes and smiled family at the
anxious face bent above her. Then
she went To Sleep
She did not awake until morning.
and Mrs. Worthing discovered taat
while she remembered many things
about the dreadful wreck of vessel
bound for South America, she could
not piece together her past life or
identify herself completely.
MY name," she said slowly, sis
Evelyn Ames-my father is DR.. Ames
and we were taking vacation-fa-
ther-oh. my poor father!' Then she
broke down and cried because she
could only guess her fathers fate. She
could not even remember where she
had lived, and although Mrs. Worthing
and her son labored patiently to bright
Ell the dulled memory their efforts
were I'm vain.
please don't bother about me.
cannot remember" she would cry
weasily.