The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-20
Adrift
The Story Of a
Castaway
By CLARISSA MAcKE


New York harbor. On the shores OF
the two rivers that flow east and west
of Manhattan Island and the great bay
south Of it yachts were being over
hauled, their engines oiled, their sails
repaired, their furniture uncovered
Indeed, everything was being done to
prepare them for commission.
From the dock Of yacht club In the
East river a party was pulled In a
dinghy to q trim auxiliary craft anchor
ed a short distance out In the river.
II had already been prepared for a
lengthy trip. They were DIR. ana Mrs
Mortimer and their daughter. Evelyn,
a girl Of eighteen. Frederic Doerr.
engaged to Evelyn. went out with the
others to the yacht, but after going
down the companionway, ostensibly to
inspect the cabin. but really to bid
each other q fond goodby, the young
couple returned to the deck, and Doerr
was pulled ashore. There be fingered
while the anchor OF the yacht was got
ND and began to steam down the river.
Then, with a last wave, which was re-
turned by his young fiancee, he turned
away.
DR.. Mortimer and his family were
bent on a cruise in southern waters.
It was late In the season for a land
trip to the south, but not on the ocean,
and it was their intention to visit
Cuba, the Panama canal and other OBJ
1ects Of interest, remaining ashore
only day or two at time.
They had reached point of the coast
Of Florida and were steaming 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 it 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 fol
him, suffered her father to get together
articles for a raft, and when he hat
bound them together and dashed her Il
It he launched her upon the deep.
This was unfortunate. The waite
did not gain in the yacht as rapidly al
had been expected, and when dawl
came and the fog cleared away Their
was steamer on the port bow not
mile away. Assistance was immediate
ly afforded, and the pumps were man
ned. Before the day ended the zach
was in condition to pursue Its journe.
and arrived safely at Cuban port.
y
The sun shone down on the stretcl
Of white beach on the fringe Of palm
bending In the soft south wind.
Blake worthing at the wheel of hi
motorboat idled in these pleasant Flol
ida waters, wondering II it was time t
return to his cottage on the beach an
waiting for his mothers signal tina
luncheon was ready.
Something strange came bobbing owe
the waters toward him. In the distanc
it looked like a gray island. Later
resolved into various articles of shi
with human being dashed upon it.
AS soon as Blake made this disco'
cry he turned the motorboat about an
met the approaching raft.
When he had made it fast to h
own craft he gently touched the sc
soaked bundle of humanity and di
covered 1t to be a girl-a girl SO pa
and lifeless that he believed her to |
dead.
His mother met him at the little pit
and took the bundle from his arm
She was tall, majestic woman. stror
and vigorous and young.
''where did you find her. Blake
asked Mrs. Worthing
Blake told her in a few words.
'Tm going over to Barnacle after Il
doctor-do the best you can for he
mother" said Blake, as he changed b
wet clothing and hurried on up Il
beach.
Mrs. Worthing put the castaway in
her little spare room under the CT
tage roof, and with the help of Mand
the maid. she endeavored to bring co
seriousness to the girl.
But In vain. 1t was not until aft
the physician had arrived and work
over her for another hour that at Ia
the girl opened pair of forgetmen
blue eyes and smiled family at {
anxious face bent above her. Tn
she went to sleep.
she did not awake until mornir
and Mrs. Worthing discovered th
while she remembered many thin
about the dreadful wreck of vesi
bound for South America, she COT
not piece together her past life
identity herself completely.
my name" she said slowly,
Evelyn Ames-my father is DR.. An
and we were taking vacation
ther-oh, my poor fatherP Then
broke down and cried because
could only guess her fathers fate.
could not even remember where
had lived, and although Mrs. Worth
and her son labored patiently to brig
en- the dulled memory their etc
were in vain.
'sPiease don't bother about me.
cannot remember" she would
YEARLY.