The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-06-16

For several days after that there
was bad weather, and many Of the pas
sengers were compelled to re0ain In
their staterooms. Among these latter
were Mrs. Howard and Hal Denison.
who declared himself a fair weather
sailor.
| But Daisy Howard and Ben Pear
son braved the inclemency Of the
weather and the rain swept decks. and
each day found them pacing to and
fro, discussing a thousand and one
topics, but usually swinging back to
that most interesting one. absorbing
alike to the young man and the girl.
the heroic adventures Of Mr.. Benjamin
| Pearson.
| There came q day when the party
landed at the island Of Capri to visit
the famous grottoes. Somehow Ben
Pearson had attached himself to Mrs.
,, Towards party, and it had become
customary now for Ben to escort Daisy
Howard on these excursions. While
Mrs. Howard and Hal Denison follow
ed In the rear.
Pearson had visited the island the
previous year. and he had much to re-
late of an adventure that befell the
party Of which he was member. lie
told the story modestly enough. but 1t
had the invariable ending. A child
had fallen from one of the rocks into
q deep, silent pool He, Pearson, had
plunged into the icy depths and restor-
ed the child to its mothers arms.
This is the very spot" said Pearson.
pointing before him.
Daisy looked. She glimpsed the
dark blue water, still and icy. A glance
over her shoulder showed that the 9th
err members of the party had gone on
to another grotto. Only her mother
and Hal Denison were near. Daisy
turned her head toward Pearson, and
her lips parted in dazzling smile.
At that moment her foot slipped, and
with little cry Of terror she caught
herself, stumbled and then plunged
down into the icy pool.
AS she disappeared Ben Pearson
rushed frantically up and down the
brink of the pool and reared for help.
Mrs. Howard swooned away, and
Hal Denison, tossing aside hat and
coat, poised on the edge Of the pool and
then Owed down. When he came up
he brought the girl with him, dripping
wet and shivering with cold. but quite
conscious.
Halls face was white and stern as
he disdained Parsons hastily offered
assistance. and somehow he scrambled
UPON the rocks and bore Daisy to
safety.
His shouts brought the guide and
other members Of the party. and. hav-
ing administered rsstoratives and bor-
rowed a steamer rug from rheumatic
old gentleman, he wrapped Daisy in II
and, lifting her easily in his arms. bore
her to fisherman's hut on the shore.
, Mrs. Howard. having been restored
to consciousness. followed on the arm
Of one of the men, and soon she was
assisting her daughter to dry her gar
ments before roaring fire in the fish
ermans cottage.
Daisy was very pale and silent, and
; Hal Denison was equally reticent
| Mrs. Howard. noticing that Hal was
dripping wet and shivering with cold
insisted that they return to the tourist
steamer at once, so that the young
man might be put under the care Of the
ships doctor. AS for Daisy, she ap
. peared in her normal health when she
was arrayed in the picturesque gala
J attire of the tisherman's daughter. AS
, for Marta. the slim. dark eyed girl, she
, wept with delight over the gold pieces
? which Mrs. Howard had given her il
J exchange for the garments and de
clared that they would buy her wed
ding clothes.
Once on board the Celeste. Mrs. How
ard placed Hal in the care of the doc
[ tor and was relieved that he woul(
. suffer no more than a severe cold as /
: consequence of his heroic deed.
AS for Mr.. Ben Pearson, he had quite
5 disappeared from the view of the How
l ard party, and it was several days aft
!, crward that Mrs Howard espied hin
4 gloomily patrolling the deck alone.
: Daisy was below in the library. read
: ing to Hal Denison.
: Presently Ben Pearson approached
8 Mrs Howard with unusual difiidenc,
Y In his manner.
II beg your pardon, Mrs. Howard,
Y he said quite humbly, but ! would
e like to make an explanation"
n Yes" asked Mrs. Howard coolly.
:. About the other day at the grotto."
Il "Indeed:"
6 Il suppose you We're quite surprise,
that | did not jump in and rescue Mis-
8 Howard at once. You may have oh
Il served that I'm hard hit with Mis-
Daisy. l think there's no one like her
n and I'd like TO believe that she owe,
e her life to me. But He reddene,
y uncomfortably and looked over tn
a side at the swiftly rushing water.
But" prompted Mrs. Howar
kindly