Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-01
CON TR ALB AND
A Romance of the North Atlantic
By RANDALL PARRISH

There was nothing more to be done the
boat rode steady, and one man could easily
keep her clear of water
The others disposed themselves as best
they might, occasionally exchanging a word
or two, but mostly staring about at the ex-
panse OF sea, Leayord hung on to the
tller, while held to Neras hand, and we
spoke in low voices for each other alone.
1T is wonderful" whispered, how
you stand all this hardship; your eyes are
tired, but it has not otherwise marked
your face"
Il am glad. It is because you are with
me- | cannot tell you how I suffered while
you remained on board that ship. I cried
out for you; could not help IT,"
And it was your voice which saved me-"
l answered sobery. THE sound of IL
brought me to myself never had so
strange an experience. The horror of that
sight suddenly revealed in smoke and flame I:
my inability to aid Mccain seemed to COM
petely paralyze every faculty. I had the
feeling Of a dead man; | could not move
hand or foot. Perhaps a bird feels that
way in the snare Of a snake. II was your
cry-your word 'Robert--which restored
me to life and sent me hurting over the
ran You saved my life as much as
though you had reached out and grasped
me-"
oh, Lam so glad all the love Of my
heart was in that cry"
What a mistake we made when we
chose this voyage I said regretfuly. TT
mas brought only hardship and peril"
Il do not regret" and her ewes Razad
frankly into mine. Truly do not There
was no other way for US to know and love
kobert' II this was the end, I should be Glad
OF my choice l would rather go down here
in these waters clasped in your arms. than
10 De compelled TO live on in the world with
out you"
MY sweetheart; but will not irnaeino
such fate. We have struggled on through
too much to have the end come I'm tbis
desolate ocean We must win-the New-
toundlahd coast is not so far away, and
love me?"
with all my heart"
Together we will have faith in Cod"
do not know how long we talked in such
sweet intimacy as we had never known be-
| fore. ! must have been weak 7 tbirl Co..
the wound / had received, and the loss ~
blood for, in spite of every effort feIt
an uncomfortable drowsiness, NV head
dropping forward. She was quick 70 Notice
this, urging me to rest against her shoulder
| but | refused
Then ! will make you sleep" she said
| quietly. "Oh. yes ] will, for the afetv NJ
us all may depend on your wakefylnees
| tonight. Lie down here with vour beaJ
| in my lap Robert I insist Won ,,,st
Please do; oh, thank you. Now don't trv
| to talk-JuSt Sleep
Her hand softly stroked my tempIes ber
| shoulders shielding me from the sun her
| sweet face bending over me: her ewes
smiling confidently into mine, nv own gre,,,
misty, and ! finally lost consciousness even
| of her presence.
She told me later that lay there motion.
| less for two hours so still so softly breath
| ing, as 10 almost frighten her Twice she
leaned close TO assure herself that ala
| actually breathe, and her fingers felt for tba
beat of pulse at my wrist
II was the coma of sheer exbaust,or
| The bull-ike roar of a startled voic. for-
| ward awoke me. l caught no word orIy
| the sound, but there was a note to il like
| the violence OF blow, / sat up staring
| about the entire scene within the range
| of vision photographng itself upon NV
| brain. The ocean heaved In long green hill
lows crested with foam, the boat rising
| and falling as steadily as a rocking chair
| the sun no longer beat down upon us from
| a cloudless sky, but appeared as a 6erv red
| disk through a cloud of vapor. which swent
| along the surface Of the water obscuring
| the circle of horizon. Liverpool stood erect
In the boats bow, holding himself firm by
| gripping the inverted oar, his free han
followed TO make a trumpet of his voice
| Every other face was turned forward vet
for an instant the tapping shirts impro-
vised for sails, prevented my seeing the
cause Of excitement. Then Leayord with
an oath, jammed down his helm and the
dinghy swept TO port, mounting a wave
crest like bird in flight, and there burst
out directly ahead the sharp prov of a two
masted schooner, bearing straight down
toward US, sailing before the wind
CONTINUED TOMORROW
| ,.Tbe GrisszIy King" By James OIIv.r r.