Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-06-05

time"
They talked long time that after
noon of many things. She told MN OF
her life in Vermont, Of how long she
had wanted TO go TO China, of how
happy she had been TO be sent.
"Suppose we get shipwrecked ana
go down before we reach China; what
then?"
She was silent a moment, but pres
emily she smiled.
ITS all light-all light and joy on
the other side and one-one would be
there in a moment"
"For you--yes," he murmured, put
I've been a drifter-Tm afraid for me
it would be going out in the dark
For a long time after he left her
Jean sat thinking. He was so gentle.
so lovable, SO good to look upon, ana
he only thought Of her as somebody
10 pass friendly words With That was
three days ago, and in those three
DAYS Lansing Webster had become the
day. the sun, the blue of the sky, to
Jean. She had gone to sleep each
night with wet cheeks, because they
were one day nearer land. Once they
reached harbor she knew she should
never see him again. And now the
Aurelia would never reach harbor
Presently Jean saw him, his head
bare, carrying some bits of children
to the boats. Behind him came Bow
man with little Billy, and the nurse
followed, carrying the baby girl, clad
only in her little nightgown. Jean
drew off her sweater and hood and
wrapped her in IT, man, seeing her,
threw her a raincoat he carried, and
another handed her a cap.
No men were allowed in the boats
with the women, but some members of
the crew, who could row them prop
erly. The young farmer handed his
boy to the black nurse.
Eliza" he babe her, hoarsely If
/ don't come take them to their Aunt
Eleanor
Quite suddenly the lights went out
The water was over the lighting
plant and only the few lanterns the
crew had lighted and the pale light of
the moon illuminated the deck,
As the last boatload of women filed
Jean shrank back in the shadows in
her mans garb. She would wait
wait
There were two boats left. Each
would hold thirty, and there were q
hundred men The boats were full
when one of the crew touched Bow
mans shoulder. Quick, sir-a man
OF last boat just missed you-want
you to take his place"
I'm with you, Bowmanl" 1t was
Webster's voice. You were getting
yourself left, man.
Before Bowman could utter a pro
test two sailors took hold of him and
swung him IN.
God keep YOU, Lansing" he cried
brokenly as the boat swung to the wa
ter.
Webster turned away from the rail
and the light fell ON his face. To
Jean he was more beautiful than any
human creature she had ever before
seen! Then he stepped back-his
hand fell against hers and her leg
fingers slipped in his
Good God-you here, Jeanp he
cried out. 81 thought you went with
the women"
She looked up in his white, distress
ed face
81 waited for you" she whispered;
81 could not leave you to go in the
dark alonel"
For ar instant his eyes were incret
ulous as though he could not believs
he had heard Alright. then he drew hes
into his arms and laid his cheek, wei
with spray, on hers.
THE boat win stay up perhaps a
half hour longer he told her; "let uf
sit down and talk"
He got a bit of rope and tied hei
loosely TO him. "weH cling togeth
err" he smiled into her upturned face
that was strangely joyous, unto the
last-but I'm good swlmmer-maybs
there'll be something TO hold us up
afterward !"
Then they sat still--waiting-
ing one another's hands.
IF I could have lived" he whis
pered over and over, as If life were
already over for them both, "Id have
quit driftng-Td have made you
happy
Then there rose up great cry from
the crew and the men who had been
looking death in the face The little
steamer that was to save them all
was bearing own'upon them