Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-12-31

strained the impulse. Something had
hardened this man. 1t cost him an eff
fort to be callous, but he succeeded.
His mouth frightened and his express
sion lost its tenderness.
Come, come, my dear lady" he ex-
claimed, and there was a tinge of
studied roughness in his voice, you
must calm yourself. 1t is the fortune
of shipwreck as well as of war, you
know. We are alive and must look at
ter ourselves. Those who have gone
are beyond our help"
"But not beyond our sympathy"
walled Iris, uncovering her swimming
! eyes for a fieeting look at him. Even
in the utter desolation of the moment
she could not help marveling that this
aueer-mannered sailor, who spoke like
a gentleman and tried to pose as her
inferior, who had rescued her with the
utmost gallantry, who carried his
Quixotic zeal to the point of first sup
plying her needs when he was in far
worse case himself, should be so ut
terly Indifferent to the fate of others.
He waited silently until her sobs
ceased.
"Now, madam he said, "it is essen
tiaI that we should obtain some food.
I don't wish to leave you alone until
we are better acquainted with our
whereabouts. Can you walk little
way towards the trees, or shall I as
sist your
Iris Immediately stood up. She
pressed her hair back defiantly
Certainly / can walk" she an
swered. what do you propose to do?
"Well madam
"What is your name" she interrupt
ed imperiously.
"Jenks, madam. Robert jerks
"Thank you. Now, listen, Mr.. Rob-
ert jerks My name is Miss Iris
Deane On board ship I was passen-
ger and you were a steward-that is,
until you became a seaman. Here we
are equals in misfortune, but in all
else you are the leader-I am quite
useless. l can only help in matters by
your direction, so I do not wish to be
addressed as madam in every breath.
Do you understand me?"
Conscious that her large blue eyes
were fixed Indignantly upon him Mr..
Robert jerks depressed smile. She
was still hysterical and must be
humored in her vagaries. What an odd
moment for a discussion on etiquette!
GAS you wish, Miss Deane," he said.
"The fact remains that have many
things to attend to and we really
must eat something"
what can we eat?"
LET us find out" he replied, scan
ming the nearest trees with keen
scrutiny.
They plodded together through the
sand in silence Physically, they were
superb couple, but in raiment they
resembled scarecrows. Both, of course,
were bareheaded The sailors jersey
and trousers were old and torn, and
the sea-water still soughed loudly in
his heavy boots with each step.
But Iris was in a deplorable plight.
Her hair fell in a great wave of golden
brown strands over her neck and
shoulders. Every hairpin had vanished,
with with a few dexterous twists she
coiled the flying tresses into loose
knot. Her beautiful muslin dress was
rent and draggled. 1t was drying rap
idly under the ever-increasing power
of the sun, and she surreptitiously en-
deavored to complete the fastening OF
the open portion about her neck. 9th
err details must be left until d more
favorable opportunity.
She recalled the strange sight that
first met her eyes when she recovered
consciousness.
"You hurt your finger" she SAID
abruptly. "Let me see it."
They ha preached the shelter of the
trees, pleasantly grateful now, so
powerful are tropical sunbeams at eV-
en- an early hour.
al n hi rio without
looking at her. Indeed, his eyes had
been studiously averted during the
past few minutes Her womanly feel
ings were aroused by the condltlon OF
the ragged wound.
"Oh, you poor fellow" she said.
"How awful it must be! How did it
happen? Let me tie it up"
"It is not bad now" he said. ut
has been we'll soaked in salt water,
you know. I think the nail was torn
off when we-when a piece of wreck
age miraculously turned up beneath
u.s."
Iris shredded a strip from her dress
She bound the finger with deft ten
derness.
THANK you,'' he said simply. Then
he gave a glad shout. "By Jove! Miss
is a fine plantain tree"
The pangs of hunger could not be
resisted Although the fruit was hard
ly ripe they tore at the great punches
and ate ravenously Iris made no pre-
tence in the matter, and the sailor
was in worse plight, for he had been
on duty continuously since four o'clock
the previous afternoon.
At last their appetite was somewhat
appeased, though plantains might not
appeal to a gourmand as the solitary
joint.
Now" decided jerks, "you must
rest here little while, Miss Deane. l
am going back to the beach. You need
not be afraid. There are no animals to
harm you, and 1 will not be far
away"
What are you going to do on the
beach?" she demanded.
ITO rescue stores, for the most
part"
''May not come with you'll can
be of some little service, surely?''
He answered slowly: please oblige |
me by remaining here at present. In |
less than an hour I will return, ana |
then, perhaps, you will find plenty to
do"
She read his meaning intuitively ant |
shivered 81 could not do that" she |
murmured. ST would faint. Whilst you |