Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-05-13
BLOOMINGTON

agine."
"That is really very nice of Vent
nor" thought the shipowner. 1.-The
last thing / should credit him with
would be forgiving disposition"
Meanwhile Anstruther was reading
Iris a little lecture.
"Sweet one" he explained to her,
"do not allude to me by my former
rank. I am not entitled to it. Some
day. please God, it will be restored to
me. At present I am plain civilian.
'I think YOU very handsome.
Don't tease, there's a good girl. 1t
is not fair with all these people look
ing"
"But really, Robert, only since you
scraped off the upper crust nave Deen
able to recognize you again. remem-
Der now that l thought you were d :.
most distinguished looking steward.
"Wen, am helpless. 1 cannot even
squeeze you. By the way, Iris, during
the next few days say nothing ABOUT
our mine"
ooh, why not?" -,
Gust a personal whim. IL VIII
please me-" NJ
woman's love could never be his the
isfied."
He pressed her arm by way OF an
swer. They were too near to the walt
ing trio for further comment.
"Captain F'itzroy," cried Iris, let
me introduce Mr. Anstruther to you.
Lord Ventnor, you have met MI. An
struther before"
The sailor shook hands. Lord Vent
nor smiled affably.
"Your enforced residence on the
island seems to have agreed WIN you'
he said.
admirably. Life here had its draw
backs, but we fought our enemies III
the open. Didn't we, Iris? ?"
Yes. dear. The poor Dyaks were moi
sufficiently modernized to attack US
with false testimony
His lordship's sallow face Wrlnkleo
somewhat. So Iris knew of the court
martial, nor was she AFRAID 10 pro-
claim to all the world that this man
was her lover. AS for Captain Fltzroy'
his bushy eyebrows disappeared into
his peaked cap when he hearo the
manner of their speech.
Nevertheless Ventnor smiled AGAIN
even the Dyaks respected MISS
! Deane," he SAID.
But Anstruther, sorry for the mani
fest uneasiness of the shipoWner, re-
messed the retort on his lips, and
| Forthwith suggested that they should
walk to the north beach in the hrst
| instance. that being the scene OF the
wreck.
During the next hour he became au-
| ditor rather than narrator. 1t was Iris
who told of his wild fight against vino
and waves, Iris who showed them
where he fought with the deVll-hsh
Iris who expiated on the long days OF
ceaseless toll. his dauntless courage
in the face of every difficulty, the way
in which he rescued her from the
clutch of the savages, the skill OF his
preparations against the anticipated
attack. and the last great achievement
of all. when, time after time, he folleo
the Dyaks' best-laid plans, and nune
them off, crippled and disheartened
during the many phases of the thirty
hours battle.
| She had an attentive audience. MOST
of the Orient's officers quietly came w
and followed the girls glowing re-
cital with breathless interest. ROBERT
yainlv endeavored more than once to
lIaueh away her thrilling eulogy. But
she would have none of it. Her heart
was in her words He deserved TINS
tribute of praise, unstinted, unmeas-
ured. abundant in it's simple truth
vet sounding like a legend spun by
some romantic poet, were not the grim
evidences of its accuracy visible Oh
every hand.
| ala ca
| in fact, so subtle in her clever delln-
cations of humorous or tragic events,
that her father was astounded, ana
even Anstruther silently admitted that
man might live until he equaIed the
wears of a Biblical patriarch without
discovering all the resources OF a Wo-
man.
There were tears in her eyes when
she ended; but they were tears OF
thankful happiness, and Lord Ventnor
silent listener who missed neither
word nor look, felt a deeper chill IN
his cold heart as he realized that this
womans love could never be his. The
knowledge excited his passion all the
more. His hatred of Anstruther now
became a mania, an insensate resolve
to mortally stab this meddler who al
| ways stood in his path.
Robert hoped that his present or
deal was over. 1t had only begun. He
was called on to answer questions
without number. Why had the tunnel
been made? What was the mystery OF
the Valley of Death? How did he man
age to- guess the dimensions of the
sun-dial? How came he to acquire
such an amazing stock of out-of-the-
way knowledge of the edible proper
ties of roots and trees? How? Why?
Where? When? They never would be
satisfied, for not even the British
navy-poking its nose into the recess
ses of the world-often comes across
such an amazing story of the adven-
lures of this couple on Rainbow
Island
He readily explained the creation OF
quarry and cave by telling them on
the vein of antimony embedded in the