Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-05-06

her father. and the happy, inconse-
quent demands with which each sought
to ascertain and relieve the extent of
the others anxiety.
Then Iris called him
Robert. l want you"
The use of his Christian name ere
ated something akin to a sensation.
Sir Arthur Deane was startled, even
in his Unreasonable delight at find
ing his child uninjured-thep picture of
rude health and happiness
Anstruther advanced.
'This is my father" she cried, shrill
with JOY "And, father darling, this is
CAPTAIN Robert Anstruther, to whom
alone, under Gods will, l owe my life,
many, many times since the moment
the Sirdar was lost"
1t was no time for questioning. Sir
Arthur Deane took off his hat and held
out his hand
Captain Anstruther," he said, 'as
l owe you my daughters life. l owe
you that which I can never repay. And
I owe you my life, too, for | could
not have survived the knowledge that
she was dead"
Robert took the proffered hand
81 think, Sir Arthur, that, of the
two, | am the more deeply indebted.
There are some privileges whose value
cannot be measured, and among them
the privilege of restoring your daugh-
ter to your arms takes the highest
place
Then, being much more self-pos-
sessed than the older man, who was
naturally in state of agitation that
was almost painful, he turned to Iris.
81 think" he said, that your father
should take you on board the Orient,
Iris. There you may, perhaps, find
some suitable clothing, eat something,
and recover from the exciting events
of the morning. Afterwards, you must
bring Sir Arthur ashore again, and
we will guide him over the island.
am sure you will find much to tell
him meanwhile"
The baronet could not fail to note
the manner in which these two ad-
dressed each other, the fearless love
which leaped from eye to eye, the
calm acceptance of relationship not
to be questioned or gainsaid. Robert
and Iris, without spoken word on the
subject, had tactily agreed to avoid
the slightest semblance of Subterfuge
as unworthy alike of their achieve
ments and their love. Yet what could
Sir Arthur Deane do? To frame a
suitable protest at such a moment was
not to be dreamed OF. As yet he was
too shaken to collect his thoughts.
Anstruther's proposal, however, helped
him to blurt out what he intult1Vely
felt to be a disagreeable fact. Yet
something must be said, for his brain
reeled.
your suggestion is admirable" he
cried. striving desperately to affect
careless complaisance. THE SHIPS
stores may provide Iris with some sort
of rig-out. and an old friend of hers
is on board at this moment, little eX-
pecting her presence. Lord Ventnor
has accompanied me in my search He
will. of course, be delighted--
Anstruther flushed deep bronze,
but Iris broke in
Father, why did he come with you?
Sir Artheur, driven into this sud
den squall of explanation, became dlg-
nified.
well. you see, my dear, under the
circumstances, he felt an anxiety al
most commensurate Will lily o"h'
but why, why?'
Iris was quite calm. With Robert
near, she was courageous. Even the
perturbed baronet experienced a new
sensation as his troubled glance fell
before her searching eyes. His daugh-
ter had left him joyous, needless
girl. He found her a woman, strong,
self-reliant, purposeful. Yet ne kept
on. choosing the most Stra12htIor-
ward means as the only honorable way
of clearing a course to beSet Win I'M
suspected obstacles.
'It is only reasonable, Iris, that
YOUR affianced husband should SuHef
an agony of apprehension on your ac-
count. and do all that was possible TO
affect your rescue.
affianced-husband?
"Well. my dear girl, perhaps that is
hardly the correct phrase from your
point of view. Yet you cannot fail to
remember that Lord Ventnor-
"Father. dear" said Iris solemnly,
Int in a voice free from all uncertain
tv. my affianced husband stands
herei We plighted our troth at the
very gate of death. 1t was ratified IN
the presence of God, and has been
blessed by Him. l have made no COM
pact with Lord Ventnor. He is base
and unworthy man. Did you but know
the truth concerning him you would
not mention his name in the same
breath with mine Would he Robert?
Never was man so perplexed as the
unfortunate ship-owner. In the in
slant that his beloved daughter was
restored to him out of the very depths
of the sea, he was asked either to
undertake the role of disappointed
and unforgiving parent, or sanction
her marriage to truculent-looking
person of most forbidding if otherwise
manly appearance, who had certainly
saved her from death in ways not
presently clear to him, but who could
not be regarded as a suitable son-in-
law solely on that account.
What could he do, what could he
N<H RWUw 7Is5h