Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-01-21
CHAPTER v
IRIS TO THE RESCUE

IRIS TO THE RESCUE
Before mine eyes in opposition sits
Grim DEATH" Milton.
He awoke to find the sun high in the
heavens. Iris was preparing break
fast; a fine fire was cracking cheer
fully, and the presiding goddess had
so altered her appearance that the
sailor surveyed her with astonish-
ment.
He noiselessly assumed sitting
posture, tucked his feet beneath him,
and blinked. The girls face was not
visible from where he sat, and for a
few seconds he thought he must sure
ly be dreaming She was attired in a
neat navy-blue dress and smart
blouse Her white canvas shoes were
replaced by strong leather boots. She
was quite spick and span, this island
Hebe.
So soundly had he slept that his
senses returned but slowly. At last
he guessed what had happened. She
had risen with the dawn, and, con-
quering her natural feeling of repul-
sion, selected from the store he ac-
cumulated yesterday some more suit
able garments than those in which she
escaped from the wreck.
He quietly took stock of his own
tattered condition, and passed a re-
Elective hand over the stubble on his
chin. In a few days his face would re-
semble a scrubbing- brush. In that
mournful moment he would have ex-
changed even his pipe and tobacco
box-worth untold gold-for shaving
tackle. Who can say why his thoughts
took such trend? Twenty-four hours
can effect great changes in the hui
man mind if controlling influences are
active.
Then came a sharp revulsion of feel
ing. His name was Roberta mental.
He reached for his boots, and Iris
heard him.
Good morning" she cried, sweetly.
ST thought you would never awake. /
suppose you we're very, very tired.
You were lying so still that l ventured
to peep at you long time ago"
"Thus might Titania peep at an
OGRE" he said.
"You didn't look a bit like an ogre.
You never do. You only try to talk
like one-sometimes."
81 claim a truce until after break
fast If my rough compliment offends
you, let me depend upon a more
gentle tongue than my own
Her Angels face
AS the great eye of heaven, shyned bright
And made a sunshine in the shady place.
Those lines are surely appropriate
They come from the Faerie Queene."
"They are very nice, but please
wash quickly. The eggs will be hard"
'Eggs!"
Eyes; I made a collection among
the trees. tasted one of lot that
looked good. 1t was first-rate."
He had not the moral courage to
begin the day with rebuke. She was
irrepressible, but she really must not
do these things. He smothered a sigh
in the improvised basin which was
placed ready for him.
Miss Deane had prepared a capital
meal. OF course the ham and biscuits
still bulked large in the bill of fare,
but there were boiled eggs, fried
bananas and an elderly cocoanut.
These things, supplemented by clear
cold water, were not so bad for
couple of castGways, hundreds of
miles from everywhere.
For the life of the man he could not
refrain from displaying the conversa-
tional art in which he excelled. Their
talk dealt with Italy, Egypt, India. He
spoke with the ease of culture and
enthusiasm. Once he slipped into an
ecdote a propos of the helplessness of
British soldiers in any matter outside
the scope of the Kings Regulations.
Il remember" he said, seeing a
cavalry subaltern and the members of
an escort sitting, half starved, on a
number of bags piled up in the Suakin
desert. And what do you think were
in the bags?'
81 don't know" said Iris, keenly
alert for deductions
Biscuits! They thought the bags
contained patent fodder until / en-
lightened them"
1t was on the tip of her tongue to
pounce on him with the comment:
"Then you have been an officer in
the army" But she forbore. She had
guessed this earlier Yet the mis-
chievous light in her eyes defied con-
troll. He was warned in time and
pulled himself up short.
you read my face like book" she
cried, with a delightful little moue.
mo printed page was ever so-legi-
BILE"
He was going to say fascinating"
but checked the impulse. He went on
with brisk affectation-
Nov, Miss Deane. we have COS
siped too long, I am laggard this
morning; but before starting work, I
have few serious remarks to make"
More digs?" she inquired saucily.
Il repudiate digs In the first place,
you must not make any more expert
ments in the matter of food. The eggs
were wonderful effort, but, fattered
by success, you may poison yourself.
"Secondly?"
You must never pass out of my
sight without carrying a revolver, not
so much for defence, but as a signal
Did you take one when you went
bird 's-nestlng?"
NO. Why?"
There was a troubled look in his
eyes when he answered
ut is best to tell you at once that
before help reaches us we may be Wis
tied by cruel and blood-thirsty saw
ages. would not even mention this