Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 222, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1911 — ANOTHER GIRL [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER GIRL

By DOROTHY DOUGLAS

(Copyright. Ipxx* by Associated Utanary.Prm—u)

When the & S., Marlon had. pulled out of sight of the crowd on the pier, Jtamy Murphy turned a wholly disinterested glance upon his fellow passengers. For the time being, his position as a newly engaged man, hung heavily on his shoulders. Helen Danvers, his fiancee, hfid been on the pier and as the boat pulled away leaving only the murky water between her and the man of her choice, Helen’s piquant face had found a tearful nest in the bit of lacy cambric which served as a handkerchief. Still, ag the day worsen Jimmy cheered up; It seemed to him that he had never before crossed the briny deep on so wonderfully laden a ship. In companionways, in the library, in the bow of the boat and in the stern he seemed destined to meet fragments from the feminine World and each bit looked prettier than the last For a moment Jim Murphy'felt aggrieved; his allegiance to Helen Danvers shut him off from any shipboard romance — a here-to-fore much enjoyed privilege of the ocean voyage. It was at dinner that the blow came. He was In the act of giving his order to the steward when that Indlvldnal rhshed to the assistance of the girl who had been assigned to the seat next to his own. After one glance at • tier, Murphy realized that, had he beep ■ steward, his actions would 'have ueen the same. t “I am afraid I interrupted- your order.” The girl looked into eyes. The heart of the engaged man quaked. The girl was beautiful. •After you." Murphy’s tone was reserved to the point of uhfrlendlloees. The girl cast a quick glance at him then turned to contemplate the menu, Murphy felt that he had been thrown from her regard muph as she would discard an unpleasing bit Of fabric. It was too much for Jimmie’s knowledge .of .the joy. of living. He-turned to her with a smile that * shone from his heart “Please forgive my seeming rude- , ness,” he said with a full measure of friendliness In his eyes. “I am a trifle peevish—there are the jolllest lot of’ pretty girls on this boat that I have pver crossed witl» and I feel afraid of all of them.” Molly Sherwell laughed and glanced questioningly; at Murphy. 1 "I would- not have selected you as one fearful of feminine wiles.** “But I am engaged.** M °if!*’ It seemed for a second that the very engines stopped their vibrations; then the girl spoke again. “That does' make considerable difference.” She paused while a queer little shadow flitted across her face. "I believe that I, too,, would be afraid to cross the ocean with some jolly /men on board if I owed allegiance to one in particular. Ocean liners seem to be the embodiment of the Old time sorceress—-I feel sure that she at least wields her wpnd over them all.” ’‘The wand Of infatuation—only r* Jimmy Murphy but half expected an answer. “Infatuation is exactly the word.” laughed Molly.- "I have crossed the ocean nine times and on every trip I fell madly In love.” “And the men?** Murphy put the question quickly, eagerly desirous of knowing the outcome. “Three of them wanted me to marry them;'the others were merely the es-. feet of moonlight, the lapping of the waves and leisure hours spent in closely set steamer chairs." - “And you?*’ Again the eager question. • ' "I? Well—as soon as my feet touch the wharf fiftt as heart-free as it I, had never seen a boat” “Oh!" / Jimmy Murphy was silent for so long a time that his companion broke into a soft laugh. “Surely you are not going to have many more such serious and profound moments during this trip?” >' J “I will tell you exactly what I was thinking—if you care to know." Murphy turned so that he met her startled glance. "Do you?" “No,” she put tn quickly. “I shall tell you, anyway. When you interrupted my thoughts I had just conquered a desire to make you care for me —your attitude madetme desire a siege in which you would be the victim—but my better nature won out and—” Murphy laughed lightly. “Then I have missed a rather amosina gam*—haven’t If >•*.’ Jim Murphy’s lips shut tight Molly Bherwell cast a gladtee at him and felt satisfied. F|lppant remarks would have to bridge many a chasm with this man and she hoped that her taoonsgquent moods would never bo far “Since you are heartless and I engaged wo are certainly well guarded against the wiles of the ocean-will you walk on deck with mo now? I insist on being friends—friendship % great between a man and a woman. Isn’t itr j Molly left the question unanswered. It was the tenth day, and on the morrow Queenstown and all that the word meant would bo With the pasJI.

been calm and chummy rather than emotional—isn’t It so?” “Perhaps it has been to you—” ’ Molly laughed quickly. “I do belleve you would be serious in another day or two. It is a good thing that we will be having that sad sweet parting so soon—” “8top!: v you know as well as I that you are only trying to cover the real by the flippant* MH the time lam In London—you are going to be there. You have promised to give me one month of your splendid friendship and we are going to all the theaters, operas and dinners that we can crowd into thirty days.” “No, no—that some of our inconsequent chatter at the beginning of the trip.” .Molly tried to draw her a ™ awa \ ‘ ’ When they arrived at Jhe stern of the boat where no sound came save the rush of foamy water; he stopped her and spoke in a voice made rich by new depths. • ' “You are not going back on your promisee I love you, dear—it has beqp so since you came and sat beside me at the table. It is not the first time that a mag has found the one. woman when it was too late and ! am not complaining—l am only glad to have known, even for a short time, such love aS I feel for you." He drew het So near him that she started back ‘ with a faint cry. He released her and before he realized her intention she *was away and out of his sight He stood for some moments where she had left him. He was dazed by the vaslness of his love for her; too much so to reason that life with any other Woman was impossible. He did not see Mblly Sherwell again that night nor the next morning. The tender was alongside the Marlon and most of the passengers for Queenstown were on the smaller boat. Murphy scanned every part of the ship, but the girl was not to be seen. He concluded that she was in her stateroom packinglas she was to go on to Liverpool. ; Nevertheless he paced the. deck nervously expectant Some inner consciousness told him that events were shaping themselves into strange channels. When the tender with its load of Queenstown passengers was ready to detach Itself from the great ship Murphy gave a tremendous start. Molly Sherwell was on the tender. She was getting off at Ireland and he, the man who loved her, had no address, no possible due to where she would ’be. She had taken this means of escape! Murphy looked down at the thin stream of water which was slowly widening between the two boats. Without stopping to think of what he was doing he rushed below. In the companionway he was stopped, a cable for William James Murphy. He scarceJy comprehended the contents as he continued his mad dash for the lowest possible deck of the Marion. When he reaced the closest spot to the tender and his eye caught sight nr'• trailing rope from her stern he made a firm clear dive into the almost calm water. . There was a fearful stirring on botn boats and life preserves werp hurled from all points. Murphy prayed, while he struggled with the sen, that he might reach that rope before a life saver reached him. He was a powerful swimmer. After a brief but mighty struggle his hands found and clung to the rope of the tender. For one second bls eyes looked up and he saw the face of Molly Sherwell. Her eyes were praying for his safety and her arms were outstretched. “He is mine!" he heard her say to those who would have cared for him when he went for a moment Into the unconscious world. ' Later, Molly bent over him. > "You might have died—dear—" Her voice broke. “I would have died anyway—without you. Everything prent with you—what was the game worth without love?" The cable, soaked and quickly disappearing to nothingness, fell between them. t “My first fiancee was very fickle. She married the other fellow five days after I left- Molly—do you know whether or not wo have to live in London more than a week before we can get a license to —"* , - . “Even a week would seem long—wouldn’t it, dear?” 1