Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 231, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1911 — ANOTHER GIRL [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER GIRL

By DOROTHY DOPGLAS

(Contiiki, nil, hr Associated Lit«r»ar Piom.)

be seemed destined to meet fragments tookecTprSSfthan o^ moment Jim Murphy felt aggrieved; his allegiance to Helen Danvers shut hJm 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 indlvldsal rhshed to the assistance of < the . girl who bad /been assigned to the seat . next to his own. After one glance at her, Murphy realised that, had he been • steward, his actions would have ,been the sake. “I am afraid I interrupted your order.” The girl looked Into Murphy's eyes. The heart of the engaged man quaked. The girl was beautiful. “After you.” Murphy's .tone was reserved to the point of unfriendliness. . The girl cast a quick glance at him then turned to contemplate the menu. Murphy felt that he had been thrown from her regard muaph as she would dlseard an unpleasing bit pf 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 rudeness,” he said with a full measure of friendliness In'his eyes. “I am a trifle peevish^—there are the jolliest lot of pretty girls on this boat that I have tfrer crossed with and I* feel afraid of »11 of them ” Molly Sherwell laughed and glanced questJbnlngly at Murphy. *T would not have selected you as «• tearful of feminine wiles.” ‘‘Bpt I am engaged/* o* It seemed for a seconfl that the very engines stopped their vibrations', then the girl spoke again. ‘That does make considerable difference." She paused while a queer Mttle shadow flitted across her face. "I belieye 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 tike sorceress—l feel sure that she at least wields her wand over them aIL" - “The wand of infatuatlon-ronly V’ Jimmy Murpliy but half expected an answer. '“lnfatuation la 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 effect of moonlight, the lapping of the waves and leisure hours spent in closely set steamer chairs.” “And your* Again the eager question. [ y>‘ TT Well—as soon as my feet touch the wharf I am as heart-free as if I had nevhr seen a boat." *■ “Obi” ;*v. " ;• • Jimmy Murphy was silent Cor so long a time that his companion broke Into a soft laugh. “Surely you are not *tnc to have many more such serious and profound moments during this tripr s*: ; ' .

“I will tall you exactly what I was thinking—ls you care to know." Murphy turned so that he mat her startled glance. “Do you f fc»MKBSHE§Ii •‘Mo." she put in 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 made me desire a siege in which you would be the victim —but iky hatter nature won Out and—’’ Murphy laughed lightly.' Then I have missed a rather amusing game—haven't ir* c Jim Murphy’s lips shut tight. Molly Sherwell east a glarfte at him and felt satisfied. Flippant remarks would have to bridge many a chasm with this man anti she hoped that her inconsequent moods Would never be far from her , “Since you are heartless and I engaged we are certainly well guarded against the wtlee of the ocean—will you walk on deck with me now? I Insist on being friends—friendship Is great between a man and s woman, isn’t nr ." . Molly left the question unanswered. It was the tenth day, and on the morrow Queenstown and all that the word meant would be with the passengers of the Marion. In the evening, the last night on board, Molly Bherwclt and Jim Murphy peoed a moonlit 'l<!»*ck. ' s ftt, - Vj Vj -This has been the moat pleasant of my trips.” it was the girl who •poke. “For once, the voyage hae

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. t “Yon are not going back on your promise. I love you, dfear—it has been so since you came and sat fcesldq me at the table. It is not the first time that a man has found the one woman when it wad too late and I am not complaining—l am only glad to have known, even for a short time, such love as I feel for you." He drew her so near him that she started back with a faint cry. He released her and before he realized her Intention shewas away and out of his sight He stood for some moments where she had left him. He was dazed by the vastness of Ms love for her; too much so to reason that life with any other woman was impossible. He did not see Mbjly Sherwell again that night nor the next morning. The tender was alongside the Marion 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 ps seen. He concluded that sh# was in her stateroom 7 packing as she was to go bn to Liverpool. A'.' . , ; .

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 MoUy Sherwell was on the tender. She was getting off at Ireland and he. the man who loved her. had no address, no possible clue to where she would be. She had taken this means of escape! Munphy looked down at the thin stream of water which was slowly widening between the two boats; With-swxa.-is.r panion way he was stopped. A cable tor William James Murphy. He scarcely comprehended the contents as he continued his mad dash for the lowest possible deck of the Marlon. When he reaced the closest spot to the tender and his eye caught sight of a trailing rope from her stern he made a firm clear dive into the almost calm water. f < * There wak a fearful stirring on both boats and life preserves were hurled from all points. Murphy prayed, while he struggle*! with the sea, that he might reach that rope before a Ufa saver reached him. was a powerful swimmer. After a brief but mighty struggle his hands found and clung to the rope of the tender. For one second his eyes looked up and he saw the face of Molly Sherwell, Her eyes were praying tor 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 tor a moment into the unconscious world. Later, Molly bent over him. “You might have died—dear—’’ Her voice broke. '».v-

“I would have died anyway—without you. Everything went with you—what was the game worth without lover The cable, soaked and quickly disappearing to nothingness, tell between them. jfe 1 “My fiTst fiancee was very fickle. She married the other fellow five days after I left. Molly—do you know whether or not we have to live in London more than a week before we can get a license- “ Even a week would seem long—wouldn’t it, dearr . - -