Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 238, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1911 — MOTHERS GIRL [ARTICLE]

MOTHERS GIRL

By DOROTHY DOUGLAS

(Copyright. 1«1. tor Awaniitsd Literary Pros*.)

When tiie 8. 8. Marlon bad pulled eut of Bight of the crowd on the pier, Jimmy Murphy turned a Wholly disinterested glance upon his fellow passengers. For the time being, his position as a newly engaged inan, hung >heavlly on his shoulders. Helen Danvers, his fiancee, had 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, as the day wore on Jimmy cheered up. It seemed to him that he had never before crossed the briny deep on so wonderfully laden a ship. In companlonways, in the library, in the bow of the boat and in the stem he seemed destined to meet fragments from the feminine world and each bit looked prettier than the Jast For a moment Jim Murphy felt aggrieved; his allegiance to Helen Danvers shut him off from any shipboard romance—k here-to-fore much enjoyed privilege' of the ocean voyage. It was at dinner that the blow came. He was in the act bt giving his order to the steward when .that Individual Wished to the assistance of the girl who had been assigned to the seat next to his own. After one glance at her, Murphy realized that, had he been % Steward, his actions would have been the same. , s . '*T 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. , • v.

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 rudeness,” he said with a full measure of friendliness In his eyes. ‘T am a trifle peevish—there are the jolllest lot of pretty girls on this boat that I have ever crossed with and 1 feel afraid of all of them.” ’. Molly Sherwell laughed pnd glanced questloningly at Murphy. t “I would not have selected you as dne fearful of feminine wiles." “But I am engaged.” -Oh!" " 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 tlm'q sorceress—l feel sure that she at least wields her wand, over them all." “The wand of infatuation —only?” Jimmy Murphy but half expected an answer. “Infatuation is exactly the word," laughed Molly. *'l have crossed Hie ocean nine limes and on every trip I fell'madly in love.” “And the, men?” Murphy put the question quickly, eagerly desirous of knowing the outcome. Hfhrde 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 you?*’ Again the eager ques- ' '7 . , 7. I "I? Well—as soon as my feet touch thd wharf I am aa heart-free as if 1 had never seen a boat" - Jimmy Murphy was silent for so Jong a time that hts companion broke into s soft laugh. “Surely you are not going to have ioany more such serloug god profound moments during this tripf* * • “I will tell you exaotly what I was thldktng—lf you care to know. 6 Murphy turned so that he met her startled glance. “Do your “No," she put in quickly. V| H shall toll 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 my bettor nature won out and—" Murphy laughed lightly. “Then I have missed a rather amusing game—haven't 17^ Jim Murphy's lips shut tight Molly Sherwell cast a glsffbe at him and felt satisfied. Flippant remarks would have to bridge Many a chasm with this man and she hoped that her Inconsequent moods would never be far fmm htir wimman/l V “Since you arc bcartlccs and I a 4 engaged we are certainly well guarded against the wiles of the ocean—wlU you wilk on deck with me now? 1 insist on being fHendS-frtred.hlp * St nr****” ‘ * nd * Molly left the question unanswered. It was the tenth day, mad on the morrow Queenstown and all that the word meant would be with }he passenger. of the Marion. In the evening, the last night on board. Molly 81mr wall and Jim Murphy paoad a moonlit Immi Inhmi tli# irio#t pl#uut&t

Veen calm and chummy rather than emotional—isn’t it so?" 77/77 7. *'Perhaps it has been to you—T , v Molly laughed quickly. “I do to Ueve you would be efriods in another or' two. It Is a good thing that ’ we will be having that sad sweet parting so soon—" 77/ : ■' 77 ..: ; -stop! You qnow as well as I that you are only trying to cover the real by the flippant.’ fill the time I am In London—you are going to be there. You bare 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.” i > “No, no—that was sOme of our inconsequent chatter at the beginning of the trip.” Molly tried to draw her 'jam away. 7 7 77.7'. When they arrived at the 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 promise. I love you, dear —it has been so since you came and sat beside me at the table.' It to not the first time that a man has found the one woman ,when it was too lute and I am not complaining— I 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 she was away and out of his sight He stood for some moments where she had left him. He was dazed by the vastness of his love for her; too much so to reason that life with any other wdman was Impossible. 1 5,

He did not see Mblly Sherwell again that night nor the next morning. The tender was alongside the Marlon and most pf the passengers for Queenstown were on the smeller boat. Murphy scanned every part of the ship, but the girl Vas noj to be seen. He concluded that she was in her stateroom packing as she was to go on to Liverpool. .7 r - Nevertheless he paced the- deck nervously expectant j Some inner consciousness told him that were shaping themselves Into strange channels. , 7 .;,7 ij 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 clue 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 scarcely;, comprehended the contents Mi he continued his mad dash for the lowest possible deck of the Marion.

When he* reaced the closest spot to toe tender and his eye caught sight of a trailing rope stern he made a firm clear dive into the almost calm water. ' There was a fearful stirring on both boats and life preserves were hurled from all points- Murphy prayed, while he struggled with the sea, that he might reach that rope before a life saver reached him. He was a powerful swftnmer. After a brief but mighty struggle his hands found and clung to ; too rope of the tender. For one seoond his 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 toe unconscious world. latter, Molly bent over hlou- “Yon might have died —dear—** Her voice broke. 7,7 77*.- ' 7 • '■ "I would have died anyway—without you. Everything went with you—what was the game worth Without love?” The cable, soaked sad quickly disappearing to nothingness, fell between them. 77 “My first 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 to —” “Even a week would seem long—wouldn’t it, dear?” i j-ii