Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1905 — The Wings of the Morning [ARTICLE]

The Wings of the Morning

By LOUIS TRACY

Cepyriaht. IMS, by Edward J. Clod.

SYNOPSIS. Chapter I—The Sirdar, having among her passengers Iris Deane, daughter of the owner of the ship, and Robert Jenks, who is working as a waiter, is wrecked. ll—All are lost save Miss Deane and Jenks, who are cart ashore on an islet in the Pacific. Jenkins recovers stores and weapons from the wrecked vessel. He finds the skeleton of a European on the island. IV—A cave on the island is fitted up as a habitation. A chart of the island, mysteriously marked, is found on the skeleton. V—Jenks finds a hollow filled with human skeletons, the remains of a mining party. He is rescued from an octopus by Iris while recovering riles from the wreck of the Sirdar. Vl—Jenks tells Iris that his real name is Anstruther and that, through the machinations of Lord Ventnor, he has been unjustly dismissed in disgrace from the English army. Lord Ventnor has been mentioned on the Sirdar as affianced to Iris. Vll—lris is attacked by a party of fierce Dyaks (Polynesian natives). They are beaten off by Jenks, three, however escaping in their boat. The castaways dread their return. Vlll—Anstruther prepares to defend Iris and himself, fortifying a ledge of rock above their cave. IX—A rich gold mine, indicated on the mysterious chart of the island, is discovered in the cave. X and Xl—The Dyaks attack the Island. • Among them is an escaped convict, an Indian Mnsselmau. They discover the hiding place, but are defeated by the Englishman. XII. An unlucky shot costs Jenks and Iris their water supply. A truce with the savages, the Mussulman speaking Hindoo to Anstruther, acting as interpreter. Mir Jan, the Indian, agrees to aid Anstruther and supply him with water. Xlll—lris and Robert, in the midst of peril, avow their love for each other. The fight continues. XlV—Mir Jan is true to his word and aids the beleaguered couple. At the critical moment the three ■are rescued by the British warship Orient, which has been attracted to the island by the firing XV—On board the Orient is Sir Arthur Dean, father of Iris, who has been searching for his shipwrecked child. Lord Ventnor is also on board. "Your suggestion is admirable,” cried Sir Arthur. “The ship’s stores may provide Iris with some sort of rig-out, and an old friend of hers is on board at this moment, little expecting her presence. Lord Ventnor has accompanied me in my search. He will, of course, be delighted”— Anstruther flushed a deep bronze, but Iris broke in: “Father, why did he come with you?” Sir Arthur, driven into this sudden squall of explanation, became dignified. “Well, you see, my dear, under the circumstances he felt an anxiety almost commensurate with my own.” “But why, why?” Iris was quite cairn. With Robert near, she was courageous. Even the perturbed baronet experienced a new sensation as his troubled glance fell before her searching eyes. His daughter had left him a joyous, heedless girl. He found her a woman, strong, self reliant. purposeful. Yet he kept on, choosing the most straightforward means as the only honorable way of clearing a course so beset with unsuspected obstacles. “It is only reasonable, Iris, that your affianced husband should suffer an agony of apprehensiou on your account and do all that was possible to effect your rescue.” “My—affianced—husband?” “Well, my dear girl, perhaps that is hardly the correct phrase from your point of view. Yet you cannot fail to /emember that Lord Ventnor”— “Father, dear,” said Iris solemnly, but in a voice free from all uncertain ty, “my affianced husband stands here! We plighted our troth at the very gate of death. It was ratified in the pres ence of Oxi and has been blessed by him. I have made no compact with Lord Ventnor. He is a 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?" “Be advised by me. Sir Arthur, and you, too. Iris,” he said. “This is no hour for explanations. Leave me to deal with Lord Ventnor. lam content to trust the ultimnte verdict to you, Sir Arthur. You will learu iu due course all that has hapi>ened. Go ou board. Iris. Meet Lord Ventnor as you would meet any other friend. You will not marry him, I know. I cau trust you.” “I am very much obliged to you.” murmured the baronet, who, notwithstanding his worry, was far eueed a man of the world not to acknowledge the good seuse of this advice, no matter how ruffianly might be the guise of the strange person who gave it. “That is settled, then,” said Robert, laughing good uaturedly, for he well knew what a weird spectacle be must present to the bewildered old gentleman. Even Sir Arthur Deane was fascinated by the ragged and hairy giaut who carried himself so masterfully aud helped everybody over the stile at the right moment. He tried to develop the change in the conversation. “By the way,” he said, “how came you to be on the Sirdar? I have a list of all the passengers aud crew, aud your name does not appear therein.” “Oh, that is easily accounted for. I shipped as a steward in the name of Robert Jenks.” “Robert Jenks I A steward!” “Yes. That forms some part of the promised explanation.” Iris rapidly gathered the drift of her lover’s wishes. “Come, father,” she cried merrily. “I am aching to see what the ship’s stores, which you and Robert pin your faith to, can do for me in the shape of garments. I haVe the utmost belief in the British navy, and even a skeptic should be convinced of its infallibility If H. M. S. Orient is able to provide a . lady’s outfit.” I Sir Arthur Deane gladly availed him-

self of the proffered compromise. He assisted Iris into the boat, though that active young person was far better able to support him, and a word to the officer iu command sent the gig flying back to the ship. Anstruther during a momentary delay made a small request on his own account. Lieutenant Playdon, nearly as big a man as Robert, dispatched a note to his servant, and the gig speedily returned with a complete assortment of clothing and linen. The man also brought a dressing case, with the result that a dip in the bath and ten minutes in the hands of an expert valet made Anstruther a new man. Acting under his advice, ths bodies of the dead were thrown into the lagoon, the wounded were collected lu the hut, to be attended to by the ship’s surgeon, and the prisoners were paraded in frout of Mir Jan, who identified every man aud found by counting heads that none was missing. Robert did not forget to write out a formal uotice and fasten it to the rock. This proceeding further mystified the officers of the Orient, who had gradually formed a connected idea of the great fight made by the shipwrecked pair, though Anstruther squirmed inwardly when he thought of the manner in which Iris would picture the scene. As it was, he had the first innings, and he did not fail to use the opportunity. ' In the few terse words which the militant Briton best understands he described the girl’s fortitude, her unflagging cheerfulness, her uncomplaining readiness, to do and dare. When he ended, the first lieutenant, who commanded the boats sent in pursuit of the flying Dyaks—the Orient sank both sampans as soon as they were launched —summed up the generaTverdlct: “You do not need our admiration, Captain Anstruther. Each man of us envies you from the bottom of his soul." ——— —— “There is an error about my rank," he said. “I did once hold a commission in the Indian army, but I was court martialed and cashiered in Hongkong six months ago. I was unjustly convicted on a grave charge, and I hope some day to clear myself. Meanwhile I am a mere civilian. It was only Miss Deane's generous sympathy which led her to mention my former rank, Mr. Haydon.” Had another of the Orient’s twelve pounder shells suddenly burst in the midst of the group of officers it would have created less dismay than this unexpected avowal. Court martialed' Cashiered! None but a service man cau grasp tile awful significance of those words to the commissioned ranks of the army and navy. Anstruther well knew what he was doing. Somehow he found nothing hard in the performance of these penances now. Of course the ugly truth must be revealed the moment Lord Ventnor heard bis name. It was not fair to the good fellows crowding around him and offering every attention that the frank hospitality of the British sailor could suggest to permit them to adopt the tone of friendly equality which rigid discipline if nothing else would not allow them to maintain. The first lieutenant by reason of his rank was compelled to say something. “That is a devilish bad job, Mr. Anstrather,” he blurted out. “Well, you know I had to tell you.” He smiled unaffectedly at the wondering circle. He, too, xvas an officer and appreciated their sentiments. They were uufeignedly sorry for him. a man so brave and modest, such a splendid type of the soldier and gentleman, yet by their common law an outcast. Nor could they wholly understand his demeanor. There was a noble dignity in his candor, a conscious innocence that disdained to shield itself under a partial truth. The first lieutenant again phrased the thoughts of his juniors. “I and every other man in the ship cannot help but sympathize with you But whatever may be your record—if you were an escai>ed convict, Mr. Anstruther—no one could withhold from you the praise deserved for your magnificent stand against overwhelming odds. Our duty is plain. We will bring you to Singapore, where the others will no doubt wish to go immediately. I will tell the captain what you have been good enough to acquaint us with. Meanwhile we will give you every assistance and—er—attention iu our power.” A murmur of approbation ran through the little circle. Robert’s face paled somewhat. What first rate chaps they were, to be sure! “I can only thank you,” he said unsteadily. “Your kindness is more trying than adversity.” A rustle of silk, the intrusion into the intent knot of men of a youug lady in a Paris gown, a Paris hat, carrying a Trouvllle parasol and most exquisitely gloved and booted, made every one gasp. “Oh, Robert, dear, how could you? I actually didn’t know you!” Thus Iris, bewltcblngly attired, was gazing now with provoking admiration at Robert, who certainly offered almost as great a contrast to bis former state as did the girl herself. He returned her look with Interest. “Would any man believe,” he laugh-

ed, “that clothes would do so much for a woman?" “What a left handed compliment! But come, dearest. Captain Fltzroy and Lord Ventnor have come ashore with father and me. They want us to show them everything! You will excuse him, won’t you?” she added, with a seraphic smile to the others. They walked off together. “Jimmy!” gasped a fat midshipman to a lanky youth. “She’s got on your togs!" Meaning that Iris had ransacked the Orient’s theatrical wardrobe and pounced ou the swell outfit of the principal female impersonator in the ship's company. [to be continued.! W ’ ’ That S3OO Chase Piano that The Democrat has been telling about for the past two weeks is now on exhibition in the show window of Rowles & Parker’s dry goods store, on East Washington street. Read the conditions on which it is to be given away in another column.