THE FLATTSIuGUTK JOURNAL THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY EDITION.
The Last Voyage
of 15he
Donna Isabel
j By Randall Parrish
Author of Bob Hampton ot Placer.
Illustrations by Deaborn Melvill
t easier to bear than tnla awful
doubt"
"But I hardly know myself," I con
fessed desperately. "I have had no
observation (or Several days, and can
(inly guess the rate of progress of the
Bea Queen, or our drift during the
Vtorm. I will be perfectly honest with
fca, though, and give you my best
judgment I believe we must be be
tween four and five hunflied miles to
the east and north of Dougherty is
land, and not yet "beyond The limit of
drift ice. There would be no use in
our attempting to turn back for that
point of land, as It Is nothing but a
rock, and we could never find it by the
mere guidance of a compass. Our only
chance is to bear away to the north
east toward land and the back of
hips."
"How far? What land!"
'The western coast of South Amer
ica; at least 1.000 miles."
I felt her shudder, and scarcely re
alizing that I did so, or the slgnlfl-
"Please Tell Me. I I Wish to Know
the Very Worst."
tance of the action, Impelled by an
Impulse beyond all control, I drew her
band within both my own as though
In pledge of protection.
"It can b done," I Insisted. "Such
boat voyages have been accom
plished." Site made no effort to draw away,
her eyes still upon mine.
"Not through such a sen ns this;
Hot at this KcuHon of the year."
I could not answer, my lips dry, my
thront parched.
"You know the utter hopelessness
of It," who went on, stimulated by my
silence, "ion know wo enn never
survive the cold, the closing in of the.
Ice, tlio certainty of storm. You are
& sailor, und n bravo man trust mu
with tho whole truth."
"It would lie almost a mlnicle," I fnl
tend, the words fairly forced from
my Hps by her Insistence. "This Is
the beginning of winter In the storm
iest ocean on the globe. Cod could
do It, hut not man."
Her head sank, the whltn cheek
touching my sleeve, but tho fearless
Kiay eyes were still open, gazing
ttrnlglit Into mine.
"Then It is tho certainty of death,"
she said soberly. "Death together."
My heart leaped as though It had
received an electric shock.
"Together! you mean"
"That I nhould rather bo hero, facing
death with you, thii anywhere else
alone," she exclaimed iwlftly. "Oh,
I rnn say It frankly now; say It here
before you and God; say It In all
purity and honor. Perhaps tonight,
perhaps tomorrow, somewhere amid
this awful waste of watera wo will (to
together Into eternity. What are the
dictates of men to us now! What
meaning la there any longer to the
bldeous requirement! of the world 1
We are beyond them all. Here, now,
we can be ourselves, ourselves. To-
bight we are tree; to-night I can bear
you speak what I bave already read In
your eyes, and am not afraid to beat
It"
"Ton you love me!"
j "With all my heart and loul."
With everything else blotted out,
ith all else forgotten, I sat speech
less, gating down through the mist of
lean Into her eyes.
I
CHAPTER XXII.
In Which I Understand My Lady.
She rested motionless, her check
barely touching my sleeve, her ryei
filled with love, her hand In mine.
Then I heard her voire, soft as a whis
per, tho breath of her lips on my
Chfrk.
"You will not mlJiidg me; surely
von can not. Those words would never
have been uttered in any other cir
cumstances. Not thht 1 am afraid, not
that I nm ashamed or rcrrciful; but
nothing rise could ever have eet mo
free. .Now we must know, understand
each o'lier wo must die with our
heaits open, our souls clean. Yon re. il
ly eve in-? tmt iii? believe me to
be a wormy woman 7"
"With all my soul I do."
"Oh, I know you do. It Is because I
know you do that I wish to tell you
my story. It is my love which makes
me so anxious that you should under
stand, so when the end comes we can
go together, loving each other, and not
afraid. Do you recognize me? Have
you ever realized who I am?"
I could only shake my head, wonder
ing at the strange question.
"No? And yet I have known you
ever since that first long talk we bad
together in the cabin. It seemed so
odd, such a strange freak of destiny,
that you should have been associated
In any way with my old life, and yet
the very fact that you were, first cre
ated the bond that bas since drawn us
together. You were no longer a mere
sea-adventurer, but an old-time friend
and equal. From that day all was
different I could fight it back, but
could never conquer what that discov
ery meant Oh, how small this world
Is! Did you ever hear of Doris Wlna-low?"
A moment the rague, clouded mem
ory eluded me, tantalized me. Then
In a flash the revelation came.
"My sister's chum at Wellesley?"
The tours Bprang glistening Into her
eyes, her handclasp tightening.
"Yes; does Tt eeem possible? You
never knew me, except by that name
My father died during the second year
of my attendance there; then mother
and I went abroad, and my education
was completed on tho continent. I am
not finding fault, but but it was nil
most unfortunate; It brought me Into
real life with a false understanding of
everything wrong Ideals, wrong
standards. We were known to be
wealthy, many considered mo beauti
ful; my mother s one ambition was
to achieve recognized social standing
in Europe, and from the first I was
destined to be a means to that end,
My education, surroundings, social en
vironment, were all shaped with this
purpose In view. In spite of myself
the result was accomplished.
"I was merely a girl of 17, desiring
little but a good time, and accustomed
ail my life to the guidance of others
Ird Darlington joined our party in
Italy, and we Journeyed together for a
week through the Italian Alps, finally
going on board his yacht us Invited
guests for a cruise in tho Mediter
ranean. He was most attentive to me
yet I gave It scarcely a thought. I
hardly realized what was taking placo
what It all meant, but but one day
wo went asiiore, ami and wo were
married at the lirltbh legation in
Athens. That day I was a careless
girl; the next morning found mo
woman, regretful, aroused from a
ream, yet yielding to tho lno liable.
Whatever I suffered was borne alone;
not even my mother ever beard nio
complain."
She sat looking forth over the crests
of the sea, tlu moonlight rellectlng
bnck Into her face. The sail swung
In and shadowed her.
Within a month wo went to Eng
land, to Darlington hall, where every
thing was at my command, and later
to London, during tho social season. I
hnd nil that tho world seems to value at
my foot and at first I managed to bo
happy after a fashion. Tho excitement
and exhllarntlon kept mo nllvo and In
terested, but In tintu tho glitter and
artificiality of It all wearied mo; more
and more deeply I realized the sordid
mnnner In which I had been sold, and
I grew to hate those things which had
purchased me. It was not Itrd Dar
lington he was more father than hus
bund, humoring me in every way, and
secretly regretful for his part In tho
transaction. I became 111, begged for
the sea, and we went aboard In his
yacht He was not unwilling, but to
my mother It proved a constant hard
ship. Only her anxiety to prevent any
rupture between us caused her to go
on board. Yet even when I had re
covered health I would not go back;
that life would bave killed me. Out
In the open I could breathe and live:
It yielded me courage to continue as
1 was."
She bent forward, bringing her face
once again Into the revealing moon
light, her eyes frankly open to mine.
"I only wish I could make you re
alise how drearily lonely that life be
came. There was no knowledge of
love to complicate the situation, and at
first I even felt a sense of gratitude
toward Lord Darlington for many acts
of kindness and tho consideration
shown me. This changed, however, an
I began slowly to comprehend the self
ishness of bis motives that his ac
tions arose merely from a certain
prldo In my youthful appearance and
tho advantages to bo ihilved from my
wealth. My mother soon alienated my
affections by always ulhlng herself
with him. Finally 1 ha I no one to
whom I. could turn for comfort or nd
vice, i ion inurciy mono, and grew
silent, Misplclous, and adverse to ult
social pleasures. The tnw of mar
rlaj:n reut-d lightly on l.oid luilimv
ton, but for that I did not greatly care,
except tl at .tho knowjetl-t; Kpapped
' the last weak bond between us. Ai- i
j tmiht viiil to escape from Europe mid i
! Its torturing memories I finally j
' planned an extensive yachting trip -
around the world. 1 was Impulsive, j
i headstrong, even hopeful that I might '
be permitted to Invite a few congenial !
' friends and sail alone. To my surprise j
i Lord Darlington expressed pleasure !
In the idea, and even persuaded my I
mother to accompany us."
Her face sank suddenly Into her
hands, her body trembling.
I bore It all smilingly, and enjoyed
the tea. But I was a woman now, bit
terly resenting the manner In which
I had been bartered in the matri
monial market. I knew nothing of
love, except as I perceived It in the
lives of others, but I was hungry,
starving for It. We arrived at Val
paraiso; this strange adventure oc
curred to me, and then I met you."
Her hands went out again to me,
and I caught thera eagerly.
That that day In the cabin, I
I knew you for one of my own class;
I knew you for a true man, a gentle
man; I I read the love In your eyes,
and I should have been an angel not
to have welcomed it. Oh, God knows
I tried not to do so! I prayed for
help to resist my own heart, but the
help was not given me. Now I com
prehend it was not meant that I should
resist. The end was In sight even from
Uie beginning. Love Is more than
ceremony, and can make even death
sweet. I have no sense of evil as 1
look Into your eyes; I have come Into
my inheritance, the rightful Inheri
tance of every woman love. Even If
It Is only for a day, It is mine mine
by the gift of God. Oh, Jack, Jack, I
have waited so long, so long, and now
all I can' say, all I desire to say, is, 1
love you!"
Oh, that scene! that desolate,
dreary, God-forsaken, hopeless scene
the heaving waters, the cold sky, the
ice-gleam, the awful expanse of bar
renness all about. Did ever love come
to mortal before or since In such a
spot, or amid such utter helplessness?
Hut I forgot all, though even as
bent to her lips she begged me, falter-
ingly. not to touch her yet. There, in
mo ncurt oi mat Antarctic Bea, caov
aways, drifting to what seeine'd cer
tain death, we found in this confession
a happiness that the world without
would have sternly denied us. Ay!
and we were stronger for it. braver
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Prices Sometimes T?lk--0ur's Shout
Our July Clearance Sale is a "warm one" almost as hot as
the weather. Piles of goods distributed to cheerful buyers. Sat
urday a red letter day in point of sales. Our force worked to the
limit. Some lines are depleted, but we are still strong on Under
wear, Single Pants for Men Boys and Children, Hosiery, Straw
Hats, Shirts, all kinds and sizes, Boy's and Children's Suits, Men's
Suits and Night Gowns, Kerchiefs and Neckwear. The public is
solicited to examine these goods and avail themselves of these
clearance prices:
5c
Men's full-size hemstitched
white handkerchiefs. See
them in our east window.
Also turkey red and indigo blue.
Also at this price men's and boy's
straw hats.
39c
Here we offer you a big
line of soft shirts, with
or without collars, in
light blues, fancy stripes and polka
dots. Full cut, well made. Every
one less than cost to make. They're
going fast.
Q ft Men's fast color fine guage
nR brown cotton sox. Good for
dress or work wear, regular
15c value, all sizes 9)4 to 11.
Here's a bargain in wash
ties we just received from
New York Saturday. They
are full size four-in-hands, in light
and dark colors, and only 12c each.
12c
4c
All stragglers from
our 75c and $1.00 and
$1.25 straw hat lines.
go at this remarkable low price.
Better come quick.
In
I6c
Boy's black ribbed stock
ings, Tom Sawyer brand,
almost indestructible, last
colors, will Out wear two pair ordi
nary hose. Sizes 6 to all that's
left.
4e
Boy's wash suits, in
either blouse or Buster
Brown style, knickei-
bocker pants. All new goods this
season. Another big bargain for a
busy mother. Sixes 2)6 to 8 )cars.
23c
Boy's blue cheviot shirts,
with soft collar attached,
sizes 6 to 12 years. All
made and ready to put on for what
the cloth is worth.
Here's where we put
you to sleep. Men's
full size bell shape night
gowns, either with or without col
lars, nicely trimmed. Were about
200 of these Saturday morning but
the pile is fast melting.
25c
to close
crman
All remnants of medium
priced straw hats lines are
bunched at this one price
Includes helmets and fish-
hats.
Here's the big shirt
bargain. People have
gone wild over this lot.
We boughta manufacturer's sample
line, in shirts that sold at $1.25 to
$1.50 and give your choice at 69c.
Sizes 14 to 17.
"Jack, I Have Waited So Long, So
Long, Now All I Can Say Is, I Love I
You."
for It; our eyes aglow, our hearts puls
ing to the one great music of tho
universe.
"Tell it to me," gin) whispered smil
ingly. "I love you."
"And I am happier than In all my
life before."
We spoke but briefly ns wo sat thus,
my hand llrni upon the tiller, my eyes
never forgetful of those great mirges
smiting us. Inded, there waa little
to say, for wo had no future to dis
cuss, no plana to formulate. e
could only live out the night, with the
morrow a blank before us. Yet there
waa nothing of nil this in the girl's
fnee upturned and happy, nor did I
permit my eyes to mar her hnpplness.
We were together, understanding each
other, and for tho moment that was
enough. Yet In some way my pulse
beat stronger, my will to conquer this
demon sea became mighty. Qod help
ing me, this love-life should not end
here end In mystery and oblivion;
those reBtlcss waters should not over
come us forever. I would light them
for her sake and my own! The stars
and waves defied such dctermlnaUon,
yet I only stiffened In my seat, a new
strength animating my body, a new
faith stimulating my soul. Fifteen
hundred miles! Father of Mercy,
guide us! Yet It bad been done, and
It might be done again.
"What Is It, Jack?" she questioned
softly. "Of what were you thinking?
"Of the stiff battle ahead ot us,
dear; the fight for life and love across
these leagues of ocean."
"For llfo and love! Do you mean
you dream of reaching safety?"
"I mean to struggle for It; to do all
a man and snllor may. If we die, now,
sweetheart, It will be to loso more
than ever before was possible."
Her cheek flus'iotl Instantly, her
laidies drooping.
"No, no; if we win safety It will
only ! to h-Hi nil else. '.u the
thought is impossible; no 111. no
courage, no hlivnr.th of ami or heart
reiiUl ever woik sut li a miracle of de
liverance. 1 l! nut dre.iui It, for how
could 1 to Lit U. r.o biii'k In that old
llTe itca'u Willi tu y loan full of lovn
fer you.' iii. -it would bo a fate woim
than tl ll'li; It would be tl' :-!.iuor."
I till r d answer, did not even look
Into her face.
(To be Continued)
Boy's knee pants, plain
and knickerbocker in all
wool and wash goods.
A big bargain for a busy mother.
Sizes 3 to S and a few large sizes.
If you want a good
yacht straw hat this
season style.in hats that
sold for $1.50 and $2 00, better get
one of these at this low price to move
them out.
A few boy 's.fine waists
O left at this nrire in sizes
UU 11 to 15. Also at this
price choice of fine line of 50c silk 4-in-hand.
A real snap.
90
Lm
Sf Bp Here's pants,
tMil good pants, some
Blll of them all wool,
some, part wool, some of them
Dutchess. Pants that will give you
twice the wear of any ordinary
cheap pants. To close $1.45.
This lot of pants has made a stir. It was the first lot we
put out, mostly Dutchess. Some light colors; most dark
and medium. Such pants as you will pay $3 and $4 for else
where. Now here for cash $1.99.
$1.99
. E.
"Where Quality Counts.
R
Many other bargains we cannot list including pants at
$2.48, suits $7.69, raincoats $9.98, fur hats $1,48, etc. Every
thing just as advertised. No monkey business. No cash register
tickets. No sale goods charged.
u
Wescott's Soiros n
o
OCZ3C3
THE HOME OF SATISFACTION!
S3C
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(ieorge MeUltipT, the third, tame
In Saturday and attended to liu-!-Iies
III tile litv. While here lie
called upon the Journal and renew
ed the su'usctipt ion f Adam M l
Inger lit (".recti Valley. Ill , to the
pap r. Mr. Milslnger Is one of our
In Ht people ii ml tho .toitriial I protnl
to number hint 11:1.0m; Its friend,
lie stati s that the 1 rop outlook in
1
bis section was never better and
there Is every Indication that obi
Cuss this year will bae n bumper
crop of I'Verjtlilng good.
Ml l'aniilo Jlliltllet out of Lin
coln spent Sunday In tin' Hy, the
guest of Mr. II. I). Trails mid Mis
Helen Travis, returning to her home
tills moMiltii:.
C. W. Mi Kinney, formerly of this
city, but now n resident of Silver
City, la., was In the dty todav visit-
lug with old friends and rdath
Mr. Mi Kinney came in Satur :
nlulit and returned to Silver t'iiy
this nfternooii.
tM. Sthitlhiif spent Sur.day in tlio
ity wl-li hi folks, retiirntig tu
Cil' II WOOil till Illi.flllnK.
i
It-. I
An'