Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-02-03

eyes as bright as possible tomorrow at the
altar. Good night, my dear don't sit up late.
Iii tell Mr.. Owen you have a headache and
can't come down. White lies are indispensa-
BILE on these occasions
With which aunt Maria sailed away.
Marian looked darkly after her, without at
tempting to speak, and then back again over
the wide sea.
4 deserve it ali, she said to herself. Aunt
Maria is right. l am an inconsistent fool and
coward. Why don't tell Gilbert owen the
truth, and go out into the world and fight the
battle of life as other grls do? All, nle, what
false, treacherous weak creature | am with
nehher courage to work nor want
She turned away from the window and be-
gan pacing hnrriedly up and down. Then, as
ifseized with a sudden impulse to escape from
herself and her own dark thoughts, she seized
her shawl and hat and put them rapidly on.
Once more she said 10 herself, once more
to visit the place Of trust before am to be that
mans wife Hero, Hero, where are you!
4 big dog asleep on the rug, rose up and
shook himself ponderously. The girl knelt
down and put her arms around his shaggy
neck.
You belonged to him too, Hero, Us did,
and YOU were his parting gift 10 Inc, my brave
handsome Willie! Oh, Hero Hero only think
Of him lying under the sea, and tomorrow my
wedding day
The shaggy neck Of the Newfoundland grew
wet with her raining tears. Hero rolled out
his great tongue; fully aware that something
was wrong, and tried to console her in Ills
dogish fashion. suddenly she started up,
dashing away the t. ars
Come Hero, before il is too laie. For the
last time. -
A minute and they were out in the wild,
wet night The cold huttered her dress and
shawl, the rain blew ih her face and darkness
was falling like All inky pail over the sea, and
the rocky path leading down to ii. But Mar
ian Wilde knew it well and could la We made
ber way secure i'll the blackest midnight and
she followed Hero along the jagged, uneven
road, feetly aud securely.
Down high boulder, garment huttering and
tapping, hair escaping aud blowing back from
her eyes, her face pale and wild, and all wet
with the rushing ram, her eyes strained i'll
vague, despairlng stare over the black sea, she
Looked, on her pinnacle, like the gold ess Of the
storm, watching her work-a modern Norma
of the Fitful.' Perhaps the man toiling LABOR
iously over the rocks, thought so-a young
man, sunburned aud handsome, dressed in a
shaggy Jacket and rough sou'western hat. She
never heard biul-eyes AMI heart and brain
were all far away.
Marian.
That voice. ? She gave cry and almost fell
from the slippery boulder. Had the dead
arisen ? Was 1t Willie Joyce's ghost that stood
before her.
Excepting trust, Marian--my Marian. knew
I should find my darling here
The active young figure stood beside her on
the wet rock. All, no! All, no no ghost this
no ghost to clasp her in such strong arms-no
ghost to press such rapturons kisses on her
pale lips.
'Oh, Mariau-my Marian-rny beautiful
dark eyed darling What lifetime it seems
since saw you last
She slid ont of his arms white as spirit in
the dying light, looking up, at him, with
eager, impassioned wild, dilated eyes.
Alive the pale lips murmured; alive and
back again, and l thought him dead. Oh,
Willie Willie
lie raised her up, laughing boyishly at her
frightened air.
'Mve-of course | am, back again, to be
,,iie that YOU wear sucli fa%c ta4 sorry 10 see
Sorry, Willie! Willie"
swell you said hat before, and lis highly
sal isfactory, though not explanatory. Come
my darling girl, gel over your fears: I'm not a
ghost, l assure you, but Captain William Joyce,
come over the ocean to make you NY wife,
There was no reply. Her head fell on hel
shoulder and clingiug to him, he could feel
the slight figure shake from head to feet.
sMarian,' he said sternly, what Is 1t Have
| you forgotten your promise
| 'Ob, no, nn
'Did you repent it !"
NO. no, no.
Then what in heavens name is ii? Ny wifi
YOU promised to be-my wife You shall be in
| spite of flte They told me- down in town al
absurd story about Gilbert owen, man who
might be your ijlthe.. Tell me ii Is not true.
| Il cannot
Good heaven you're not going to mar.
him, Marian-that old man
/ lr1t I lt.,
thought you dead.
My poor girl And that dragoon of an aun
badgered you into it, know. And the wed
ding was 10 be tomorrow.
| Yes
srhen have arrived IN the nick Of time
You won't marry Mr. Owen tomorrow, Mar
ian, because you shall marry me,
+ Willie
Il mean ii, my darling. Down the path ther
is the carriage | came in. Come with me
never mind going bacl; TO the honsf. I'll tax
you Just as yon are, AMI YOU shall lie my Wifi
Rather hastH, allow, but necessity knows II
law
But Willie, she said, shrinking back,
don't know
, ing stern.
Then YOU are ftlse, Marian Wilde. fo
| wish to wed Gilbert owen. not me. lie, u
a rich old millionaire, can give you servants, ai'
. | monlS and luxury |, the lOver al Aou
!. youth nothing but strong arm, warm lca
and al humble home, Well, go on, it is ON
the old story Of a woman's ireaehery oN
| again.
. He turned To leave her, bul size rlnng TO hi
passionately, desperately.
N No. no. Ike me with you. will do wla
n ever you say; will be pour wife, Oh. W
lie, love YOU with my whole hear"
My dearest mine In life and death. II
e wiie-ny own for ever and eNer--come.'
S He passed his arm, around her, and drew Ii
N down the storn-heaten path, In the thick gloon
% A moment later, and they were side by 81,
A. in the carriage, driving rapidly into town.
\ Gilbert Owens wedding day lawned in storl
/ and wind, and rain --dawned tn find the ca!
lst empty; the bird down. The bride elect h;
+ fietI-where Or whittier, who could say? The
,r was no note left TO say--no clue TO he fouf
,d to her mysterious disappearance. II the ear
h had opened and swallowed her, She could n
al have vanished more completely.
Aunt Maria went into lysterics,not the pro
| er thing 10 do-lhrough no great love for /
wilfu, lost girl, but because something of t
Il kind was expected of her, and because S
Is really felt keenly Gilbert Owens disappoi
~ ment.
As for that lucklcss bridegroom, he suilel
al vet made no sign. lie had loved her will
Gu love as strong as ii had been in vain; lie Ii
lost her, and he bore it with silent grief.
"IfI only knew her fitter' he groancd OF
u, u, to her aunt III only knew She were 81
~, ~ and we'll think could bear 1t. But this
", ", certainty, this suspense. Oh, my poor lii
'"' Marian"
or. Aunt Maria had her own idea remember
that last interview. The hag5ard faca al
it reckless words, the last repentance me;
w. something besides the girish talk after all.
der that stormy sea, rolling forever mysteri
lie and grand under the windows, she had g
ia in the storm and darkness TO meet her
lover.
oil "She was impulsive enough, and toolha
, a enough for anyihing," Aun, Mlrla sa