Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-02-26
ROGER AND I.

ROGER AND I.
| 1t is very simple story. My name is
Marian Ray, and was twenty years old
when first met Roger Dermott, at Co
hassett, where was passing the summer
We-my mother and I, composed our en-.
tire family circle-had strayed to this quiet
place because we knew that her lease Of
life was not for very lorg, and 1 grasped
at any suggestion Of passible relief to her,
even as the drowning catch at straws, for
getting how frail they are. And it was
terrible to me to think that must be left
alone in the great wide world-alone and
poor. We were always together, my moth
and I, for she was more like an elder sis
ter than parent, and we chung the closer
now, for we felt that the time was short.
Therefore made her time as pleasant as
possible, and her only anxiety was for my
lonely, unprotected future, when we must
leave her out under the flowers and the
dew, and 1 would be friendless. But I,
feeling very brave and confident, as the
young are prone to do, smiled back courage
ously into her face, and at last, when my
future began to be discussed, changed the
subject of conversation. And so we lived
on by the seaside. and our two lives were
very grave and uneventful, until the time
came when a ray Of sunshine slipped in;
but ah! when the sunshine goes out again,
notice that it is always darker than be-
fore it came.
We were strolling along the beach, one
divine June morning, my arm around my
mother in tender, protecting way, for I
felt her weakness, when she suddenly start
ed from my side, and advanced few steps,
and with bright flush on her pale face,
held out both her hands in a surprised,
glad manner. glanced up in .astonish-
ment, for we were strangers there, and
met the laughing brown eyes of Roger Der
mott. He saluted me with courteous
bow, insisted on taking my place beside my
mother, and together we resumed our morn
ing walk. He was my mothers most
priced friend, and despite the disparity in
their years, it was beautiful to see them
together. He so tender and chivalrous;
she, SO gentle, and relying on his strength
as sister might. And so the days slip
ped by till the coming Of tile autumn-days
no longer lonely, for he was always with
US; no longer filled with gloomy forebod-
ings Of the future-for now, Roger and I
were betrothed.
I hardly know how it came about. Per-
haps 1t was the natural sequence to our TO-
mantle wanderings and hours of COM
partnership. 1t is wonderful what great
strides hearts will make towards each other
when two are somewhat isolated from So
ciety, and surrounded by all the wealth
that mother Nature loves to lavish on her
children. Looking back upon that past,
aftef the lapse Of years, and when Time
has thrown his sombre veil over all THAT
intervenes,
81 think my eyes grow wet, as somewhere within my
breast,
Stabbed faint, and slowthful pang, never laid at
rest.''
Dear old Cohassett! Before I had ever
FAoAoNN VASAS ~ AebN OCOlt OCoCl1UCu w uuOs
with half smile and an expressive shrug
of the shoulders, as "a naorceau of place,
comprising a big hotel and few fisher
mans huts, nice bit of beach and some
fine rocks. Voila toutl'' But 1 think I al
ways loved it. First loved it for itself,
afterwards could not help it, and now as
sociations hailow the spot with mysteri-
GUS fascination. 1t is to me as the graveyard
in which all have loved lies sleeping, and
yet no dust lies there to which have
claim. There are graveyards in the men,
DRY sometimes, and there it gems to me
we always lay our bravest and best.
Roger was sailor, and it was strange
how soon learned to take an interest in
all that pertained to the ocean. We passed
hours by 1.-THE salt sea wave," while he
unfolded to me the mysteries that lay hid
den in its shining, deceitful depths. Ilov-
ed the sea then-oh, how 1 loved it'll But
now, when walk along the beach, it talks
to me Of partings and all dreary things,
and the sound of it's tumultous roaring
comes to my ears like the cries Of soul in
despair.
One gloomy afternoon in September,
with the sky threatening and dreary, and
the angry sun, red and sullen, retiring in
crimson ball behind the mass Of clouds
lowering in the west, walked upon the
rocks beside the sea. Roger was to meet
me there, for he was going to sail on the
morrow for the Indies, leaving me with
heart like lump of lead to await his re-
turn. could not endure the thought OF
his parting: PIT he g !?l be captain ct
the vessel when he came back, he saia, ana ana
he must not lose this great change in the
world. He would have taken me with him
as his wife, but there was mother, too frail
to undertake the perilous journey, and so
! would stay behind. But no matter how
much is to be gained by the voyage, there
never was a woman yet that gould feel at
such time the value of any gain, and
suppose was like the the rest.
Ana so paced up and down the rocks
In the sunset. with nv haart all ehoEed ur