Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-05-10

| went too, not without some scOrn for
the tributary aspect of a grand element
of which she had expected tremen-
dous scene.
A step sounded along the walk that
thanked the high road to the shore, and
a gentleman approached Marian. She
started slightly, as if In recognition, be-
fore she had turned to look, and before
he had spoken word, Or taken, as he
did by her permission, place at her
side.
"And I thought you were gone"
81 have returned only for day; l
shall be gone tomorrow"
For more than an hour Marian seat
ed upon the seaside bench, had no
other companion than this gentleman.
They conversed in gay low tones, &C.
casionally broken by little ripping
laugh from Mariana peculiarly sweet
toned merry little laugh. Once he
said: "That sounds like old times"
The children remained on the beach
below; .Peachie filling her bag with
rather dingy shells, and grieving when
ever the seasnails dazzling yellow turn
ed to brown; Madge chatting with the
laborers, highly interested in the idea
of old ocean sending up yearly tribute
to fertilize the land.
"Te make the fields beautiful for it.
self, / suppose" she said to the round
eyed seaweed gatherer, "when it comes
dashing close up to them some fine
day"
Cline to go home !" Marian called
at last to her cousins. The sun was
sinking against the horizon in thin
bank of cloud; a faint rosy tint spread
over the shining waters, flushing the
far sails, and making West Island
CLEAN like pink cameo upon the dis
tant wave.
At the gateway of the cedar-shaded
lawn Marians friend left her. :" !
should like SO much to see your moth
er again" he said, at departure. "Will
she be at home this evening ?-and
would she receive me?'
"She would be glad to see you, I am
quite sure" said Marion. Homeward
she turned, as in a dream. Madge and
Peachie talked vivaciously, quite con-
tent with an occasional answer, and the
fond clasp given by May to each con-
fiding hand. Children are the friends
whose presence one chooses when the
mind is willing to be lulled, but the
heart of hearts cries out for solitude.
" A note has come for thee, Marian"
said Mays mother, who stood with Aunt
Abby on the piazza to view the sunset.
No wonder Clarke Hadley had said he
should like to see that mother again; to
look at her was to enjoy a picture,
calm Ind delicate and home-lighted as
49,
had lived half a century, but there was
not wrinkle on her brow. She be-
longed to the regime of old Newport,
and wore the Quakeress costume-the
snowy cap and kerchief and the dove
colored robe.
81 think poor Willie is dying" she
said, as she gave Marian a note re-
questlng her to come at once to the
friend who, as his mother wrote, had
except asking and asking for Marian
Sumner from the moment that he felt
he was hopelessly i'll"
Marian lost no time in complying.
"Thee will stay al night" Mrs. Sum
ner said; "and ifI can be Of help, l
will take thy place at day"
In haste and sorrow Marian had gone
y
remembered the promise of Clark Had
ley's evening call. Then in one instant
his image filed her thoughts.
g Is it really true that / have been
with him to-day? Is it som ething more
than a dream that we talked together
an hour all alone--Once more alone
How can people say that he is chang
ed? To be sure his hair is tinged with
gray, but it curls on his temples in the
same old way. His eyes, perhaps, are
less bright; more studious, and grave.
His manner-well, [ could not expect
his manner to be like old times to me.
Once, though, when / laughed" Ma
rion sighed. clarke Hadley," she
said in her heart, go out of my
thoughts this day! You would spoil all
the power, all the motive of my life, if
l should be SO weak as to let you stay"
Twilight was deepening as she turned
from the avenue into the narrow
streets of the primitive, quiet town.
She lifted the knocker of one of those
ancient doors that rise from the pave
ment, with windows on each side, so
near the street and low one could whis-
per from them to the p sser-
by. Willie's mother opened the door.
Her eyes were red with weeping. She
seized the girls hand and led her
through house shrouded in gloom to
an upstairs chamber, large and dim,
where, upon sofa, supported by pill
lows, Willie lay. He would not allow
himself to be undressed, and there was
no bed in the room. He had been de-
luding himself-and his attendants hui
mored the fevered fancy-that he
should be strong enough to drive over
and see Marian, if not this morning,
then this afternoon; if not to-day, then
tomorrow early.
He made a sign to her to draw near,
and Marian said: q am to stay all
night"
"Then I shall sieep," he murmurea.
"Tis SO many, many nights since I
have slept and only sleep can make
me WELL"
He had taken her hand and now as
his eyes sought her face, they filed
with that expression which gave her