The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-10-16

scene flashed upon my mind as though
inscribed in characters OF fire. A tor
rent OF reproaches rushed 10 my lips,
but ere word found utterance faint.
ed. Then came those long. delirious
days, in which / lived over aud over
the trying scenes Of that fateful day
When / came 10 myself i refused to
see Mr.. Mcdowell, or even TO hear his
name mentioned. My uncle had long
been planning European tour. and i
begged OF him to go at once. His
long suffering patience did not forsake
him now. aud with such preparations
as could be hurriedly made we sailed
for foreign ports. After two years Of
wandering we have returned, TO find
that the gentle spirits that make up
the gossipping world have never for
given me for not leaving an exact state
ment Of my affairs in their possession. !"
"Were you grieviug over that, dear.
when | came inp"
Partly, yes; chiefly, no. II could
forget the past, or blot il out; but. un-
cannot crush the memory Of that love
Il
played because he was himself, while
was insane, but, Notwithstanding all, i
love him STILL"
"Be patient, dear heart" said Kate,
tenderly: you have suffered, but IL
must be that sometime, somewhere,
life for you will be large and sweet"
The sunset gates were still ajar; the
gold and amber and rose flushing
through in softest coloring, when two
women in close and animated CONVEX
sation walked arm in arm down the
broad steps and out toward the beach.
The loungers in the Office and languid
ones on the piazza became immediate
ly animated.
miss McGregor with that woman!"
"Heavensl who would have beyieved
IL"
wonder what Manning will say to
teatP"
Look at Helen; she is perfectly
liyid."
The two who we're the unconscious
or indifferent subjects OF these remarks
walked leisurely on until quick step
made them both look up.
"Oh, unclel what fright you gave
US. Miss McGregor my uncle, DIR.
Grey; permit me to make you known
TO each other in this informal manner.
Miss McGregor met again the dark
eyes OF the stranger who had attracted
her attention the evening previous, but
there was so much OF surprise in her
face as she looked from one 10 the 9TH
er that Miss Grey hastened to explain:
My uncles is only five years my se-
nior. being the youngest OF large
family Of which my father was the eld-
est. Being my playmate in youth he
hss been my companion and protector
through later years. 10 Is fortunate
for ne that he has never found a wo-
man who has the right to a dearer
place in his heart"
Miss McGregor flashed look OF
amusement into his eyes, but what she
saw there made ner own fall, aud she
turned away 10 hide her confusion, for
il eyes ever do talk, DR.. Grey's said
emphstically, "The Homan is found"
Then the DAYS 5ykan TO round out
full and perfect, blessed by that rare
companionship OF kindred souls, each
day pearl, that one after another
clustered in the chaplet OF time. One
night they walked together upon the
beach. The bewildering moonlight
fell about them like a silvery veil OF
airy texture. Then Edith Grey wan
dered away from the two who were so
absorbed in each other that they were
scarcely conscious of her absence. Far
up the beach she went, in her utter
loneliness unheeding time and distance.
She turned and looked at the sea as il
lay before her, luminous, phosphores-
cent, in the full moons rays. Life is
hardly worth the struggle, she said,
"And none could better know than
How much OF act at human hands
The sense Of human will demands.
BY which we dare 20 live and die.
''If were a coward 1 would say to
the sea, take me into quiet and rest. "
Then she hears footstep drawing
near. A voice. so familiar. calls her
name. Edith, darling wife, forgive
me and let me atone for the past. -
Gladly she gave herself to him again,
and the tender clasp of the strong arm
was sweeter and more restful than the
thrilling embrace Of the sea could have
been. So she took up the broken
threads of hope to weave them into the
golden woof OF life.
How did you find me, dearest2" she
asked.
81 received an ocean telegraphic dis
patch which bade me come at once. 1t
was signed by Miss McGregor.
"God bless her, said Edith fervent-
ly. "She deserves perfect happiness,
and fancy she has found il. Uncle
Grey adores her"
OF course every one was shocked at
the turn of events. Mr.. and Mrs. Nc
Dowell became immensely popular
with the gay throng at Long Branch,
and each did not fail to denounce the
rest for their lack OF faith in human
nature. Kate McGregor was little less
than heroine in their eyes, and her
perfect happiness was only equaled by
Helen Manning's chagrin, who was
heard 10 say:
"If that woman had only told people
that she was married Kate McGregor
would have become Mrs. Manning at
some future time, instead OF Mrs. Dr.
Grey.