Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-09-13

Myral For their sakes L must be strong,
and try to bear it ALL"
On the verge of the orchard, where the
high bank sl0ped abruptly to the mead
Ow. she came to mass of tangled honey
suckle, fashioned into rustic arbor.
Wat had made it for her, and here, in
fact, it was that they had last parted.
Down in the meadow ran little path
way, leading by short cut to Watts
home couple Of miles away. How often
she sat here of an evening and watched
for him.
She could scarcely look back upon any
object now before her eyes which was
not connected with some associations of
Wat.
There was the walnut tree which he
and Jack used to climb, and there the
clear, laughing brook in which he had
taught her to steer the little boat which
he had made for her, laden with grain,
down to Jacks famous water-mill, at the
roots of that old willow.
Further up was the real "grlst and
saw-mill," which Jack had always been
so DESTROYS of owning, and which every
body said would be such a good invest
ment for one who could manage it prop
erly.
And then Marian, seated on the bench
in the rustic arbOr, turned and looked
long and yearningly at the old farm
house peeping from the great beeches
across the orchard. No other place on
earth could ever be home tO.her. And
her mother? Oh, it would be harder
stillfOr her, whose whole life of 80 years
had been spent under that roof.
A sudden sound aroused Mariana
sharp whistle as of some one calling to
dog, and she saw through tear-dimmed
eyes the figure of man hurrying along
the pathway in the meadow. She drew
back behind the screen of the honey
Suckle.
The path led past the arbOr, but at the
foot of the steep bank she would not be
discovered in her retreat. So she thought;
but moment or two after there was
sound of footsteps ascending the bank, a
rustic of the hOneysuckle branches, and
Marion saw standing in the entrance of
the arbOr the figure of tall young man
who looked almost as much startled as
herself.
For moment they gazed at each
Other-Marian pale, and the stranger
with flush rising on his handsome face.
Then he said, as he held out his hand
Marian, don't you know me?"
She gave him her hand in silence. 1t
was Wat. And suddenly with the sight
of him came the full bitterness of her
sorrow, in the consciousness that he was
lost to her forever. She was nothing to
him now, and he must be nothing to
her.
Il am glad to have so unexpectedly
found you here in this dear old spot"
he said. Il arrived at home only an
hour ago, and could not rest until | had
seen you"
She met his eyes, bent upon her with
earnestnesS, and her pale cheek family
flushed, bat she could not have spoken a
word.
Marian" he said suddenly, shave you
no welcome for me? Is it possible that
you cannot forgive me?"
Forgive your
''Yes; for all my absurd jealousy and
pride, and folly. l have never had a
happy moment since / parted from you,
Marian, and | have come back at last to
beg your forgiveness, and to beg, too, for
the love which | forfeited, but which |
cannot live without"
Il do not understand you, Wat. l do
not know why you should speak thus to
me, when-when you are going to be
married"
''WhO told you that of me, Mariana"
ut came from Agnes, your own sis
ter"
He smiled.
"Aggie knows my wishes. 1t was she
who encouraged me to come back. She
thought you would forgive me. Will
you Marian, darling?"
She had averted her face to hide her
fearful eyes, but he now took both her
hands, and, as he drew her toward him
great tide of unspeakable joy rushed
over her, and she could only murmer
family: "Oh, Watr
When they wereboth calmer she told
him of the heavy grief that had just
fallen upon them. They must leave
their dear old home, which had passed
into the hands of strangers?"
''Of strangers, Marian? Do you call
me stranger?
"YOu, Wat.?"
He looked surprised in his turn. 4 :
did you not know it was / who have
purchased the dear old farm? Did you
not receive Jacks letter."
'Oh, Walter, it cannot, cannot be
truep'
He took from a pOcket-bO0k paper,
which he opened and placed before her.
1t was the mortgage which her father
had given Mr.. Abner Harris.
"And the place is really yours nOwp'
she said, looking up radiantly through
sudden tears.
Not mine, but ours, darling"
She was too happy to speak word in
answer.
you see DEAR" Wat said, "Jack and ]
talked it over the other day, and we
agreed, as he was so anxious to pur-
chase the mill and had not means suffi-
cient for both. that l should take the
in the mill property. 1t is the very best
explained to her, if only she had receiv-
ed his letter. Jacklis not fitted for farm
er, and could never have much of the
farm, as he certainly will do with the
mill. He came up with me in order to
attend to the matter. Forgive me that
neglected to inform you, but l left him
behind in the maple field, talking with
Aggie."
Marian started up with glad cry
| Coming down the opposite declivity of
| the meadow was somebody jOyOusly way
ing his hand, and in two minutes she
was sObbing in her brothers arms. Sob
bling from fullness of joy such as she
had never in her life before known.
They fastened to the house, all three
eager to gladden. the heart of the mother.
Jack sprung up to the steps and took
her in his arms, while Wat lifted, Myra
who had run to meet them in frantic de-
light.
As Marian crossed the threshold, the
old clock rang out a welcome chime.
Seven o'clock said the girl, softly.
Her heart was full, and she turned
away and went quietly up to her own