The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-30
CHAPTER Nv.

At the approach of summer my uncle
suggested our going to the sea for little
rest and change. We were soon COM
fortably settled in cheerful house close
to the pier at Kingstown, and overlook
ing the lovely bay of Dublin. The
change from the hot bustling city WAS
delightful to me, who always loved the
sea. For hours I sat watching the gay
scene before our windows. The harbor
dotted with graceful yachts and boats of
all sizes, the acknowledgement groups
walking on the pier, were all objects of
the greatest interest; but I loved better
still to look across the BRIGHT dancing
waves towards Howth, which, with their
changing lights and shades, reminded
me Of great opal resting on the sea.
Moreover, Douglas was always with us.
Every day there some excursion or plan
Of amusement that could not be carried
out without his cooperation. His yacht
was always At our disposal, and half our
time was spent on board; sometimes
scudding rapidly over tho crisp blue
waves; at Others, moving lazily about the
the harbor. watching with languid inter-
stfrom under an awning the movements
of the numerous yachts and boats bound
on PLEASURE excursions like ours. How
well can recall Alan as he looked on
those bright summer days in his loose
yachting-dress Of blue serge, that suited
his powerful figure as no other dress did,
the clear bronze of his complexion deep
ened by exposure to the sun, and his
crisp dark hair crowned with little red
capl ..,1ss ~ aar y~us7 tv,rsz
Mamma had returned home some time
before, but my uncle would not allow
me to accompany her, and / was only
too glad to remain. And 50 day after
day glided by almost unnoticed by me.
I was perfectly happy, and never even
wondered why Alan remained silent
when there seemed nothing to prevent
his declaring bis love. never imagined
that my present joy must come to an
end / only knew that we loved each
other, and I.cared and wished for moth
ing mere. A crisis came at last, and
when least expected, as all great changes
do come when we are ulprepared for
them na--when the thread of our lives seems
running SO smoothly, so evenly, until the
thread snaps suddenly, and we know in
that moment that all is changed, that
never again will life be quite the same.
1t was the evening Of close, sultry
day. The heat had been intense, and
the cool breezsr that Just rippled the wa
ter was delieiously refreshing The
mellow light Of the full moon flooded
the sea with it's soft radiance. Some one
proposed q walk, and in short time we
all sauntered slowly down the pier-Alan
and I together, as usual After a time
we separated from the others Alan was
very silent, and could see in the NOON
light had never noticed on his face be-
fore-a look of utter pain and WEAKNESS,
as if he were sorely tried and tempted.
evil you come upn hereg' he asked,
abruptly, ss he led the way to q fight of
steps on the other side of the pier, where
the rough stones were thrown loosely to-
gether, and the waves dsshing against
them. o T'' 'f .'.
The spot was quite deserted, and ! fol.
lowed him silently. For few moments
we stood looking across the waste of
moonlit waters. as Hseos2 4Gi b
Then he spoke: iG '7'a l25ss s-aae
"Katie," he began-and my heart gave
q bound, for 1t was the frst time he had
called me by my CHRISTIAN name "Ka-
tie, l have something to tell you,
though I think you must have guessed
II alfeady. Ills that I love you, Kate
love you IS I never loved any one be-
fore. o child, do you not can you not
know what you are to met Yop are all
I care for in life, Katie. Ill must give
you up, then what isto become of me n"
His voice was hoarse and broken, ard
he spoke like one laboring under sos.e 9
srfeng emotion, which he vaiply s.stove
y overcome. ] felt half terrifssd ~ - ]
listsasA thsush the subtih tgy isat hil