The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-10-26

out Wills help, but her limbs failed
her, and she leaned against the rock,
little turned away from him. Will
stood and looked at her with curious
mixture of love, and ferceness, and
terror in his face. At that moment
Vincent Randall came slowly up, and
stood before them. Mary looked at
the two men with q quivering face,
and then, putting up her clasped
hands, she dropped at Vincent's feet.
Hes come backbone back!' she
sobbed out. "Oh, sir, I love him! I
told you I did. You can't say I was
false. l thought in time I'd live to
forget him, and meant to be good.
Oh! tell him-tell him!' and she
dropped her head upon the ground
"What am [ to tell him?" Vincent
asked, in a low, stern voice. "You
can tell him best yourself what there
is to be told. Goodbye, Mary Ire
varroch." .... .-..- Fl
He had not left them long before
he hated himself. He half turned to
go back as he heard her sobbing, but
he dared not trust himself. He went
to the Fisherman's Rest, and packed
up his things; then he sat down and
wrote: Forgive me for speaking
cruelty, my poor girl. l know what
you meant me to tell him, though at
the moment I could not answer you
as | ought. Tell him now from me
that l honor you, and have always
honored you as much as | loved you.
You did not say yes to me at last be-
cause l had some worldly good to Of
fer you; you saw it was what | want
ed, and you meant to make me happy.
But your true heart spoke when you
said no, not yes, to me. We are both
spared much. Goodbye, and God
bless you, Mary. I need not bid you
be true to Will Penruddock, whom
the depths have given back to you"
As he wrote the words the
evening darkened SO fast he
could scarcely see what he
had written, and he laid down the
pen. At that moment some one
knocked, He opened the door, and
saw Mary Trevarroch in her peasant
dress. He took her hands, which
were damp and icy cold, and drew her
into the room. She looked at him,
trembling in every fibre Of her frame.
''They tell me you're going early to-
morrow, sir" she said, in scarcely
audible voice.
'Yes, my dear" a,v
'Oh, you're not angry with me,
then? You don't hate me since you
speak so! Mr.. Randall, you under
stand?" Eyes, | understand. | was
writing to tell you so. Does Will un-
derstand too?"
YES" she murmured, with droop-
ing head. "But I'd like to ask YOUR
pardon before you go, Mr.. Randall.
You We been so good-so good to me
The things are all sent back, sir. l
never wanted them"
''No," he returned, in the same qui-
ct, half apathetic tone. II know that;
and neither do l want them"
You Il try to forgive me?''
''1've nothing to forgive; on the
contrary, [ have one thing to thank
you for, Mary. I've all my life been
hunting for ideals. you have helped
me a good deal, | see there are wo-
men who can love. Love is still now
and then lord of ALL not money.
My dear, let me kiss you
for goodbye, for / shall never see
Penruth nor you again, most likely. |
Y You will be married soon?"
II think so.'
"And then?"
1--WE shall live here==he will get
boat Of his own in time, he hopes" !
"Ah! see. hope so too.'' |
He kissed her on the cheek and
turned away from her; before she had
closed the door he had torn his letter
into atoms.
Next day Vincent Randall was in
his old world again, and it did not
perceive any difference in him.
Will Penruddock had a wedding
present from an unknown and onl, |
guessed-at henefact1r, which enabled
him to become the owner Of boat in
the place of that he had lost. In
spite of this, and Of handsome pres
ent from the same unknown source,
the widow Trevarroch resented her
daughters choice with persistent bit
terness. In the pnearthly light Of
the strange dawn Of her happiness
which had seemed SO long to have set,
Mary cared little for that. Whether
the light lasted and was enough al
ways to shine upon the rough path
way Of her future life, / can but
guess. 1t is much if only few steps
are so lighted, fer to many is given
only the sullen cry Of cloudy win
ter, which never breaks into summer
this side the grave.