The Magnolia gazette., 1883-11-08

Detter 10 drown GTlel III Ine weary treau-
mill which left her no time for its in
dulgence, SO she had come back to
Riverton and taken up her task, and
life looked very long before her.
1t need not have seemed either so
long or SO lonely. There was one who
was ready to take every burden upon
himself; that one, of course, Gordon
Marquis. 1t was Of Gordon Marquis
that Dana was thinking as she stood
under the weeping elms. She had
little note from him in her pocket, the
mercst line to tell her that he would be
in. Riverton that evening, andperhaps
it was this fact as much as the monthly
report which had caused Dana to linger.
There had been no recurrenceof love-
making on his part, She had hoped
there would be none, but thrill Of com
junction went home to her as she an
ticipated the errand whiehwas bringing
him now.
al ought to have told him." she muir
INJURED, half aloud.
"Told him what?" asked voice at
her side ''If the person referred to
should by any chance be myself, sup
pose you tell him now"
The sodden ground had deepened the
sound Of his footsteps, but Gordon Mar
quis himself stood there, smiling rather
gravely into her startled face.
"You have been standing here long
enough in this damp and chill, - he
said, drawing his hand within her arm.
~ watched You for fully five minutes,
and you were 50 absorbed in your own
thoughts YOU never knew / was near.
OF what were you thinking so intently,
Dana? OF what once said to you
here? You must know, / think, that
have come TO repeat it, though perhaps
it IS my duty to tell you-"
"Gordon, don't. Be my friend still
if you can. More than that, you-no
one, can ever be-
"No one?' lie stopped stock still,
looking down into her face. "Not
Launt Harrington himself? Dana, is it
possible you can love him still?''
Three months ago, had he asked her
/ that question, she could not have an
swcred it as she answered now, lifting
/ her eyes with an effort to meet her
i glances.
Il love him still, shall love him
while l live. And he was not to blame
for leaving me, he could have done
nothing else. Shall / tell you why he
did, Gordon? l don't want you to mis-
! Judge him, in a wistful tone.
"Tell me. y
He could have done nothing else. II
seemed incredible to Gordsn, but even
his incredulity melted away as he lis
tened.
I" She did not really-at least, moi
/ wilfully his fathers death, but
Launt believed it, and believing it, he
could do nothing else
There was little silence when she
4 paused Darkness was falling fast, il
] hid his face when he spoke again.
Il have great deal of faith in mis-.
takes like that coming right in the end
! This will be no exception to the gen
eral rule. come to ask my greates
happiness at your hands, Dana, but
want you to believe that if could leaC
you directly to your happiness woulC
do it with all JOY, and-and good wish
es for both of you"
They were drawing near her board
ing-place. He paused at the gate, anC
took her hands.
We win say goodbye here. Don
forget, Dana, that l shall be glad whel
your happiness comes. Once more
goodbye"
He was gone then, and she was look
ing after him with tears in her eyes
She dried them, and turned within.
"Miss Frenchp' Her landlady way
laid her in the hall "There's visito
for you in the parlor, gentleman
that's been waiting there for an hour
I'd run and slick myself up if wa
you before went in.
But Miss French chose to disregar,
this friendly advice. She hung he
damp wraps on the hall-rack an,
passed in directly. The red fireligh
from the open CRATE made rosy gloy
in the room. 1t fell upon the form an,
face of the man she had never expect
ed to see on earth again. He turned t
her, great eager light in the eye
that questioned hers; then he took
step toward her, and held out his arm
, imploringly.
"Nly darling! oh, my darling!'' wa
what he said. The next moment sh
was caught and drawn close, held ther
as if he would never let her 90 again
: Wy udlllliS, IoISlNe lue, forgive ine
II was all a mistake, Dana; q great an
terrible mistake. And to think that
nearly parted us. Nothing shall eve
do that again, nothing, if you can fol
give me now.n
Nothingp She made a vain struggl
to free herself. Was there not dar
shadow of shame and guilt between, I
part them forever? But Launt held he
fast.
Murder had been done, but no kindre
: blood cried out to him for vengeance
, If they were to be judged by the crime
of others, would not that of his father
, the crime of self-murder- weigh a
heavily as the homicidal deed 10 whic
frenzied woman had been provoked
, He heard all that story from her later
He had only one answer for her as h
stopped down, and for the first time
kissed her lips.
! "You are mine, Dana, and nothing o
i earth shall part us again,