Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-06-13
GaIts and Sktttbfs.
FATE SHE DIDx'f ESCAPE.
Continued from Yesterday


my name is Cheney, or you would betray
me-"
AYE. ave - responded the old man, as
he brought the boat skillfully up to the
wooden pier below the Lighthouse. I'll
not forget"
The Young man shrugged his shoulders
waited far Uncle David to fasten the boat.
Half a mile or more across the water
was Pine Head. where during the sum-
mer granite had been quarried.
But the long sheds were deserted now.
| and the great boarding house closed and
solitary. There was no sound save the
| wall Of the wind and the eternal beat OF
the waves upon the lodges.
| Lois MARVIN was spreading the table
| for tea in the cherry kitchen of the little
| stone house. when Uncle David entered
| with young man.
| He was rather above the medium height
| and full chested His hair was black and
waved loosely about handsome head and
| his eyes were intensely blue under their
| long black lashes. A long moustache
showed golden brown in the light.
He was dressed in suit OF rough gray
cloth. and had smiling dehonair express
| sion as he halted just within the door.
cap in hand and ulster over his arm, tor
| Uncle David to introduce him.
This il Mr. Cheney. mother and Lois.
Ny wife, Mr.. Cheney. and my niece, Miss
| Lois Martyr. This young man wants to
| stop with us awhile, mother. He is sent
down here by the coast survey on partic-
I ular business. calculate we can accom-.
modate him.
Yes. indeed!' hospitable aunt Nancy
| declared. They could accommodate him
if ne could put up with their poor fare.
And so the stranger was made one of
| them at once.
As for Lois. though she kept her senti-
ments to herself. she was heartily glad of
| anything to break the monotony OF life at
| Black Head, for in spite of the kindness
| of the old people, it was rather lonely
there, and the weather had been too Sc
| we're to allow her to accompany uncle
| David on any OF his trips to the city, ten
miles distant in an open boat.
This Mr.. Cheney was the most fascinat-
| ing of men. She had not wide expert
| ence, this nineteen-years-old heroine of
| mine.
He was at once so gay and grateful. 40
brave and tender, and chivalrous, and
| showed such positive talent for making
the days pass pleasantly. that we may not
wonder at the girls enthrallment.
Black Head seemed vertable paradise
| to her. The little stone house where so
many happy hours were spent, would be
forever glorifed. The quaint octagon
| shaped room at the top of the light house
tower, from which they had watched the
vast expanse of waters, while he had re-
| lated marvellous stories of strange cOun-
tries-would she ever think of it without
happy smile.
But. bless you. She treated this Mr..
| Cheney to all sorts of moods. She
| queened it right royalty oDe day, and the
next day treated him with the utmost in
| difference. Then for while she would be
| like child for frankness and sweetness
All the time she flattered herself that no
one had guessed her secret; all the time
| she dreaded her fathers summons to re-
turn; all the time Cheney humored her
| patiently and awaited the crisis.
1t came Just Il week before Christmas.
Uncle David and Cheney returning from
| Il trip to the city brought letter from Mr..
| Martyr to Lois. which read as follows
| "Mr. Quinten did not stay as long as |
| expected. You may come home now and
| in time to cat Christmas dinner with
PAPA"
SO after tea Lois told Mr.. Cheney that
she was going home. She looked very
serious and her under lip quivered little
as she spoke.
They were alone in the sitting room and
| the young man seated himself on stool
| by the big rocking chair in which she sat.
and laid one smooth shapely hand over
hers.
| M OF fhn
smile in his eyes.
| take me home with you, that may ask
Mr. Martyr for his little girl, to have and
| to hold from this time forth Will you,
| Lois ?''
And Lois answered meekly, enough
yes"
But when he would have kissed her lips.
she held him back with one slim hand.
"Mr Cheney"
my name is Felix" he corrected, with
laughing eyes.
Felix" she said, looking at him in
| confusion. That is the name of that
Frenchman whom papa brought home to
see me-Felix Quinten!"
Dear little Lowell cried the young
man. sinking upon his knees. clinging to
her skirts as she arose, II beg of you, don t
annhilate me; am Felix Quinten! You
| ran away from me. had seen your pic
ture. and had feeling that you were the
| wife wanted; so am here"
II will never marry you-never cried
Lois. passionately, her eyes filled with an
cry tears as she endeavored to free her.
self
Quinten was on his feet now, and would
| not let her 90.
LOIS" he said gravely. almost sternly.
| "you love me. Hush Why should you
deny it? If ever man tried honestly and
patiently to win woman's heart. | have
| tried to win yours and will not let you
go so easily. Do not be angry with me
| sweetheart" he added coaxingly, as he
wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed
her quivering lips.
Lois ceased to struggle.
She did love him. though he was Felix
Quinten; and by the time Uncle David
came in to tell how it had been little plot
between Mr.. Martyr. Quinten and himself.
Lois was ready to join in the laugh against
her, although she shook one hand threat
eningly against her lover.
And it was rather crestfallen little