McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-03-06

It was we'll that he did not see the
blaze of indignation in Meg's eyes, OF
he would never have finished his vehe.
ment speech. ~
''Mark Hunter,'' she answered, calm
ly and coldly, for she would have died
sooner than betray the tremor that
shook her frame, .you cannot deceive
me. Have I not seen-do not know
how you stood by your cousin, day
after day, warning, advising, counsel
ing, never impatient, very weary, till
you won him back to vlrtuep He does
not live in his own strength, he exists in
yours. AS far as the world goes, you
have achieved a noble action. If you
did for my sake-I cannot thank you
Mark drew his hands across his brow.
"Your words sound strangely" he
said, with dreary pathos in his voice.
81 did not expect thanks, but''-with a
Sc :ond culver of the moustache lip, that
manlike he strove desperately to hide
ssbut-"
AT the sight ali the passion in Meg's
strong nature was aroused.
because woman was kind to a
weak lad, who unstable nature APP
pealed 80 irresistably to her strong one,
was it necessary that the purest emo
tons of her heart must 60 out to him
also? Why should he have all wealth,
position, friends, and-mercyP''
Marks rugged features grew sudden
ly stern.
"Stop!" be commanded. "TeIl me
one thing. Do you love Philip"
Meg gave little gasp at the abrupt
ness of the question; then her lips took
on the old decided curve.
81 could love no one who proved
himself less than a man," she respond
ed. and there was honesty, at least, in
her voice.
''Margaret, MARK Hunter leaned
forward in the gray light with a half
awed look on his face-s'my childhood
was hard, unlovely one, for 1 was not
born to wealth, as was my cousin Phil
ip. have educated myself by my own
efforts, and have won position in the
world; but the battle 1'waged has left
many scar on heart and brain. An
swer me one question honestly, even if
the answer add to the burden my life
has already sustained. Could you
would you"
Shy Mark, he was stammering and
suffering like guilty schoolboy; but
Meg, with smile that sparkled in the
very depth of her eyes, put. her slim
hand in his, and repeated simply:
81 both could and would.''l
A sudden ray of sunlight shone out
over the drenched earth, and in trice
dripping boughs and rain-laden grasses
were sparkling diamond-like in its glo-
rious radiance. ''Mr. Hunter! Meg!"
1t was Kettle who called from the
regions below, and the truants came
down the dusky old staircase much
more slowly than they had assembled.
A second ray from the tiny window fell
athwart them like a blessed omen of
veal.
"Poor PLilip!" Mark said, strug-
Cling between a sense of his own hap
piness and compassion for his Cousins
disappointment.
''But not poor Mark" echoed Meg,
softly, thinking how noble his plain
face looked in the golden glow.
"Where have you been?" questioned
curious Jack, as he stood by the horses
heads, while the party surged out to
take their places with laugh and jest;
"What have you two been doing all
this time?'' :.
eve have laid the ghost" answered
Mark, gravely-'sthe ghost of doubt
and misunderstanding that has cast it's
shadow over so many lives. ] pray
Heaven it may never walk again!'
''Eh?" said uncomprehending Jack,
at the strangeness of the
reply. But even after he and Meg were
happy man and wife Mark never ex-
planned how his life, hitherto so dark,
had at last been illumined by ray of
sunlight.