McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-05-14

went by. and my love making was
still postponed; it became sine die
kind of probability. Maggie was
constantly with me when out of doors
my companion in all my fishing and
shooting trips. But she carried not
only rod but even rifle herself; she
could give me lessons in casting the
fy-and did; she often shot dead the
seals that had merely wounded, and
her prowess in rowing astonished me,
and her daring in venturing SO far to
| sea in our broad. open boat, often
made me tremble for our safety.
A frequent visitor for the first two
months of my stay at RI was a
young and well to do farmer and fisher
who came in his boat from neighbor-
ing island, always accompanied by his
sister and they usually stayed day or
two. was not long in percelvlng that
this Mr.. Thorforth was deeply in love
with my cousin; the state of her feel
| ing toward him it was some time be-
| fore could fathom, but the revelation
came at last and quite unexpectedly.
There was an old ruin some distance
from the house, where, one lovely
moonlight night, l happened to be
seated alone. l was not alone, how
ever; from window l could see my
cousin and Thorfortk coming toward
the place, and thinking to surprise
them, / drew back under the shadow
of a portion of the wall. But l was
not to be an actor in that scene, though
it was one l shall never forget.
could not see his face, but hers, on
which the moonbeams fell, was panied,
half-frightened, impatient. He was
pleading his cause, he was telling the
old, old story, with an carnestness and
eloquence had never heard surpassed.
She stopped it at last.
sob! Magnus," she cried. ooh!
Magnus Thorforth, 1 never dreamed it
would come to this! Oh! what grief
you cause me, my poor Magnus. my
poor Magnus, my more than friendi"
What more was said need not be
told. In a few moments he was gone.
and she was knecling on the green
sward, just on the spot where he had
left her, her hands clasped, and her
face upturned to heaven.
Next day, Magnus Thorforth went
sadly away: even his sister looked
sad. She must have known it all.
never saw them again.
One day, about month after this,
Maggie and l were together in a cave
close by the ocean, favorite haunt
OF ours on hot afternoons. Our boat
was drawn up close by. The day was
bright and the sea calm, its tiny wave
lets making drowsy, dreamy music on
the yellow sands.
She had been reading aloud, and [
was gazing at her face.
81 begin to think you are beautiful"
| said.
She looked down at me where | Law
with those innocent eyes of hers that
always looked into mine as frankly as
a child would.
I'm not sure,'' continued, ''thatI
shan't commence making love to you,
and perhaps l might marry you. What
would you think of that2"
'.LoveH' she laughed, as unsteady
as sea-nymph, Glove? Love betwixt
a cousin and a COUSIN? Prepos-
terous!"
81 dare say" l resumed, pretending
to pout. you wouldn't marry me be-
cause I'm poor"
''Poor!" she repeated, looking very
firm and earnest now. elf the man l !
loved were poor I'd carry a creel for |
him. I'd gather shells for his sake; !
but [ don't love anybody and don't !
mean to. Gomez
So that was the beginning and the |
end of my love-making with Cousin
Maggie.
And Maggie had said she had never
to love anyone. Well, we never
can tell what may be in our immediate
future.
Hardly had we left the cave that day,
and put Off from the shore. ere CATS
paws began to ruffle the water. They |
came in from the west, and before we
had got half way to the distant head
land, steady breeze was blowing.
We had hoisted our sail and 7ere run
ming before it with the speed of 3 gull
on the wing.
Once round the point we had beam
wind till we entered the ford, then we
had to beat to windward all the way
home, by which time it was blowing
quite gale.
1t went round more to the north
about sunset, and then, for the first
time, we noticed a yacht of small dimen-
sions on the distant horizon. Her in
Eention appeared to be that of rounding
the island and probably anchoring on
the lee side of it. She was In an ugly
position, however, and we all watched
her anxlously till nightfall hid her
from our view.
retired early, but sleep was out of
the question, for the wind ragged and
nowled around the house like wild
wolves. About II o'clock the sound
Of =. gun fell on my ears. 1 could not
be mistaken, for the window ratified in
sharp response.
sprang from my couch and began
to dress, and Immediately after, my
aged relative entered the room. He
looked younger and taller than 1 had
seen him, but very serious.
"The yacht is ON the b." he said
solemniy.
They were words to me of fearful