The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-07-31

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 l 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. | was not alone, how
ever; from a window l could see nv
cousin and Thorforth coming toward
the place, and thinking to surprise
them, | drew hack 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. l
could not see his face, but hers, on
which the moonbeams fell, was panied,
half-frightened, impatient. Hen was
pleading his cause, he was telling the
old, old story, with an carnestncss and
%eloquenceI had never heard surpassed.
She stopped it at last.
"Ob! Magnus," she cried. "Oh!
Magnus Thorforth, 1 never dreamed it
would come to this! Oh! what grief
you aus me, my poor Magnus. my
poor Magnus. my more than friend!'
What more was said need not be
told. In q 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 20 heaven.
Next day, Magnus Thorforth went
sadly away: even his sister looked
sad. She must have known it all. l
M saw them again.
One day. about a month after this,
Maggie and | 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
let's making drowsy, dreamy music on
the yellow sands.
She had been reading aloud, and 1
was gazing at her face.
81 begin to think you are beautiful"
l said.
She looked down at me where l Law
with those innocent eyes of hers that
always looked into mine as frankly as
q child's would.
"l'm not sure J. continued, "thatI
shan't commence making love to you,
and perhaps | might marry you. What
would you think Of that?"
"Love!!h she laughed, as m~usically
as a sea-nymph, Glove? Love betwixt
a cousin and a couslnp Prepos-
%terous!'
II dare say l resumed, pretending
to pout, you wouldn't marry me be-
cause I'm poor"
Poor she repeated, looking very
l fiy,YN, n mr. tan ~, ngt -, Il S.S -
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-. Come!!"
So that was the beginning and the
end of my love-making with Cousin
Maggie.
And Maggie had said she had v
meant 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, q steady breeze was blowing.
We had hoisted sail and were run
ming before it with the speed of 9 gull
on the wing.
Once round the point we had a 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 a gale.
1t vent round more to the north
about sunset, and then, for the first
time, we noticed Il yacht Of small dimen-
| cirt,cE rn tl,,. J,ckn - ... " I...-
tention 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 a%nxiously till nightfall hid her
from our view.
retired early, but sleep was out of
the question, for the wind ragged and
howled around the house like wild
wolves. About IL o'clock the, sound
of a gun fell on my ears. l could not
he 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 l had
seen him, but very serious.
The yacht is on the Ba,' he said
solemnly.
They were words to me of fearful
significance. The yacht, 1 knew, must
soon break up, and nothing could save
the crew.
Iquicklv followed my relative into
the back drawing-room, where Mag
gle was with her mother. We gazed
out into the night, out and across the
sno A tba /, ,,,n,,hpt ,,,t tLn,o
on the terrible Ba, a blue light sprang
up, revealing the yacht and even its
people on board. She was leaning
we'll over to one side, her masts gone,
and the spray dashing owe her.
Come" cried Maggie. .'there is
no time to loose. We can guide their
boat to the cave. Come, cousin!"
l felt dazed, thunderstruck. Was
to take part in a ~forlorn hopep Was
Maggie-how beautiful and darling
she looked now-to assume the robe of
a modern Grace Darling? Sc it ap.
peared.
The events of that night came back
10 my memory now rs if they had hap
pened but yesterday. 1t is page in my
past life that can never be obliterated.
We pulled out the ford, Maggie
and /, and up under the lee of the is
land, then. on rounding the point, we
encountered the whole force of the
sea and wind. There was a glimmer-
ing light on the wrecked yacht, and
for that we rowed, or rather were
borne along on the gale. No boat save
a Shetland skitf could have been trust
ed in such a sea.
AS we neared the Ba. steadying her
self by leaning on my shoulder, Mag
gle stood half up and waved the Ian
tern, and it was answered from the
wreck. Next moment it seemed to
me we were on the lee side, and Mag