Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-04-28

y
the water. and have never had an acct
| dent yet. You trust me, don't youP'
Indeed do, Leonard. You are
grand sailor. Whom could I trust as
do youP"
Then you are not afraid nowp" he
said, inquiringly.
| ''Oh, yes, l ANA little" At that
moment the boat gave sudden plunge
before gust of wind, and / screamed
with fright. There was really no cause
for alarm, and Leonard treasured me
with many tender words.
II have perfect faith in you as skill
ful navigator" l said, "but here is the
boat and the sail, and there is the wind
and that observation-disclosures water. Oh,
how l wish l could see the bottom"
and peered over the side. IF could
only see land down there. and knew
that could wade ashore without wet
ting my skirts"
Leonard laughed ironically. you
are as timid as a hen, Mary, and l am
losing all hope of YOU"
Then let us turn about and 90
home." responded.
"Oh, no, not yet" he said, with a
strange emphasis; II came out for a
long sail tonight"
1T is almost. dark, and am growing
very nervous" l pleaded.
"But am not afraid; there is moth
ing to be afraid of; and you trust me-"
/ still begged him to turn the boat,
and finally began to cry
why, Mary, what goose you are"
mo, not goose, Leonard" re.
piled, trying to smile, 'you know q
goose is at homo on the water"
The day closed with all the glory of n
harvest sunset. A beautiful and pro-
longed twilight ushered in the night.
One by one the stars peeped out from
the grand old dome above us and the
turbulent lake, now softened to a gen.
tie swell, reflected the silvery rays in
shivering streams of light. We were
miles from the shore. The sail of the
Mystic tapped languidly against the
mast as the boat rose and fell with the
heaving surface of the water, but not a
breath crossed our path to propel us on
ward or homeward. We were be-
Gained.
Leonard was in ecstasy. Twas in tears.
As the night advanced and darkness
dcopened, earnestly and tearfully pray
ed Leonard to turn shoreward, but in
vain. In this hour a startling change had
come over him. He was no longer the
ardent admirer, the tender lover, but
like tiger crouching within sure and
certain reach of his already wounded
prey, and watching with grim satisfac-
ton its fruitless efforts TO escape, he re-
tanned his place in the stern Of the boat
needless of prayers and tears, laughing
unnaturally at my fears and wringing
my heart with ridicule.
A thick, cold, clammy mist gradually
crept around us, shutting out the light
OF the stars and enveloping everything
in impcnetrable gloom. A light shawl
afforded little protection. and l was
soon chilled to the bone. My teeth chat
tered. l could not keep them still
Leonard laughed, hard, heartless
laugh.
could not comprehend the meaning
OF his behavior towards me. He had
always been so very kind. In the early
part OF the night he was tenderness
itself. Now his conduct was positively
cruel. / felt convinced most of the time
that he had some great surprise in store
for me, and that his apparent heartless-
ness was necessary to the success of his
joke. He was very fond of surprises.
But here we were away out in the lake
in darkness and fog, with no wind, no
possibility of escape, for there was not
the semblance OF an oar or paddle en-
board. Then what surprise had he in
store for me?
MARY" he said, after a prolonged
silence, during which he seemed wrapt
in thought, his voice now changed to its
natural tone, IL am sorry you are cold
l would take you home quickly if |
could, but I am powerless. Here, take
my coat, and wrap yourself in it--and
pardon my cruelty, l am not feeling
well tonight. Let us hope that breeze
will spring up soon."
Here was the explanation I had 80
long waited for.
you are not well, Leonard, know"
said. Keep the coat, you will need it,
Be sure am grateful" added, fear
ing that he might misapprehend my
meaning. ~ should be sorry to force
you to risk serious illness by depriving
you of the protection now more than
ever required"
He urged me strongly to take it, as
serting that he was not in the least cold,
and extended my hand for it, for ] was
suffering keenly; but failed to get it.
For some reason he had changed his
mind, and muttering something unin-
telligible to me, he laid the coat beside
him on the seat.
IL have something that must say
now" he remarked, after brief silence.
The harshness of his voice had returned.
MARY, have brought you out here
for purpose. l have something inn
portant to say to you, and don't want
others to hear us. 1t is of no interest to
any but ourselves.
He paused moment, during which
he fumbled his coat, and I heard him
place some hard, metallic article upon
the scat near him.
Then he went on: -Four years ago
registered a solemn VOW that / would
some day ask you for your hand and
heart, and would not brook refusal. /
swore that il you rejected me you should
never be the wife of another, for would
kill YOU"
He spoke the words with great delibe-
ration and emphasis, but quickly chang
ing his manner he continued in an earn
est, suppllant tone:
Mary, Ihave already twice asked you
to be my wife. have offered you all
that have to give-my fortune, which
is ample for us both; my home, of which
in times past you have often expressed
admiration, and the devotion of a heart
that has never wavered in its love for
you. You won't refuse me this time,
Mary, will youP"
"This is quite unexpected, Leonard"
answered. "You must give me time
to consider"
| II have already waited months. can
not wait an hour longer"
wait till we get home" pleaded.
lie made no immediate reply. The
metallic noise, before referred to, again
came from the seat beside him. Re-
membering that he had sworn to take
my life If refused him, I was intense