Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-29
THE HOUSE BY THE SEA.

''Left you the Ragged Rocksr' ex-
claimed Clifton Murray in surprise.
"Why. what on earth can anyone do
with Ragged RocksP And what pos
sessed your aunt to make such ridic-
ulous willp"
Marian Ray looked up with a faint
ly deprecating smile. There was no
denying that Aunt Adeline's will had
been a sore disappointment to her,
but after all, were not all these things
the old lady's own, to do as she pleased
with?
Marian Ray was a school-teacher.
She had maintained herself in one way
or the other ever since she was sixteen,
but the life had been tedious and
wearing-and unsconsciously, Marian
had looked forward to Aunt Adeline's
will as key to unlock some of these
mysteries.
Clifton Murray, too, the ambitious
young lawyer, when he engaged him
self to the pretty school-teacher, had
not been without his hopes and aspira-
tions. For Miss Adeline Hubbard was
single lady of some property, and
she had but these two nieces, Marian
and her cousin Adelgetha Stubs.
But when the old lady died it tran
spired, to the amazement of all con-
cerned, that Aunt Adeline had had her
own ideas upon the subject. Her
thousand pounds in Government secur-
tiles were bequeathed to the niece
whose appellation had originally given
her so much displeasure.
s'Adelgetha, indeedr' she had de-
clared scornfully. ':And named after
mer'
And Marian, somewhat to her dis
may, found herself heiress only to the
old house by the sea, commonly called
Ragged Rocks" from the fact that
rocky headland precipitated itself into
the sea just at this point of the coast
cit is picturesque old house," said
Marian family. ''Artists have often
come there to sketch it, and"
s'Nonsense!" said Clifton irritably.
''One cannot live on art! And no one
in their senses would consent to live in
a hole like that, where the spray falls
all over at high tide, and the breakers
below like q rhinoceros."
''Aunt Adeline lived there,n said
Marian.
'She was an eccentricityr' said Muir
ray. ..But however, with sudden
sort of Inspiration dawning athwart
his brain, 1.-THE thing may be worth
looking into. You say it is left entirely
to youP"
Yes, Clifton; entirely to me-"
''And it's very old house?"
"Oh, gery?' responded Marian.
over century, they say"
''We1l go there tomorrow said the
lawyer. We'll investigate the old
place from cellar to garrett"
''You don't think, Clifton, that
''Why not?" said Clifton, tapping
her laughingly under the chin.
has happened to others-why not
us?"
And that night he dreamed ofgolden
treasures hid under Wondering floor
beams, and plethoric purses wedged
ously-built closets.
But it was only dream. They sue
ceeded in finding naught but ancient
wood, crumbling mortar, and clouds OF
dust; and Mr. Murray was more dis
gusted than ever.
Marian" said he moodily, 'it's no
use talking. Our marriage will have
to be put off so indefinitely that we
may as well give up the idea at once"
Marian turned pale.
ooh, Cliftonr was all that she said.
"I'm sorry, of course" added the
young lawyer, 'sbut people can't live
on nothing. And I dare say you'll find
someone who will be able to support
you better than / can! And, after all,
mere love and romance. without any
substantial background, will soon burn
themselves away"
eff you think SO, Clifton
sOf course 1 think so," said he petul-
antly. Everyone must think sop
So the engagement was over. Marian
kept patiently on with her school-du-
ties, and if she grew trifle thinner and
paler, and the dark blue rings outlined
themselves around her eyes, no one
took especial notice of it. And Mr..
Clifton Murray began assiduously to
devote his attentions to the fair Adel-
getha Stubs.
Marian took it all very quietly.
81 did not suppose he would care for
a girl like Adelgetha, she thought.
but it is difficult to fathom the depths
of mans heart"
She packed her few belongings, and
went to live at Ragged Rocks. Even
the booming of the sea and the cry OF
the gulls was better than no compan-
| ionship at all; and Adam Playfair, the
coast-guardsman, used to bring her
rare pink-hearted shells, sea-orchids.
and tangles of deep emerald seaweed
| when he came by in the yellow sunset.
Isn't it very lonely here for you,
Miss Ray?" he asked once.
| And Marian answered:
| "Rather. But I've come to the con-
| clusion that life at best is a lonely sort
of thing"
cit needn't be-" said Playfair. my
mother would be glad to have you
come and sit with her of an evening
sometimes.
So Marian went; and Mrs. Playfair,
a silverhaired old lady, with keen blue
| ewes and sweet voice, welcomed her
most kindly; and one day there came
| the tidings that Mr.. Murray was mar
ried to Miss Adelgetha Stubs.
| And when Adam Playfair, some days
| afterwards, asked her to marry him,
| she smiled. and blushed, and said
yes.
For Adam was one of those noble,
largehearted men who inspire confid-
| ence in all that surround him; and
Marian felt instinctively that she could
be happy with him.
| So they settled down in the coast
guards-man's cottage as cosy as two