Wichita eagle., 1888-10-27

VIVA AiC obS0b yVo- aAs ~ ~ WOILu w
know her. The only spring of pure water I
have known in my desert"
Marie-she would tel me no other name
was at my mothers side always, following
her about like child Mother seemed be-
witched as well. Seeing that Marie was del
icate, she made her daily decoctions, petting
her like baby.
So life went on until Thanksgiving week,
when there was a vacation Of fortnight,
and Kitty Robbins came to visit US The big
fisherman, her father, rowed her over, and
both be and Kitty, as saw, looked with sus-
picion on Marie When he was gone Kitty
came up into the tower where was cleaning
the lamp
'Gideon, she isn't a good woman; her hair
Is bleached," she said. Kitty somehow then
looked sallow and homely; her voice rasped
me-the sharp nasal tones Of most New
England women.
''It isn't" l answered, coldly. "She has
been here since September, and the color is
yet golden.n
Here all that tiuei Ohr' muttered
Kitty, going down the stairs
remembered the tone Kitty said "Ohr'
in. A woman Is foolish to show bad temper,
especially if she is not beautiful / was so
unhappy that fortnight. Before Kitty ar
rived mother and Marie came up to the
tower every night to sit with me-Marie,
like an exquisite picture, in the blue gown,
with her rose leaf skin and her marvellous
eyes After all the years my heart goes out
to her. Mariei Mariei You were so differ
emit, 30 utterly different, SO foreign to my
life. You came to us from the seattle sea
that had bereft me, yet given me my bread
you brought me something out Of the world
barred to me, simple fisherman You gave
me a SOUL Deny it those who dare. was
a clod before you came. l shall never, never,
be clod again.
What Kitty Robbins told mother don't
know, but into mothers manner toward
Marie a chill crept, the GOODNESS that comes
to all good women toward q sister who has
fallen. Mrs Robbins and mother had been
life long friends, and the suspicious Kitty
planted in that kind heart fingered The
time passed painfully enough, Marie growing
pale and silent, Kitty cold and proud, rarely
speaking to the stranger. l was glad to see
Robbins como and Kitty go away, and it
was only when the boat was out of sight
that l remembered that l had not kissed
Kitty good-by, and everybody said we were
to DO married in the spring.
That night q cold wintry wind howled
around the tower, buffeting the wet spray in
my face when opened the door. 1 stepped
out. In the glare of light 1 saw her-Marie
standing looking at the gloomy sea.
''You will get your DEATH" said, angrily
"Come in" dragged her to the fire. chat
ing her cold little hands Shs shivered and
coughed.
81 could see through the glass that you
and your dear mother had some trouble" she
said quietly. Don't speak, Gideon. You
have ink and pens there. Win you write a
letter for me2"
II never could I had no education. I
write like clown Do it yourself; or,
rather, write no letter You have said often
that you mover wanted to leave the island
You have picked out q spot near the cove
where you wanted to be buried--that, when
dead, you might still know of our coming
and going. We have told you how welcome
you are, and yet-yet you talk Of writing,
which know means to go away"
Men could never rule me, Gideon, you
least Of all. You, child in heart and OK
perience. You, dear son, wish ! had a
brother like you, a big, strong, bearded man,
who would protect me. Look at me kindly,
Gideon, out Of those deep, dark eyes, where
can see your honest soul. Pity ne. That
letter Is SO repugnant, SO dreadful to me, that
l wish your kind hand to write it."
So wrote:
Robert Julian:
lam yet alive. Does this world still hold you
in its weary toilss At the entrance to the Sheep
SCOT where, wide and blue, with stormy waves
and treacherous reefs, it ends its life in the ocean,
is frowning headland and q tower. In Hend-
rick's Head Light have been living an enchanted
life since September-a princess in a tower.
wait for you MARIE.
One day letter came for Marie, and that
night she came to the tower as usual with
mother. Gideon" she said, "read the letter
aloud; you and your mother must know the
worst Of me-"
She stood away from mothers chair, hold
ing tiny hand between her face and the
lamp.
~ have no right to read your letter." I
said, rudely.
Read tn and II obeyed
DEAR MARIE-I hare been ct deaths door for
two months, but am now recovered lie was IN
hurt. shall come for you, weather permitting
end breezes favorable, the 2oth OF December.
JULIAN.
"Your father, dear?n asked mother
mo; l am an orphan. Six years ago
was married TOTO an Englishnan. did
not love him; nv father, who lived only a
year after my marriage, forced me into it.
My husband was twice my age. We were
unhappy. / reached the end of all suffering;
my heart became stone. When my baby was
3 years old it died ard l ran away. How
IL t. I.
band l fed with the man be hated-Juhan,
who has written me the letter that Gideon
holds"
dropped the paper as if it stung me.
And YOU l said angrily. got me to
write to your loysr." Mothers face grew
cold and stern
"Wasyou meaning to go again with him,
this other onal" she asked
Yes; there was nothing else. / never
loved him Hear me out My husband fol-
lowed US, found us hidden in quiet seaport
town He offered me my choice of deaths
he was very kind, you see, for he meant to
kill US unseen at first. begged him TO take
me out 10 sea in his yacht, and on some dark,
tempestpous night toset me adrift IL the boat
Julian did net know that had seen my hus-
band l stole away III the afternoon, We set
sail, and one night, far beyond Seguin, my
husband set me adrift. He intended that
the sailors should believe / had gone away in
my sleep in the boat. He could buy beliet."Ss
"The awful creetur'.A sai my mother.
No, deserved it," Marie went on. drear-
ily. Then be went back TO XII Julian So
my life belongs to the ruan who was wounded
for me-he-he loves Ee." She turned toward
the door, but l saw tears in her beautiful
eyes. ~ have brought shame on your honest
roof. betrayed your generous hospitality.
Oh, forgive mel Ny punishment is bitter
for love you, mother. Your good