Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-07-23
TIE ROCK BY THE SEA.


yourself, Jack. But there-fm not going to
quarrel with you How much longer are you
going to keep me up to abuse me" and Ruby
laughed aloud in her usual saucy, tantalizing
manner Jack looked at her, his face as black
as thunder cloud, on which was written
a stern determination. but she was in no way
appalled, by it On the contrary, she looked
at him gayly and carelessly, as if she were
perfectly Indifferent to him or his moods
Miss Howard he began, Miss How
ard, =" she mimicked mockingly, since when,
prays How ceremonious we grow. TO be
surer
He resumed, as if she had not interrupted
him. II will not detain you but Il moment
longer While am convinced that at the
present time you are perfectly heartless
owing more to the unhappy way Of your
bringing up and to the influences and fash
ions Of society than TO natural hardness Of
heart "Ohl thanks thanks awfully,
you are too good" she broke in again. laugh
mgly 1t was all as good as a burlesque to
her accustomed she was to lovers rant
ings Il am as firmly COW inced," he went
on in calm tone that It should have
warned her that this meant more than an or
binary tiff that you love me. but with
your natural perverseness. will neither &C
know ledge 1t to yourself nor me-"
As he said this-with an air of Judge
pronouncing sentence on some unhappy pris
oner-with his gray eyes fixed on her face
with the sternest gaze they were capable of
In spite Of herself the bloom on her soft
round check deepencd to bright red, and
Tor an instant her saucy mocking eyes fell
before his A transient smile passed over his
gloomy face at this evidence Of his power and
left it even gloomer than before As no re-
garded the lovely, half shy face before him
he commenced again bitterly And why
will you not yield to that love and make us
both happy | will tell you You do not
wish to be tied to one. to receive the love and
homage of one is not to your taste Oh, no,
not for years to come II would wait pa
tiently, and in the meantime be always ready
to dance attendance On your whims. not no
ticing any one else. and always keeping in
the background when a desirable Irritation
came up, then. perhaps, if you didn't meet
some one you preferred TO me, after keeping
me in suspense all that time. you might gra
ciously coudescend to marry me But | de
cline to become the slave Of any woman
and, as much as Lore you. am going to
leave you forever
"fIa hal" and her sweet. low laugh rang
out like chime OF silvery bells IT pho.
thckens Ple-se 60 on. 1t is as lovely as a
play"
II know and feel said Jack. earnestly,
that we are especially suited to each other.
and believe that in time you will realize the
truth Of what say and will regret me, even
as regret you now-but M more. I've al
ready said too inuch-more than intended
Good by" and with deep bow he turned
and left.
Well of ell things" she murmured
Forever Fudge I'll see him tomorrow
on the promenade the same Us usual He is
delicious | do like him the best when be as
serts himself He is grand when he gets en-
ragged He looks stern and glares so, and
is so unapproachable that am almost afraid
OF him-the darling II don't look out he
will end in making me marry him before the
season is over or course | shan't marry
any one else, but I'm not going to hurry my
self, there's plenty time After which sage
conclusion she went up to her room in gay
spirits, thinking Of the good time she would
have in making up with Jack as she had done
a number OF times before
The next day Miss Ruby failed to meet
Jack as usual In fact a week passed, and in
all that time he ha.i not called She had
missed bis presence from ball and opera and
e,ey p.ne- ,uar size nan graced With n.f
bright presence At last. making a few in
quiries. she found that Jack was out some
where on the broad ocean on his way to
China to join his brother. a tea merchant,
and was likely to be absent . term Of years
Although outwarvily Ruby managed to
conceal the shock she had received, she could
not conceal from her own heart that some
thing had gone from her that she missed and
longed for with an indescribable longing and
Q wild regret 1t was all the more madden
ing that no one was TO blame for her sorrow
but herself The old places bad lost their
charm Everything snd everybody was In
apid. fat and monotonouA Ali il he would
only return, how gladly would she acknowl
edge her love, and how gladly would sine
marry him al the earliest date he might men
ton Had she known his address at that
time she would have written to tell him Of
her love and penitence
Four years after Jack bad gnne Ruby was
at fashionable Watering place She was
still the belle Of every assemblage Her in
difference and utter careicssneas, combined
with her rare beauty, brought her scores Of
admirers, whom she drove almost mad with
her GOODNESS She was still rs lovely as ever,
but in her big. brown EYES there was shade
of sadness and slightly absent look which
gave q touch Of soul to . face that bad here
tofore sparkled with sit and giowed with
gayety and high spirits, but bad lacked feel
ing Now it ~as pesfect II Jack could
only see her BOW.
One day she was taking her morning stroll,
and feeling IN unaccountabls dispersion Of
spiritx Her great eyes were wearing their