The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-01-03
THE HOUSE BY THE SEA.

IHE HUUSE By IHE SEA.
LEFT you the Ragged Rocksm ex-
claimed Clifton Murray in surprise.
s'Why. what on earth can anyone do
with Ragged Rocks? And what pos
sessed your aunt to make such ridic-
ulous wili?"
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 .ady's own, to do as she pleased
withY
M sho Ray was school-teacher.
She F.tu :aintained 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 Stubbs.
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 GovernmeIn secur-
tiles were bequeathed to the niece
whose appellation had originally given
her so much diSpleaSure
"Adelgetha, indeedr' she had de-
clared seornfullE. "And named after
me!n
All aaarian, somewhat to her dis
may, found herself heiress only to the
old house by the sea, commonly called
Ragged Rocks" from the fact that a
rocky headland precipitated itself into
the sea just at this point of the coast.
1T is picturesque old house" said
Marian family. ARTISTS have often
come there to sketch it, and"
..Nonsense!" said Clifton irritably.
lone cannot live on art! And no one
in their senses would consent to live in
hole like that, where the spray falls
all over at high tide. and the breakers
below like n rhinoceros."
"Aunt Adclne lived there said
Marian.
"She was an eccentricity!" 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 LETT entirely
to voupn
''Yes, Clifton; entirely to me-"
''And it's very old house?'
''Oh, very?n responded Marian.
Over century, they say
"We'Il 90 there tomorrow, said thu
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. ''It
has happened to others-why not to
us?"
And that night he dreamed of golden
treasures hid under mouldering floor
beams, and plethoric purses wedged
away in the secret recesses of mysterl-
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.
''Oh, Clifton!' was all that she said.
"Im sorry, of course" added the
young lawyer. .'but people can't live
on nothing. And / 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 Won think sc, Clifton"
"Of course l think so," said he petul-
antly. Everyone must think so!'
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 MIR.
Clifton Murray began asSiduously to
devote his attentions to the fair Adel-
getha Stubs.
Marian took it all very quietly.
Il did not suppose he would care for
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 eompan-
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 lonely sort
of thing
s'It needn't be-" said Playfair MY
mother would be glad to have You
come and sit with her of an evening
sometimes"
So Merriam went; and Mrs. Playfair
silverhaired old lady. with keen blu.
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.