The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1890-08-15
gazing wistfully out over the signing

0N0
For awhile he stood beside her,
talking ofthe sunset glories all about
them; then they strolled on down
the sands toward the craggy points
below.
"Let me sit here, Marjorie" he
said, and she started a little at that
name which he used now for the
first time. 81 have something to
tell you, l have waited SO long-so
patiently! But you will listen to
me now, Marjorie"-with tender
pleading in his voice-"I must tell
you what is in my heart"
She sunk down mechanically upon
the large, fat rock which he had
designated, her lips pressed together,
her sweet face very pale, and panied
halffrightened look in the large
brown eyes which were so persistent
ly averted from the tender chances
bent upon her.
In silence she listened to the avow-
al which she could parry no longer.
But when it was ended, and he
turned to her with flushed, expect
ant face, awaiting her answer, she
shook off the spell and spoke to him
in low tones which, though sweet
and pitying as music, felllike ice on
the passionate fever of his heart.
81 am sorry" she answered, sim
ply. "You know | have done all |
could to avoid this, Mr.. Griswold. |
understand all that it would mean to
me-your love. Believe .ne, | would
accept it gladly if-ifI had a heart
to give you in return. But | have
not, so | must beg you to forget me,
and to bestow your love upon some
other-some one who will cherish it
as you deserve"
"Thenyoulove another, Marjorie?"
he asked, huskily. 'Tell me-the
truth. If must lose you"
He stopped, for his voice failed
him, and he looked away from the
lovely face beside him, with changed
expression on his own that touched
Marjorie to the heart.
"There is very little to TELL" she
| answered, sadly. ''The storyrs brief
and simple enough, but it killed my
heart. loved once, Mr., Griswold,
with all the strength and passion of
my soul. Like you, he was rich and
handsome, and l thought-yes, even
now, l still believe-that he was true
and noble and generous-all that a
man should be. But trouble came
between us, vel arled in bitter anger,
and he went away, HevOwed that he
would put the ocean between us and
never look upon my face again. L
have heard since that he was mar
ried to a beautiful English girl, and
that is all. But you see now why
l have no love to give any one. My
heart is dead" she repeated with in
finite mourntulness, her great, soft
brown eyes turning again to the sea
that was growing gray and lonely in
the deepening dusk.
But Parke Griswold's handsome
face had undergone another change
before her little story was ended. 1t
was bright and flushed one more
with hopefulness.
"Even after all that, Marjorie, 1
implore you to be my wife," he en-
treated his strong voice full of a
passion and tenderness that seemed
irresistible. "He is gone out of
your life; forget him; try to love me
instead. Oh, | think you can learn
to if you will only try, my darling!"
He would not let her go but con-
tinued to plead, with all the eloquence
that his masterfullove could suggest,
until at last Marjorie found herself
f~altering, hesitating, almost on the
verge of yielding to his prayer.
"My life is so hard and lonely"
she reflected as she listened to
his burning words, "why shouldn't
l give it into his keeping? He loves
me we'll and truly, and-perhaps l
might forget in time; | might even
learn to love him-who can teil?"
"Let me have time to think it over,
Mr.. Griswold," she said at last, put
ting her hand to her forehead with a
faint, patheticlittle smile. "I-don't
know what to say to you just now.
But-to-morrow, perhaps, or, at
most, before we return to town."
and so together they walked back,
almost in silence, to the cottage.
Alike was watching for them at
the window.
"He has proposed to you'll know
he has," she exclaimed under her
breath, drawing Marjorie aside, with
her own dark eyes sparkling joyous
~. 81 knew he would, when / saw
you walking down toward the point.
Oh, Marjorie, what a foolish girl you
will be if you don't accept him!"
"Oh, Alike, don't-please don'task
me anything!!" whispered Marjorie,
the slight flush that had warmed her
cheeks suddenly dying out.
And then she escaped to- her own
room to think out, if she could, the
problem of her future.
The next night came down dark
and stormy, and terribly desolate
description,
The sea moaned and roared and
dashed upon the rocks below with
awful fury, sending the white spray
in q binding shower over all the
beach.