Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-27

A grave that Is black,
Telling the story Of death to me.
II wish she would choose something
liveier," he said to Holden. Love songs
are SO idiotic."
such things as that happen, though,
now and then. Girls have died for love.
Poor little Recital she sings as il she felt
it,"
"By the way" was Compton's reply, "can
you tell me anything of Mrs Gorganei
She ard were rather good friends once
upon time"
So the foodgates were opened, and Hell
den told all he knew Of the beautiful widow
and her sweet cousin.
"Of course you're In love with Marie
that goes without saying" Compton an
nounced. Suppose we see the affair to a
termination together"
Through 1t all Rocita sang, while the
red lilies Of pain were gathered into a har-
vest for her.
Next morning the mail came and Comp
ton, although booted and spurred, sat a
long time over the letters. At last he
looked up and called his friend.
"See here, Jack, that investment
thought eternally bursted has come up. 1t
gives me few spare thousands shall go
DhCK WITH you.
"You won't give the ranch up'" said
Helden.
"Oh, mol not by any means; but shall
bring Elizabeth back with me-"
Then he went out upon the range.
"Pll be darned if don't break the news
to the poor thing myself" groaned Holden;
she shan't see her agonies and sneer-nol
and he shan't bestow his patronizing pity
on her, either"
Rocita had put on her communion dress
to pose in. With mans idea Of break
ing things gently, he soon bluntly told her
that Mr.. Compton was going away in
about a week and that he was to marry
"a beautiful lady" adding as a last dose
Of heartache that she was very tall and
blond.
Rocita drew in her breath sharply, but
said nothing Presently he observed that
she herself looked like a bride in her pres
ent garb. Then her unframed heart over
flowed.
"This Is the only bridal robe that l shall
ever wear" she cried, and threw herself
down upon the long grass I'm a passion Of
weeping.
Holden walked away and left her. At
shutdown Compton returned. When the
moon was up Rocita passed by their We
randa on the way to her fathers quar-
ters. Compton saw at once that she
walked slowly, like person in sickness or
trouble. He went up and spoke to her in
his pleasantest manner.
But In those hours of anguish she had
perhaps learned something of the Anglo
Saxon self restraint and she only said:
Let me by, senior. am not we'll"
Mrs. Gorgane's engagement to Mr. Fair
fax Compton was nine days wonder. ~
am disgraced in my own eyes" she said,
with one Of her old laughs. "for did not
take dare"
Jack and Marie, lacking the qualities OF
deadly directness which characterized their
elders, still walked In the pleasant mead
ows of unavowed love. Helden always
said the wrong thing in the wrong place.
It has been his habit from boyhood.
Two weeks before Compton's marriage
he brought up his rough sketches to show
the ladies. The painting Of Rocita was
among them.
"How beautifulp' cried Marie. Il won
der you weren't in love with her or she
with you"
"Oh, it wasn't me-" cried Helden i'm
pressively; ''it was''-
There was an awkward pause.
Helden had only thought of saving him
self
Mrs. Gorgane finished the sentence in her
clear soprano.
at was only Fairfax Compton. you
mean"
He drew her into the embrasure of a
window.
Elizabeth" he said, "you mustn't pay
any attention to what Helden insinuated.
You'-
mo. l am not jealous" she replied. 81
shall never have cause to be. Did l not
say the soubrette role was the saddest
thing in nature' Poor Jack He always
says the wrong thing in the wrong place"
She withdrew that accusation the next
day, when Marie told of his proposal and
her acceptance. He must have broken his
rule for once, she informed Compton, and
said the right thing in the right place
Eight months afterward Mr.. and Mrs.
Compton and Mr.. and Mrs. Helden came
to the ranch. Everything was in excellent
order, and the ladies were charmed. Hell
den asked the sheep foreman about Rocita-
"She has been sick" he said. "she has
been away In the town two moDths."
4 neiT urSb cApeuliloh WIS W bus sprluB.
The trees shaded it as of old, and the grass
grew about 1t soft and green. Another
well known association was not absent, for
mandolin with broken strings lay on the
ground, and near by Rocita herself, asleep.
Elizabeth reached her first.
"This must be our little dancer" she
cried. "See, fairfax She must have
walked in from town to greet you. She
shall never sing that song about the lilies
again"
Still Rocita did not wake. Holden stopped
down and looked closely at her face.
"She will never sing about anything any
more" he said, "she is dead"
Years passed, and Compton had ceased
to remember the Mexican maiden and her
pathetic story. His wife, who held his
love with a regal completeness. did not for
get her, however. She often placed gar
land on her grave, and sometimes muir
INJURED: THE saddest thing in nature Is
the soubrette role. "-Reba Gregory Prelat
in New Orleans Times Democrat.