The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-22

WI OIe1e 11F' OlhIIa X
here by me on the rock Mary Trevarr0ch,
and listen 10 ME for n minute. l want TO
talk about myself, and You are to be SO Kind
as to attend and try not think it bore"
Mary'S straight black brows contracted
little with somewhat uneasy and puzz ed
expression. ut wont bother me, sir, she
said. in a slightly confused tone, but l
can't see what it can have 10 do with me.
ut has only to do with two people, and
you are one of the two. The other is man
who sets up to be an artist, but who has
never and Will never make Il great thing OF
art-a man of 40, who is getting gray, and
who never had any good looks at the best,
who is not up to anything very particular.
but Is not Dad fellow to live with. he
came down into Cornwall last month in an
amless sort of way, drifting about like yon-
der seaweed; and while lie was there one
day he saw-what | believe he had been
looking for all his life-a girl, who has got
possession of him heart and soul. She is
very beautiful. BIT that isn't all-that isn't
half. She is perfectly unconscious of her.
self. which adds glorious nobility to her
beauty. She is simple, and frank, and true.
l know she is; see it in her eyes. She has
pure soul and noble heart, Mary, what
has she to say to the poor fellow that loves
her? Mary. my beautiful darling, look in
my face and say"
A pale, cold. changed face was slowly
turned on him, and her voice said in low
trembling tones:
Il don't rightly understand you. sir. I'm
only an ignorant girl, and | suppose you
are speaking out of joke"
"N GU dare think nothing of the Sort
Vincent returned passionately; sudden
touch that was almost like ierceness trans
forming his g0od-tempered face for q
moment. What right have you to insult
me by such a supposition? Dare one jest
when ones life is at stake?
You want me to marry y0u?" Mary said
slowly, and with sudden apathy of tone.
The badness of the words struck upon him
in the glow and romance of his feeling pain
fully and jarringly.
Yes, L want YOU to marry me. he re-
peated, rather bitterly, ''if that is the way
you want to put it. / want you TO know
that loye--loye you passionately. Mary
Trevarroch."
MIR. Randall" she said, with her eyes still
on his and sudden color coming into her
pale face, I'd like you 10 understand me.
loved VIII Penruddock"
A" Yes. | KNOW" he said, sadly, looking
down at the sand at his feet.
"Ay, but that's not all l love him now,
though he is-dead-Somewhere out there"
and she stretched her arm out toward the
sea. - never have cared for any one else.
and | never can. When he went down |
said good-by to everything everything that
makes girl like her life. Eve been sick of
mine nigh upon two years, but I've dragged
on some way. 1t IS very good of you to
speak like this to a poor ignorant girl like
me, but itll be the best for you to go away
and forget me quickly. Go away from Pen
ruth and finG some lady to love you" Then
the tone, which had been almost harsh,
changed to gentleness; she took his hand,
kissed it: God bless you! You Re a good
good man. l wish l wRs a lady and free,
and I'd love you and try to make you
happy"
mi vxos aar ial IL, tI.a,
which the touch OF her lips on his hand
brought him, carried away so far as to
put his arm around her and kiss her. She
drew back with an angry more than 4 con-
fused movement.
You've no right, sir" she said haughtily.
III am poor girl. gave you no leave.
III 60 home. There's nothing more to say"
Mary, for Gods sake don't leave me like
that; don't let me keep a memory of you
with anger In your face! l won't vex you
again. l wont offend you again; only listen
one moment to me. No one will ever care
for you as | do. My dearest, know you
loved the man you promised to marry. [
know you haven't forgotten him. | don't
ask you 10 DO that. l ask for nothing but
that you trust yourself TO me. I'll make
your life brighter, happier for yOu-so
bright. so happy. so full of love, that il time
my wife will give me her whole heart I'll
give you time, Mary, to let memory of the
past cease to pain you. II not hurry YOU"
Il don't want to lose the memory" she
cried, with vehement emphasis. Il love it
better than anything. lis the best of me.
! cant part with al | have left of the time
was happy. though l was poor aud igno-
rant as | am now; there WAS all the differ
ence-all the difference" As she spoke she
broke INTO passionate crying, and before lie
could answer her she was ON her feet and
turning her face in the direction of the
land. lie did not attempt 10 follow her: a
dreary sense of the hOpelessness OF the mo-
ment-somethins almost like dread of the
determined resistance of the girl-kept him
back.
"a woman loves by the eyes" he said to
himself, with sort of angry sadness, "and
II one were to shower treasures of love up
on her she would care nothing for that.
She's like them all"
But Vincent's mood changed before many
hours had passed. The longing TO possess
this beautiful creature, nobly beautiful,
unSpollt by the world, "a gem of purest
ray serene, set in so rough a caSket re-
turned with uncomfortable ferceness. and
he did thing which in his own mind was
mean-:he first meaHness which he had
ever committed. He went 10 WOO tho
mother. He knew that Mrs. Treyarrnch
If she ever had them, had outlived all ro-
mantle views of life. and he represented his
case to her with what he called brutal
vulgarity." De told her of the extent of
his income, his position in life, the prop
erty he could settle on his wife. Mrs. Ire
yarroch listened with every hard line of her
lace sharpened with eagernesS-the bitter
eagerneSs Of lifelong poverty.
shes born fool. was her comment on
his unvarnished tale. when she knows it's
as much as We can do to find bread A
born fool 'Tain't even as IL Penruddo ck
were alive-he might have kept her de-
Gently, and he was good fellow but she's
naught in the world to look to now but
want aud trouble. III make her have you,
Mr.. Randall, bless you"
Vincent shrank with sort of hatred from
his ally, but lie did not refuse the offer.
lie wanted Mary so much the more fercely
for his difficulty. But he was cautious: he
met her every day for a week. but he aid
not press his suit. He met her with Quiet
seriousness and respect which touched her;
he looked so sad. Her eyes dweit on him
so wistiully as to be almost tender-almost,
not quite. Mary seldom was tender, though
her heart was deep, capable of holding
whole ocean OF love. One day he asked her
bluntly and suddenly If she meant to marry
him, or to break his heart.
Her eyellds quivered and her lips, too, in
an attempt to smile. MEMS hearts don't
break" so feebly.
Don't tbey?" he returned. 'You know
great deal about them"
Il know nOught about gentlemen" she
answered, half sarcastically; but | can't
believe IN your remembering ME long"
Mary don't ask you to love me, re-
member. You have only to marry me. AT
least your life wont be worse than it is"
1T cant be much" she said, under her
breath. only I'm 10th to leave-the shore"
Think OF all it Reconsideration from
care. for you, for your mother"
Hush!" she returned fiercely, ''that's
what she's put into You. Don't make me-
do like that. VIII it make you happy?
Even if can't love you?''
YES" he answered, in tone that mad,
however. no elation in it,; sit is my only
chance"
Then take me if you WILL" she cried.
putting out her hands. land never say /