Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-03-12


tered along the shore OF the lake, realis-
Ing that be was not quite whole hearted.
A year had passed since Harry Marsh's
visit to the quiet little village Of Hunts
vile. Many changes had taken place.
Viola Craig Il an orphan-alone in the
worid-friendless. What was she to dos
She fell into brief reyerie.
She had an aunt, rich In this worlds
goods; she had written 10 her and re-
cetyed letter bidding her TO come and
make her home with her. Break up
the old home and come and live with
me- These were the words she read.
Break mp the old home! How no.
nance clings around itl' She stood by
the window and gazed MP the country
read, bordered cn one side by dark pine
woods. on the other by irregular rolls Of
cultivated ground. How dear the form
OF every treei How oft had she walked
there with the one she loved; had no mot
cut his name and hers upon those very
trees; but he had gone-left without one
word of parting. "A crimson flush, deem.
swift md unmiatakable, swept over the
I s4fs1Air1 sentative fzxc.
he did not care for me; he was
merely amusing himself" )" she unused.
Then strange light flashed into her
eyes, and two bright spots Of color came
ON her cheek and she said determine,IIv
II viii go to my aunt, and as her heiress
try and forget him.
Fond remembrancesl Dear old home.
good-byi
A storm had suddenly arisen from, the
southwest. It descended with torrent
OF rain, resistless furry Of wind and
crash of thunder.
Viola was sitting at the window. She
glanced out upon the lake. She beheId
It's surface lashed into foam. and, horror
stricken, she beheld something else.
A boat, midway between tho peninsula
and the shore nearest the hotel. had
suddenly capsized under the fierce blast.
For an instant a human being was
visible amid the foaming waters. but
soon disappeared.
Viola descended to the veranda, her
face deadly white.
Several men dashed past, and upon
the wings OF the storm she heard one of
them say:
Hale and Marsh We're in the boat
and there's little chance OF our saving
them"
For an instant she stared toward tho
lake, her heart sinking like lead. Then.
without even a shawl over white, gauzy
garments, she dashed out into the pelt-
ing storm. She reached the lake shore
at point near where several Iner were
pushing OF in rowboat in q vain hope
OF saving the unfortunates.
She sank down amid the wet shrub.
berry, clasping her hands, and in low.
agonlzed accents she murmur,,;i. as her
eyes fell upon the fearful sight before
her: "Good Heavens! Harry Marsh
dead-drowned! II he but knew now
how 1 loved him-how have loved him
since ne left me. two years agol Oh.
God! III ne could be saved! NY heart
y breakingT And burying her face I'm
her lhen1e xha anlslsad a1oud-
shoulder. She e*started up with cry,
and there stood Harry Marsh, dripping
wet, with look Of deep, unutterable
JOY upon his face.
THANK God am saved-saved to
hear my name upon your lips. was
not in the boat. Frank went out alone.
l saw the storm coming and advised him
not to go. But he went. / followed
along the shore to the peninsula. and the
storm broke before could get back" he
explained.
He spoke in n rapid. excited manner.
As he finished Viola sank down In n
swoon, overcome by the strain upon her
nerves and the sudden reaction. He
lifted her in his arms and bore her back
TO the hotel.
The boat which went out after the un-
fortunates came back unsuccessful. AZ
ter the storm had passed, however, Frank
Hale and his sailboat rounded the pen
insula and moored opposite the hotel.
In response TO food Of inquiries he re-
piled that he was upon the other side of
the lake when the storm broke, and 30
escaped it.
The boat which was capsized con-
tanned young fisherman, whose body
was recovered late that night.
II was not until the next day that
Harry Marsh saw Viola again. Then
they met under the arched trellis. She
would have fed, but he caught her by
the hand, exclaiming in his low, musical
tones, which she remembered 80 well:
''Stay, Viola; desire an explanation
from you. Ibelieve that made great
mistake when l left you without seeking
one two years ago."
She waved him from her with an i'm
periOus gesture.
"You should have discovered your
mistake before / was lifted from my
'povertyw she cried.
wait! wxiti implore YOU"
Then he told her why he had gone
away so abruptly, and how he had loved
her all the while.
Il should have sought you here upon
your arrival were it not for the rumor of
your engagement to Edward Grey" he
said.
MY engagement! The rumor was
false; it is not /, but my cousin, who
married Edward Grey two weeks ago.
We are friends, that is all"
A soft. balmy breeze swept through
the trellis. rustling the vines and bring
Ing from distance the perfume Of fiow-
ers.
Then you do love me, Viola! can
keep my love from you no longer, Viola.
WIN You be my wife! Do not withhold
the perfect JOY Gravel" were the words
he uttered. 30 low that they seemed to
chime with the murmuring breeze.
''The JOY Is ours, Harryr' was the
softly spoken response.
When Frank HalS heard of the engaoe-
meat he laughingly said, ''Hal. do Won
ca1 this all q mere Irritation? Miss
i. L. Hare in Cincinnati Cono,er,jal