The record-union., 1891-06-13

the southeast is the point of rocks, and
there in Mexico is Table Mountain, clear
cut and blue, and spread, the story goes,
for the banquet of the gods.
Around and beyond them, as far as eye
could reach, stretched the Pacific in its
mighty restlessness.
There was nothing to say; the couple
looked and listened, and finally turned to
the lighthouse, which had just been newly
whitewashed, and which glistened in the
MONDAY sun. The Keepers wife was
cross that morning, and told them if they
went up to see the lamp they must make
no noise, that the old man was asleep.
Mr.. Wing assured her that they would
not be the least boisterous, and she led
the way up the narrow, winding stair
case to the lamp, which was carefully
polished and protected by curtains. The
keepers wife explained how she had
kept it bright for eighteen years, and
added. with show of vexation, But
they pays the old man; l gets no money"
Her "best room'' was q curiosity, and
Miss Ege found much to interest her in
tlie infinite variety of shells, the curious
fish, the birds, the woven mats of grasses
and the beautiful mosses.
The keepers wife began to feel in bet
ter humor with her guests; the old man
did not awaken, and she invited them to
eat their lunch in the kitchen. They joy
fully accepted the invitation, and seated
on rough wooden stools spread their feast
on the bare table; an old clock ticked
with loud jerk, and dead pelican hung
on the wall before them; the sea roared
and moaned and dashed against the cliffs
without, but to the merry banqueters in
the kitchen the waves made no sound
save that which echoed the happiness of
their own hearts.
When they had finished Miss Eye gave
her basket-a pretty Japanese affair with
! n n Win l.
hostess, and extended her hand wishing
her good by.
The old lady, delighted with her gift,
asked
And where you go next?"
"O,' said Mr.. Wing, "I go far, far
away down the coast to South America
when | am well againv'
The woman glanced at Miss Eye and
asked quickly:
You go along with him?"
The color swept in q flood over Miss
Eyes face, and before her lips could
frame reply, Mr.. Wing answered, qui-
city;
"Ah, that will be so nice, it will" COM
mented the keepers WIFE
Miss Ege was standing now on the fiat
stone doorstep without, and Mr.. Wing
shook hands with the woman and fol-
lowed.
The pony was awakened from his nap,
and turned toward home. The couple
behind him seemed satisfied to look at
the view and say little. Mr.. Wing made
several remarks about the detected ap-
pearance ofMiss Ege's violets, and prom
ised her some fresh ones when thew
should again reach that great field of
them down the canyon.
They stopped at the graveyard and
looked beyond the low, white fence of the
graves where the soldiers lie sleeping
They talked about the sky, the hills, the
sea, and the intensity of things in that
climate
Nothing is responsible here" said
Miss Ege. when the sky is blue it is
the deepest blue; the sunshine is the
brightest, the sands the whitest, the sun
sets the most crimson! 1t is no wonder
the country has grown by booms; it is in
the air, and people cannot avoid being
intense when nature herself makes them
sol"
They had reached the violet bed again.
and both had gathered as many blossoms
as they could carry, Mr.. Wing pulling
flowers, grasses and roots all in one con-
fusing mass, while Miss Ege arranged
hers artistically with long stems and some
leaves.
Once more in the phaeton, and Miss
Ege amused herself making the great
mass of 1agrant things into one cluster,
which she held off and admired. "What
wealth of flowers, and so many yellow
ones, scattered over this country! It's a
golden land, truly, where even the mesas
are covered with sheets of golden bios
sOmS."
She had taken off her glove her hand
was long and white and slim. She wore
single small diamond which had been
her mothers.
Mr.. Wing was softly whistling, He
would not acknowledge to himself the
deep anxiety, the sickening fear, that
filled his great heart that day
That he loved Helen Eye he knew full
well; into his life, SO quietly, so easily,
she had slipped, at a time when his life
seemed most worthless, most unworthy Of
such gift.
His whistling grew fainter, he care
fully guided the pony over treacherous
bit of road; u long, smooth drive lay be-
fore them, and then they would reach
Roseville.
Miss Eye had just discovered some del
icate maiden-hair fern peeping from be-
meath rock. Mr.. Wing promptly gath
cred them and laid them on Miss Ege's
lap, with the violets. She looked up in
surprise as he did not move, but stood
half leaning against the carriage and re-
garding her with new, strange look
transforming his features. He simply
took the ungloved hand and his great
earnest eyes met hers.
Helen Eye, l love you! that is allp'
The woman was silent; she raised her
eyes again, and he saw there were tears
in them. He kissed the hand he held
over and over, his own eyes filling fast.
And you will be my wife, my wife?"
Still holding the violets she put her
hand lightly on his face and kissed it.
Washington Post.