Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-06-06

All unaware of my presence, Dick took
hen in his arms. aud l, with fairer sense
of sympathy tnan most have in such
cases, was 10th 10 disturb them.
-'And you'll be true to me Dick was
eaying. True through all the long three
years.
~.TIl be true to you. Dick she an
swered bravely, for three yea-s or for
thirty.
He drew her closer and kissed the
upturned lips almost reverently.
~.It's good while to wait, little girl,
and to withstand all the efforts that will
be made to force you TO this marriage
with Mr.. Thornley,, Mayster o the Great
House.
~ can withst and them all, dear Dick,
only that you return to me and that you
cheer me with loving messages often as
you can.'
THAT viii, my darling, and to lock
your ears as Jacob of old locked Rebecca's
against all false tales of him, | have
brought you these.
"He took from his pocket pair Of
small gold hoops and fastened them in
her ears.
~'Oh, Dick, the gunr she almost
gasped, as small puff of smoke shot out
from the ships side, followed instantly
by the dull boom of cannon.
"'Yes, the gun; all hands aboardr he
answered cheerily; and now give me
long kiss for a long farewell, little love-
His forced gayety could not disguise
the sad, wistful expression in the dark
eyes nor wholly conceal the bitterness he
felt at parting. She, poor girl, chung to
him passionately for the few moments
yet remaining. Then he unclasped her
arms from his neck and bounded away
to the waiting boat
Jean, with eyes half blinded by the
dews of sorrow, stood like statue and
watched him hauled on board. Swiftly
the sails unfurled and the great ship, like
a graceful swan, gave to the breeze and
moved slowly out to sea.
It's beautiful sight to see a goodly,
full rugged ship riding at anchor, bathed
in an autumnal sun, rising, falling on the
never ending waves that impart to it a
look of impatience to be offAa beautiful
sight, indeed, when the great white wings
unfold and this stately bird of the ocean
moves gradually away until lost in the
haze of distance.
Il think Jean failed to note its beauties
just then, however, she was so broken by
this new grief of parting.
Il used to meet her very often at the
nook during the days that followed. She
came to look upon the spot, suppose, as
sort of connecting link between herself
and her far away lover, and visited it the
more frequently on that account. Later
on | found Mr.. Thomley about as regular
in his comings, and seriously contem-
plated change of base for my musings,
as they disturbed my best thoughts not a
little. Then commenced speculating on
the final result of these meetings.
Il think we all have fancy that a
girls love is influenced mostly by the
splendor of the offerings held out, and Mr..
Thomley's wealth to the simple minds of
the fisher folk was something fabulous.
True, had witnessed her very evil
dent distress at parting with Dick, but
Dick was gone now, and, worse still, no
word had come from him to the hungry
hearted girl, although others on the ves-
sci with him had embraced several op-
portunities of sending messages to loved
ones left, as was well known, SO why
could not he? Then, too, an absent lover
is poor weapon to beat back the ag-
gressive advances of determined rival.
backed, as in this case, by the express
wishes of both the parents of the defense
less girl.
sWhat chance had she of standing firm
against such odds? pondered. Still I
had lingering hope that she would.
Do you know how apt we are to side
with the weaker party? The smaller
dog invariably calls forth our sympathy,
though we may know he was the cause
of the quarrel and brought the fight upon
himself. / suppose / sided with Dick
Darret on much the same principle-he
being the absent and less favored of the
two.
@One day found Jean weeping. A
man can not Withstand woman's tears,
and before / really knew what was
about found myself trying to quiet her
and learn the cause of her grief. It was
. ACKNOWLEDGMENT cboAy ull4cQ WIFI a KOOQ
many sobs, but / got the whole of it at
last.
Mr.. Thomley had made the offer of
his love, and being refused gently but
very decidedly he had called on old
Donald to advance his cause.
The father, finding his arguments as
little successful as the suitor's pleadines.
at last gave way to his growing anger,
and tainting her with ingratitude for the
years of toll and worry lavished upon
her, finally ending with severe shaking
and the brutal intimation that it would
be followed by more harsh measures un-
less his wishes were complied with.
poor little Jean. Mentally hurt at
such treatment, coupled with the fact of
Dicks unaccountable silence and the
near prospect of bodily injury, it was
little wonder / should find her in tears.
Early confession is good for the bur-
dened heart, and she quieted down
wonderfully after telling her story-grew
almost cheerful, in fact, and before we
parted that night it seemed clear to us
both that the threat was due more to
momentary anger and mental excite
ment than from any wish on her fathers
part to be unnaturally cruel or force her
to distasteful marriage.
Il saw very little of Jean after this for
some weeks. The loveliness of autumn be-
Sau fr, xtaua under tho icv h~ze@h -