Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-06-01
CLOSE AT HAND.

ao Gne emu OF une long, narrow, gloomy
road, and dull red glow still interviewed
between the gray Of the twilight and the
blackness Of approaching night.
After time bulk in the dark showed
against the fading light in the sky, and as
1t approached, resolved itself into the out
lines of man. lie was large and strong,
but looked ungainly in his i'll fitting, soil
oil-stained overalls and coarse cowhide
boots
10, Debbyr he said, in a quiet voice,
swallowing the first of his words, as peo-
pie of his kind usually do.
How dye do, Sir" replied Debby.
Then there was a long pause, during
which the girl stared hard at the distant
sky and 81 stared equally hard at his
boots.
re goin tomorrow" he asked.
Debby's wandering eyes came back from
their study of the horizon and looked in
his frank, open, frecllled face, and she nod
ded an Affirmative that she could not trust
her voice to utter,
"Takin last look round, s'pose?' he
said, watching her set face, with yearn-
ing look in his big blue eyes.
The tears welled up in Debb's eyes at the
word last" and she could only nod her
head again.
81 shifted from one foot to the other, and
then returned TO the attack:
sits all fixed about Rosie, s'poseP"
YES" she said, in her clear cut voice, as
unlike her surroundings as she was her
self, for the girl was beautiful; yves,
Squire Walkers sold the house, and the
money is to be sent to the hospital where
they will take care of her as long as she
lives. So, no matter what becomes of me
she will never suffer, and if ever do make
home somewhere else she can come and
live with me again"
ID the squire tell we who bought the
placer"
"No. didn't ask him."
Don't you think perhaps little RosieTl
be very lonesome without yeg'
Debby broke down quite at this point
and laid her head down on the old gatepost
and sobbed aloud.
81 hesitated q moment and then put his
big, strong arms around her and drew her
to him. He made no attempt to kiss her
but he smoothed the pretty brown hair
with his big, rough hand with a touch as
tender and gentle as a woman's.
Don't cry, little woman. don't cry" he
pleaded 81 was big brute. There, don't
cry"
Finally Debby choked down her sobs and
swallowed her tears, and then tried to draw
away from the embrace of 81; but lac held
her fast,
-Are you determined to go away Deb
by" he asked.
EYES," she replied, with sudden energy:
81 am going away. cannot stand this life
any longer. Here I've been living with
my poor little lame sister in this house for
III II.
one else to speak TO, and life weary round
Of distasteful duties. Oh, how hate it
all"
But, Debby," said ST slowly, don't you
think you might be worse off somewhere
else than you are here? don't think ye
seem very clear as to what you're goin to
do"
well. I'm going to leave all this behind
me. It's driving me mad. I'm not bad
woman, 81, indeed I'm not; and do want
to work-rm willing to, at any rate-hut
want to do my work under more favorable
conditions"
II don't know as / see exactly what
you're driving at" replied 81, who had let
the girl go and stood facing her in the twi
light.
That's just it, ST. Somehow, though
you re the best friend ever had, you don't
seem to understand. Oh, how wish you
could l thought | should be glad to go
away from this life and everything CON
nected with it, but somehow Pm not
Even this dreary old view"-sweeping the
horizon with a graceful gesture-"does
seem very dear, and 1 want you to under
stand and bid me Godspeed instead Of
blaming me-"
God bless you, can say with all my
heart, replied 81, barring his head with a
reverent but unconscious gesture; but"
he went on, 81 attn sore hearted to see you
start ont into the world empty handed and
trustful. Oh, Debby, let me say it again.
just once-do stay here and marry mel
amt good enough for you, know; but |
can work for you and protect you, and I'll
try to satisfy all your longings-I will in
deed"
81 thank you, Si but it isn't possible
indeed it isn't You are the dearest and
best of men, but you have no ambition;
you don't realize that with this restless
gnawing at my heart, there would never
be any happiness for either of us here. |
could not be the good, contented wife that
you ought to have. l have cast the die |
am going out into the great world. There
will be ripple Of sorrowful memory in
your heart, and then the waters of oblivion
will close over me-"
at isn't too late to think better Of it,
Debby, / bought the little house; it is
yours always. Stay and live in it, even if
you cannot marry me. can't bear to have
you go. away-not yet, at least. Debby,
your ideas of ambition and mine are differ.
ent, but, indeed, | am ambitious in my
way. 1t is my first ambition to make you
love me-"
"You bought the houseY" exclaimed
Debby in surprise, ignoring the rest of Sis
speech, "Where on earth did you ever get
the money!
"Well, saved it up. I've been trying
to be a little ambitious, you see."
Debby stared at him a moment in blank
surprise Had she misunderstood this
faithful, unloved lover of hers, after all2
Perhaps she had, she thought to herself
YEARLY but it was too late to change her