Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-12-29

Ing, WIFI IL SbOILl COhlhb hP oAO"AJ
from the darkenlng west, where the
sun had already sunk from sight. A
gloomy scene, and no. one to attract,
vet Therese Vancourt seemed perfectly
entranced as she stood there alone, a
slim. white-robed figure, sharply out
lined against the duslly background
of rock and gloomy sky.
Belle and beauty, queen of the
fashionable set which held sway
over the Seaside house, one would
scarcely expect to find her alone. at
this hour, the fashionable Miss Van
court But she seemed wholly alb
sorbed in thought as she stood on the
cliff. her small golden-crowned head
half dropping, the great purple blue
eyes gazing before her out at sea; the
red lips half parted; the small white
hands folded loosely. She was evil
IDENTIFY watching something away out
upon the water The object material
lied at last, and proved to be boat,
little boat, which came dancing
lightly over the pillows" A man was
rowing with slow, easy strokes; man
with a bronzed. handsome face, deep
gray eyes, and close-cropped dark
hair.
A swift, sudden light lesped into
her groud eyes. None of her legion of
admirers down at the hotel had ever
caught a glimpse of that light in
Therese Vancourt's splendid eyes.
She had laid aside soclctys mask, and
out here, alone with nature, she dared
be true to herself.
Swiftly the little boat came over
the waves; the man within lifted his
head at last and saw her. A dark
crimson flushed his tanned cheeks for
an instant; then he bit his lips as
though angry or impatient, and turned
away.
At that moment his eyes fell upon
the ast-darkening sky-the approach
ing storm signals. Turning his boat
about, he made straight for the cliff,
for a certain point at which a landing
could be made. Three minutes later
he was at her side.
"Miss Vancourt," his voice was low
and full of music, "there is storm
coming; did you not observe il? AL
low me TO escort you safely back to
your hotel. Ny boat is below; the
landing accessible, may conduct you
10 it? Storms upon this point are
dangerous; you will be swept out TO
sea-"
She shivered and turned pale.
even So" she returned, in falter-
ing voice, lit would be better than to
live and marry old bingham. Oh,
Laurence, Laurence!" she caught his
hand with q mad grasp in both her
own; then dropping it she turned
away. II hate him-hate him~~hate
him." she painted wildly.
Laurence Dale bit his lip, and his
eyes grew dark with pain.
why marry him, then?" he asked,
coldly.
She flashed swiftly about, and faced
him pale and still; in her purple blue
eyes dangerous light was shining;
her breath came quick and fast.
'Why?' she cried, excitedly. 'Be-
cause | am a poor dependent, and
obliged to obey my aunt's wishes.
Aunt Bransccnbe has decreed that |
shall become that mans wife ! am
dependent upon her bounty; i must
obey her, or be turned adrift upon the
world-all alone.
mo! oh, no!' he cried, wildly,
''surely it is not so bad as that, Miss
Vancourt-Therese!"
The name fell from his lips before
he was aware of his own temerity.
She lifted her eyes to his. She was
pale as marble, her glorious eyes shin
ing like stars.
ut is as bad as that" she returned.
in low voice. MY aunt knows how
to torture me-with the very keenest,
cruelest torture. She has promised
old Percy bingham that shall marry
him, and-she will keep her word. -
"She shall not! Oh, Therese,
Therese! you may send me from you,
If you lilke-you cannot prevent my
loving you! Yes-I-the poor no
body-only a farmer who makes his
living out of the ground. My darling,
if you could only care for me, would
save you from this horrible marriage.
Forgive me, dear heart" checking
the mad words upon his tongue.
IL have no right to offer you pow
erty; only my heart is very rich in
love for you! Can you ever pardoh
my presumption, darling? L have
loved you long-ever since the first
time l looked into your sweet face.
Of course, had never thought to tell
you this. Only say that you forgive
me-
She checked him with a low cry,
laying her bit of white hand upon
his a-m-a white hand crowned with
magnificent solitaire diamond-old
Efiiugham's gift.
"His ringl" she said, as the young
mans eyes fell upon it. II cannot
wear tit hurts me. 1t feels like a
brand of shamel Laurence, listen!"
Her eyes met his, then dropped
slowly. 81 love you"
'"Dherese"
81 love you'll Don't ask me how I
know, or why love you. Ask nothing.
only know that every tbrob of my
heart is for you"
Heaven bless you'll But oh, my
darlingi" stopping to press his lips on
the white trembling hands. 'ths is
madnessi l must not permit such a
sacrificed"
The beautiful eyes flashed into his.
at is no sacrifice" she said softly.
"Cannot you understand / love you'll
] have loved you for weeks. Ian
renee, / will never marry old Effing-
ham-never!"
At that very instant the gathering
storm burst forth; a hurricane whose
horrors had never been surpassed
upon that coast. IL swept the bare