Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-02-03
TRUE TO HIS vow.

The wind came signing in from the
breast OF ocean, stretching away under
the northern sky.
The steady wash of the surge, as it
came slowly in, could not roi,se the man
WHO lay upon his face under the shell
terin:, rocks.
lie WAS not asleep, for 1T times his
frame trenbied, and now and again he
half started up and looked acIoss the
sea, and then dropped his head again.
He was young man and sailor; he
showed that in every line of his face
and motion Of his form-young and
strong, with Sun-burned features and
blue eyes, Il man framed by nature to
ul;ike the world better, because he had
done his part in it.
But there was a great agony now in
that brave young face, as from time to
time he lifted it
There came a light step along the
gravel, and he started up quickly as Il
glrl walked down the beach, fair
young girl, with the sunny hair and
glorious eyes which, since the days Of
Eve, had made slaves and thralls of the
children of men.
And truly there was something in the
manner of Millicent Durand which had
gwen her rare power over the stronger
nature of man, and this young sailor,
lying there upon the sand, loved her
with an mutterable affection-a depth
Ut love it was hard for her to under
stand.
Richard DEAN she cried why
are you lying here alone?'
Richard" she said again, what is
it? Why do you look at me SOP
Il don't know what to say to you
Milly," he answered, slowly, because l
don't like to give you pain but some
times it seems to me that it would have
been better, far better, il l had gone
down with the schooner last autumn, id
stead of living to endure this great
anguish
u don't know what you mean, dear
Richard. You and / were always
friends, and you know that would bear
almost anything sooner than give pain
to those i love. What does it mean?"
III tell you, NIilly, and try to tell it
III such a way that you will understand
that, ii l suffer- / have no hatred for
those who love me, although they nave
broken my heart. An hour ago | was
on the point, sitting under the trees and
l heard couldn't help it, Milly-I
heard what Harry Watson said to you"
A flush stole up into the white check
of the girl as she turned away her head
p Il heard Harry tell YOU that he loved
you, and / heard you say that you loved
him, and then | stole away, not to hear
more
Il love you as man never loved wo-
man ia all time. l love you so well that
for IL moment it seemed to me that ]
hated Harry Watson, because he robbed
me of my jewel.
But knew him to be good and true,
a kind son, Il tender brother, and he will
make you happier, perhaps than poor
Dick Dean ever could"
oh, Dick she said softly. Il never
dreamed that YOU"
She stopped suddenly.
+ Il have been to blame, and while you
loved me as a sister loves brother, /,
fool that l was, thought the feeling
deeper.
There, there; | am Il man, MilLy;
/ I'll fight it down in time; give me Il
while to draw breath, and understand
my loss. When are you to be married!"
! After this trip" she said, softly,
when the Hesper1ls comes back
/ " And l am first mate OF the HespeI1is
and Harry second. And we've been
friends SO long that-but it isn't posi-
BILE that | could ever hate Harry Wat
son OF do him any wrong. But | wish
he were in another schooner"
"Dick"' cried Milly suddenly, you
are going out with the man l love, in
the same ship.
There will come an hour OF dark
temptation to you, Il dreadful hour,
when you will have to choose between
good and evil.
When that time comes and the
tempter whispers to you, premise Inc,
in the name of the love you bear me,
you will think Of me-
| He drew his breath hard.
I'm try, NIilly," he said quickly
There's my hand on the bargain
| And take this she said, forcing Il
ring into his hand. Take it, wear it.
/ When you see it,remember that you are
pledged 10 do right by Harry Watson"
! He took the ring and looked at it in Il
strange dazed way, and then thrust it
forcibly upon his finger.
I'm do it, he cried. Heaven help
me to keep this VOW
So the Hesperus sailed in an hour,
and as they swept out between the
piers, Dick Dean saw Millicent Durand
standing there, with her finger ON her
lips in token of remembrance.
| She was so engrossed with him that
for Il moment it seemed to the second
mate, looking on jealousy, that she had
no eyes for him.
| Harry Watson was a noble young
man, but he had one vice-jealousy, and
the last glance he gave Milly as the
Hesperus swept on was one Of anger
I'D like to ask you something, Dick
Dean" he said, coming up to the first
mate
Stand by to set the for'sl,' replied
Dick, who was a seaman from top to
toe. Cast off that tackle, lively; heave
hearty. men,
! But / want to speak"
! Il haven't got time to palaver now
until we get the schooner under way
Il