The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-10-27

coat and vest from him rs he ran. 1t
was the man who had haunted her,
like her shadow-no coward, trulyl
she thought, exultantly, as she watched
him wrestle with the great pillows and
fight his way free from everyone.
The moments passed in breathless
suspense until the swimmer had
reached the exhausted man when a
murmur of relief was heard from the
watchers along the shore. Then the
hush fell again, and the silence was
only broken by the booming of the
waters as they watched the brave man
with his lifeless burden slowly, slowly
making his way in toward the Shore
But now, others had breasted the
billows and were swimming out to
them, and soon they were both brought
in together, rescued and rescuer.
Alexis already was in the thick of
the crowd, barking joyously; and Mar
garet caught her breath with sudden
sob of relief as she saw the dark head
she had been so eagerly watching for,
reappear above the crowd
The man he had saved was already
beginning to revive under the hands of
those who were working over him, and
now the eyes of the gallant rescuer
swept the beach as if in search of some
one Then suddenly he reeled-the
molnentary faintness passed and he
was erect again, but that one instant
of suspense revealed to Margaret all
| the bitter truth.
When next she stood among the
| r0nl-c tho 11n1ynnxxyr, hoci6a hors
She had told him that she was to leave
the place next day, and she had said
good-by.
"But if am not content to lose you
sop he questioned, ardently. "Mar-
garet Douglas, love you-and why
should wait longer before 1 tell you
SO and ask you to be my wife?"
Trembling, she leaned upon the rock
beside her for support.
"You ha We no right to tell me this, :"
she said, but since you have spoken,
can give you but one answer-no."
And yet, you love me-" and his
eyes compelled hers to meet his own.
| She flushed and then turned pale.
81 would have no other answer for a
man, met as we have met, and of whom
l knew SO little--even thought loved
him." she bravely said. "Such love
would be madness, infatuation-some-
thing to be crushed out. / would never
| give way to it! l have done wrong in
allowing you to force yourself upon
me, but never dreamed where it was
leading. We part now-and forever"
And yet-Alexis trusts me!'' he
said, whimsically. Then, while his
eyes CLEANED strangely, he added:
''Good-by, since you will hav it So
but we shall meet again.
The Douglases were at Lenox now,
in their beautiful summer home, but
Margaret seemed only the ghost of her
former self.
STRANGE" her father had said one
day i'll her presence, Stamford has re-
turned, and yet he has made no sign!"
These words had only added to Mar
| garet's trouble. The very thought OF
Paul Stanford's coming was torture to
| her, for she had heard much in his
prai SO and she knew that it was her
| fathers hope that this man would
choose her for his bride. But one day
a card bearing the dreaded name was
brought in.
eat lastr' cried Mr.. Douglas, with
evident satisfaction. "Ah, my dear
fellow, I am glad to see you. Let me
introduce you to-(Alexis, down, sir,
out'of the wayD What, you have met
| before? Well, what does this mean?
| I'd like to know!''
For Margaret had rise and was pale
and rosy by turns. "Are you Paul
| Stanford" she questioned, breathlessly
"Paul Stanford, who humbly begs
you to forgive him." was the answer,
equally incomprehensible to both of
| Margarets astonished parents.
There was a wedding soon after
ward; not the brilliant affair which So
ciety certainly expected, but quiet
ceremony at home, to which were in
vited few of their most intimate
| friends.
Alexis was resplendent on that occa-
sion with new collar and huge white
satin bow; and the guests were highly
fused when the lovely bride bent
down to kiss him with sudden feryor.
Mrs. Witherbee (who was exultant
over the turn affairs had taken) said
aIVerWaru tnaI Mauge always nad
been silly over that dog!"
Paul Stanford sometimes reminds his
beautiful wife of the fact that he has
never been introduced to her, But
when she asks if he would not have
loved her better had she accepted him
when to her he was only nameless
adventurer, he answers: mo, love-"
with honest conviction, and adds:
"When Fortune, taking the forms of
Alexis and our talkative little friend,
Mrs Witherbee, so smiled upon me,
resolved to see how far my impudence
would carry me in the face of all con-
ventional prejudices, and 1t straight
way brought me to your feet!
but you were right, and when,
though had won your heart in spite of
yourself, you refused me your hand,
my respect was won as we'll. Judith
Spencer, in Springfield (Mass.) Repuh
lican.
Obeyed Orders.
Bridget" said Mrs. Morse, instruct
ing her new waitress, ''when a lady