The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-10
VOL. XXVIII.-NO. 80.

Meg did not speak, but she looked up
quietly with her great eyes. His sank be-
fore them. There was pause.
"No," she said at last, 81 did not know.
How should 1? You'll think you are
speaking to the wrong person"
''You mean that you despise mt" said
Marcus bitterly. "God knows [ despise
myself too
He was turning away without another
word, but Meg could not let him go like
that.
"Stop, she said. 81 can never despise
you You know that. shall always
think of you as did l can't alter so
easily. But we can have no more to do
with each other-never, never. You will
be happy soon; far happier than if-oh,
good byef'
He had caught her hand and kissed it,
but she tore it away.
"No," she said. "Oh, | would let you
if it were only l. But you are minister;
it matters what you do. And she-only
this morning she was kind TO me Oh,
don't break her heart
She turned and left him. He did not
try to follow her, only stood looking dumbly
after her swift figure. 1t was an hour
later that l met him, on the way to Nun
thorpe, walking slowly, and like a man who
is tired out. l did not speak, and though
he looked at me it was with eyes that saw
nothing.
Meg was out when | reached the house
l had been into Nunthorpe on business
and l went down to the shore to seek her.
1t was still early in the evening" lovely
August evening-and | found her very
soon. But | was frightened when | saw
her closely, though she did not look sor-
Towful-ah, mol 1t was the glow and
light on her face that frightened me, and
her lips were curved with faint smile
"Meg," said l, ''what is it now?''
She turned to me, smiling still.
"NOthing now," she answered dreamily.
"Only I'm happy, Jack. Tn very, very
happy. Why shouldn't be?''
because" l drove on desperately,
''there is only one thing could make you
look like that. You have seen-him, and
it's no use, Meg. He's nothin to you now,
nor you to him.
"Nothing?" said Meg sweetly. "Noth-
ing, Jack p
She was leaning against an old gray
boulder, and she did not look at me as she
spoke, but far out to sea.
"I can't help it, Meg" said bitterly.
"There's no one else but me TO tell you.
He's to be married in three days-and it
won't do
"No, it won't do" she replied, at
wouldn't matter for me, but it wouldn' t do
for him. Did you think l had forgotten I?
1 will think about it very soon, Jack--in
an hour, But just now should like to
be alone, please. Only for an hour"
Silently l turned and left herr bat as |
went 1 looked back once and saw her there,
with the wonderful light still on her face,
and looking out to sea.
Later in the evening I went back to
seek for Meg 1t was growing dark, and
| half expected to meet her on the way,
but | did not, nor was she where l had
left her, now more than an hour ago. |
called, but no one answered, and conclud-
ed that she had gone round by the Point.
1t was cliff with precipitous path lead
ing up it, to which Meg was partial. She
always called it short cut to the vicarage,
though it was 60 such thing. People
spoke of it as dangerous at high tide, but
Meg had climbed it ever since she was a
little girl, and laughed at the danger.
turned and hurried home. She must have
reached home before now, if my surmise
were true. But there was strange terror
at my heart.
Meg had not come back. | don't know
what I did or said, but when l left the
house again aud rushed towards the shore
they were all preparing to follow me. But
l was far before them, dashing towards
the Point, stumbling on the slippery rocks,
regaining my footing, and hurrying on
again. sometimes stopping to call, "Meg !
Megr'
The sky had grown very dark, only in
the clouds overhead the moon was trying
to break through, and in the west there
was still one pale gleam, where the sea and
sky met. The wind was heginning to rise;
it was soft, but very fresh. l remember
how it felt against my face. The high
tide was plashing gently among the rocks
about the Point
"Meg Megr
There was no answer. There never
would be any answer.
They said that she had grown bewilder-
ed in the gathering darkness, and lost her
foothold in the one place where losing it
meant death. 1t might be SO, think it
was so. But she was careless that night.
Celia was married, now more than ten
years ago, but not to Marcus. Late in the
day as it was, that engagement was broken
off, but the world outside heard little Of
the reason. Weston never went to Marten.
He is at Liverpool now, working far too
hard, his friends. SAY, and wearing out be-
fore his time. But he himself does not
l.e