The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-04-14


mountain peaks of lost continents known
as rocks" she laughed.
Again Walter Martindale cringed.
Then with an expression of contempt he
thought, 81 believe l am yet master of
that piece of flesh known to mortals as
my individual SELF" The notes kept
falling in soft cadences. what is the
matter with Ralph tonight? Too sad!"
he exclaimed rousing himself. st is
like the wall of despairing soul bidding
abieu to every hope; to life itself;
crushed beneatha weight of disappointed
ambition, resolve, aspiration His eyes
were almost pleading; the voice ex-
pressed the throbbing of tumultuous,
passionate heart fighting for freedom and
victory. COR is it my mood?' he lightly
added.
Just then the music hushed, Merabel
nervously crushed the stem of great
waxen lily, and the spell was broken.
"You must contribute that to my bou-
quet for the Shoals" Walter exclaimed.
II am going to 4osport at Easter with an
offering. Flowers are angels visits on
those bare rocks. The pastor and family
are personal friends their home is on
Star Island"
"You shall have the flowers and
more" Then after pause, II will ar
range for an Easter party to laden with
blossoms, love and cheer. We will sail
over Saturday afternoon" she went on
impulsively, 'and make everything
bloom like rose. We will remember to
have some substantials tucked in with
beauty and fragrance. l believe a flash
of sunshine bursting into dreary exist
ence is step to higher life on earth
and to heaven"
Are you always ready TO heautify the
life of any poor mortal that chances to
cross your path?" he questioned with
significance she did not notice, and would
not have understood if she had.
Perhaps" she laughed, eff l have
plenty of contributors to the generosity.
Will you be one of the benefactors in
this novel Shceme."
Certainly"
And then and there it was arranged
that Walter should secure the dory ready
to convey them to GospOrt next Saturday
afternoon.
AS he was leaving the house Ralph
Dayton joined him. 'Look here, my
boy" he said affectionately, "as an older
cousin, Merabel is under my care, during
her Eastern trip. L am somewhat re-
sponsible for her."
"Well!' was the reply rather CURLY
given.
"You must not entice her into flirta-
tom
ut is no Irritation with me. 1 was GO
ing to tell you tonight as far as my owa
feelings are concerned"
'But you must have some strength Of
character"
", kl,nk hnr l.,
cause l cannot help loving a girl like
Merabel?'
"You understand me-"
'The best of us sometimes yield to
moods we have resolutely declared we
would not. Frail humanity should not
be wholly condemned for little lapse
now and then"
But those little lapses show defective
part in us; they mnst be remedied, mend
ed, replaced by something better, or they
spoil us. Every lapse makes an ugler
rent in the moral web of us; one that
will require more patience, more good
strong filling to repair. l know very we'll
personally affecting Merabel, would turn
all the brightness of her earth to utter
darkness"
IL Shall uCNOl I6IulH W uJI6T udIku6SS
through me. have left the broad road
to destruction"
''You have said that before. How long
slnce?"
''Since | have known Merabel. deter
mined that she should be mine the even
ing you introduced me to her. l have
been waiting for some response from her
before mentioning it."
GA nd l, hoe
''None that am sure Of"
''Walter you know you have no better
friend than myself. But Merabel is dear
to me also. If she accepts your love, she
must do it with a full knowledge of your
that she would never do, I'M
less the love came first, too strong for
and in the end it would bring
her only misery"
Ralph, save youself all anxiety. | Il
wish were as sure of her as / am of
never causing a tear if she were once
Won."
AS they stopped for moment in the
glare of the night lamp, Ralph looked |
With new admiration upon his friends !
manly pride and bearing, his sparkling |
lumor and courageous heart. He devout- |
Y wished Merabel might save him, and |
lalf believed she would. yet" he |
as he turned homeward.
things are getting serious and she must |
know. will tell her tonight" But he
vas called away.
A dark cloud Swallowed Walter Martin
lales's life, dimming his brilliant talents,
lis commanding presence, his keen in
diligence. He had come to Portsmouth
rom the Old Granite state a few years
before, a young lawyer, and had won a
lucrative position by persistent effort and
owe of his profession. But of late there
we're rumoTs that he twas not always
What he should be; that taverns and
ounging places saw too much of him;
hat now and then he dined far too reck-
essly at the club, or gave dffense by his
uncomfortable tongue. Then Merabel
anne, but when he thought of it, Ralph
Dayton remembered a long time had
,assed without bringing to light any of
hose foolish escapades. No wonder he
lesitated to break the spell of redemp-
ion.
When, on the following Saturday af-
the dory started for the Shoals
With its happy freight, and the schooner
hat was to carry Walter, Merabel and
Ter special friends was delayed till twi-
light, the brilliant western sky, the sweet
cented air, the silvery puffs of foam
long the shore gave no cause of alarm
o inexperienced eyes. The warning of
'lder ones could not dampen their ardor;
urely there could be no storm of wind
II cloud on the way to Gosportl They
tarted, Merabel under the spell of the