The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-14


all inquirers that the air OF Sandy
Beach agreed with me: really, | was
planning day and night how l coald
get Ben with me- could find no pleas
IRE in going back to my lonely, though
stately home, which had come into my
| possession too late to brighten the
care-dimmed eyes of my mother, or to
straighten the bowed shoulders of my
father; both had sunk into the grave
under the hard pressure OF genteel pow
| erty.
My miser aunt had held all in her
| greedy clutch till death had loosed her
grip, and now felt like sick man,
| surrounded with dainties, but utterly
lacking the power to enjoy them. If
could only transport this boy, who
looked ct me with Jennie Morton's
| eyes, over to my lonely rooms. what a
| difference it would make; bit what OF
the true, loving woman whose light
and joy he was? Gradually, link by
! link. pieced together the life history
of Mary McAllister, and with i. the
history OF Ben, which WIS closely
wrapped up with it. She was not the
boys amt, though he called her such,
! she told me, very quietly, but only al
| old friend of his fathers, who was ono
of the brightest pupils her father had
ever Taught, and, besides this, was the
bosom friend of her only brother Alicls.
This was all l could gather from Mary
for nomc time, and not until had my
SELF co1G2cd in her did gain any more
information; bat VIXEN told her OF my
early struggles, and my early love laid
beneath the daisies many years ago,
then the reserve melted away, and she
told me all Her father, Donald Meal
lister, had been schoolmaster in the
village of Rock Point for over twenty
years Many of his pupils had won
honorable positions in various profess
sions, but the lad he loved best was
Ben Rolston. AIick McAllister and
Ben Rolston were friends from child
hood, and as thcy grew up into young
men the bond grew closer, though, as
is often the case in friends, their na-
lures were directly opposite to each
other Alick was slow, but steady as q
rock; Ben was quick as flash, bril-
liant even in intellect, but impulsive
and changeable, easily carried about
by stronger will, yet withal possess
ing the gift of winning love-a gift his
friend eagerly desired, but had not.
The love thus easily won Ben looked
on as a matter of course, without a
thought of its preciousness. Alick, on
the other hand, from the very depth of
his nature, was understood by few, and
loved by these only, but between Mary
and her brother there was perfect I'M
Outstanding; all the strange complex
tiles of his nature were to her as an
open book, and springing in from this
kinship of soul there existed deep
tender love between the brother and
sister.
Mary was companion TO both the
boys all through childhood, and scarce
ly could have told which she loved
best; but as she grew up into maiden
hood she felt in her heart thai Ben
Rolston was first in her affection.
When Mary was twenty and Ben twen-
ty-two, they were acknowledged lovers,
and only delayed their marriage at
Mary's request to remain little longer
with her father.
About this time new coastguard
station was opened at Rocky Point, and
the chief officer was a bronzed marine
who had served in many countries.
While stationed at Gibraltar he had
met with and married very handsome
Spanish girl. Several children had
been born to them, but only one had
survived, a daughter, the image of her
mother in youth. 1t was not strange
that this dark-eyed southern girl
among the commonplace girls of Rocky
Point should be the center of attraction
to all the young men of the place. She
was like gorgeous scarlet lily among
field flowers. and when added to fine
figure, flashing black eyes, and luxuri-
ant black hair, she possessed the still
more subtle charm Of a superb voice, it
can easily be imagined that she carried
all hearts by storm. Before she was
three months in Rocky Point Mary
M'Allister knew in her secret heart
that her brother and Ben Rolston both
loved this dark-eyed stranger. With
many keen heart-pang she heard her
discussed daily, and saw her dearly
loved brother suffering intensely in
silence end her own lover drifting way
beyond her reach.
Women are said to be the severest
critics of their Sex. This is true, sim
ply because a woman, when unpreju-
diced, can appraise another woman at
her true value as a man never can. The
tricks of manner practised by shallow
women, which seem SO artless and be-
witching to most men, to a keen, in
telligent woman mean the perfection
Of practised art To Mary McAllister,
Juanita Courtenay was glittering
shanl-no more. She was born CO.
quette, and encouraged Ben and his
friend both equally; but at length. one
Mary, her beloved Alick came in moody
and silent, and went straight up to his
room, where she followed him, and,
throwing her warm sistcrly arms round
his neck, besought him to share his
grief. ''She was married this morning
to Ben Rolstcn," was the reply. He
did not think in his selfish grief that
the sister rho held his burning head
and soothc him like child had at that
moment bi eaking heart But Mary's
time In the furnace had not yet passed
over.
Alick found Rocky Point intoierable
after that day, and sailed for Australia
the next week, while Mary was left be-
hind to suffer alone the keen, slow tor
ture which seems to form part Of some
women's lives. Never again did she ser
her only brother For sorne time he