Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-06-08

seem to IL few men for whom there real
" is but one woman in the world lie
knew that Annie was fairor than any
woman i'm Derchaven, and that other men
must have desired her, but humble though
he was he did not say, She is too good
for me" In his honesty he said, Il will
make her n better husband than any, be
cause | love her more" And Annie was
no vain flirt, but quiet, gentle though
strong willcd woman.
That she had made him wait so long
was only right and proper Annie Roy
was not the girl to give herself away cast
ly and carelcssly, but now she knew her
self. knew that he had her heart, and she
had promised He never questioned, III
the wind had not blown the little boat up
into Covcha'cn, sheltered from the storm,
and he had brought her little maid back,
would it have been Different" Such
thing as bargaining never entered hi,
mind.
Il will be your wife. These were her
words.
"Ah, Annie will make you happyr'
The sea sobbcd quietly. A little wind
crcpt among the grasses, and in the still
ness great tears of thankfulness came into
Davies gray eyes.
Was not that sound on the shingly
beach below? There was a man down at
the seas edge.
Davie recognized Mr.. Armstrong, the
young bank clerk He was well known to
all Dcrchavcn folk. The young men call
cd him The Lady, and Dandy but liked
him, too, for a winning, friendly way,
and a refined, pleasant face. The man at
the cliff top watched the man ut the foot
His heart was full Of kindness and over
flowing charity tonight. He pitcd the
loneliness Of the man below and wonder
cd that chap with learning and gentle
folks ways had not tried long since of
Derehaven. The slim form outlined against
the back aground Of gray sea and sky look
ed solitary enough. Was he waiting for
some one; Davie consulted his watch
again, looked inland across the darkcning
moors for few minutes and resolved not
to wait for the appointed time.
Hushl Noiccsl
All, the light was dim, but not dim
enough. There were two figures now on
the rocks below, and one was woman
and her hair was fair, and she was slim
and graceful, as only one woman was, and
she Annie Roy.
But why did she stand with bent head?
Why did the man try to take her hand:
w ny, Ol, WHY MCIt llCN TWO JItIc ub illl
A slow red crcpt into Davies check and
a strange look into his eyes He crcpt
stealthily down over the long, wavy grass,
clinging to it and the cliffs side, till ne
was near enough to hear their words Their
faces wcrc seward Behind big whin
bush he crouchcd and listened.
"Promiscdl Annie how could you?
Never meet me againl Dear, l came to-
night to ask you to marry me l love you
too much to care what the world says"
The woman sobbcd.
"You," the man continued, 'marry
him! A rough, dull fisherman 1t was
only an impulse. Why should you con-
slider it binding? Binding indeed to him?
You must be mine, my pretty Annic!"
He was going to put his arms around
her, but She drew back.
Davic saw her blue, tear washed eyes.
lit is hard bargain, " She said. But
1 hae made it. I will never gaze back from
my promise, and he's good man, and I'll
max him good wife, butt She broke
down. oh my love, my love, kiss me
aimee, and Goodbyl"
DaVic rosc and clambcrcd up the steep.
lie was not angcrcd now.
Over the links he went with, for him,
quick steps. The door of little cottage
gave to him when he lifted its latch. \
red fire burned in a warm, tidy room. In
little cot slept pretty rosy girl. He
took n pencil from his coat pocket and
wrote, in a big, clumsy hand, on a scrap
of paper, and taking a pin from little
cushion hung on the wall beside tiny
mirror pinned it to the sleeve on the
child's arm, outstretchcd from the blan-
kets:
DEAR ANNIE-I did not know it was a hard
bargain. GOodby. ID. MCkERRA.
Then he kissed Elsie and went out and
shut the door.
He went away across the links again,
keeping far from the cliff side
He only lifted up his eyes once when
the church clock rung out seven solemn
strokes. They looked very wistful and
the light was gone from them. He never
saw Annie Roy again. He shipped on
board steamer for the whale fisheries
and she married the bank clerk.
People said she would have been hap
pier wife with Davie, and Mr.. Armstrong
was very far from a perfect husband
But thcn-she loved him. Exchange