Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-11-22
too IN to see him. on that, the last,

evening we were to be together!
The next morning before the ship
sailed. / wrote "a line to Roger Der
mott, and returning a book which |
had found awaiting me, / told him that
he was free; u engagement was ut
an end. And with quiet scorn warn
ed him not to write to me-, for II ne
did, | would burn his letters unopened.
And Roger Dermott knew that never
broke my word. l slipped the ring INTO
the envelope, and so, it was all over.
After that. we returned to our home
In New York; and there the fever seized
me. l went down to the gates or death
but my feet were staid at the portals;
so / came back to life with its duties
and stern realities.
One blow followed another In quick
succession. Hardly had regained my
strength. when my mother set forth
upon that last lonesome journey that
we all must take alone. With her dear
hand in mine, / watched her as she
"fell In sleep" She died unconscious
Of what had come between Roger and
me. and our two names were the last
upon her lips. Died! And we, who had
always been together, were parted Tor
ever nowi
/ stood alone in the world. God help
the poor woman who has that to say
of herself. and with n woman's precar-
ious chances of earning an honest i've
lihood. But, l was fortunate In finding
q friend, and Just at the blacklist hour
of my night (the hour before the day
dawn, just when my heart had failed
me. and desolate and alone | felt
'hedgcd in by all the pitilcss world
a kind hand was stretched out to save
me from despair. An old-time friend
Of my father offered me the charge OF
q circulating library, and too thankful
for words, | wrung his hand in graft
tude. and turned my face in the di-
rection of my work.
1t was in the beginning Of winter,
and glad was / of the employment
which would secure me from want dur
ing that inclement season., and | was
ready for the hardest most irksome
task.
Mr.. Lee. my employer, was a genial
old gentleman. a perfect "booE-worm,"
and l soon found my labors engrossing.
Among books l could not be very lone
ly; and so the days wore away, and
at last I grew quietly happy.
Some three years had elapsed since
my mothers death, when one day, go
ing into an unused room, l stumbled
over a small wooden box.
BLESS met" exclaimed Mr.. Lee, IF
there isn't that box Of second hand
books which l purchased two weeks
ago! They comprise valuable works
and are worth sOmething!'
So saying he removed the lid from
the box. l assisted him In asserting
the contents. Almost the first volume
/ touched, was a copy of Longfellow's
poems, with Roger Dermott's name on
the fy-leaf. Well did l remember the
book-which he had sent me the day
before he had sailed for the Indies.
AS 1 opened il, a folded paper flut-
tered from between the leaves to the
floor. 1t was a letter addressed to me,
in Rogers well-remembered hand.
Trembling like a leaf, / read these
words:
Darling Marian:-Forgive me II / do
not come as early as usual tonight.
Little Milly Dean has begged me to do
her u favor. The poor girl has a lover,
an honest. steady fellow, but her faith
er. who is a hard-hearted old man,
is opposed to the marriage; and. as I
have some influence with him, l have
consented to try and induce him to
consent. / send this note darling,
with the copy of Longfellow that l
promised you. Please await patiently
the coming of your Roger"
The spring sunlight stole into the lit
tie room where l sat, staring my own
mad folly in the face. Bowling my
head upon my clasped hands, I wept
tears of bitter grief. So, we were sep
arated forever. and /, in my mad |
blindness. had done it all.
Two weeks later. / came back to the
old home by the sea. Almost the first
person l met was Roger Dermott,
who had just returned from his voyage
/ VENT swiftly up to him, and sturdily
trampling my pride under foot, in a
low, trembling voice, l told him the
whole story, and begged him to forgive
me.
Standing there In the sunset, with
the waters Of old ocean at our feet,
Roger took my hand in his.
Darling" he said, softly, 'of course
you are forgiven. Be my wife at n
and never doubt me again, Marian, new
er while you liver"
And standing there together, n happy
faith and trust crept into u hearts
never to go away ~again-never ANY
more.