The Portland daily press., 1894-05-28
seem to be a few men forwhona there real

ly is but one woman in the world He
knew that Annie was fairer than any
woman in Derehaven, and that other men
must have desired her, but humble though
he was he did not say, sShe is too good
for me-" In his honesty he said, IT will
make her better husband than any, be-
cause love her more. J" And Annie was
no vain flirt, but quiet, gentle though
strong willed woman.
That she had made him wait so long
was only right and proper. Annie Roy
was not the girl to give herself away east
| Iy and carelessly, but now she knew her
self. knew that he had her heart, and she
| had promised! He never questioned, eff
the wind had not blown the little boat up
| into Coveha'en sheltered from the storm,
and he had brought her little maid back,
would it have been different?' Such
thing as bargaining never entered his
mind.
IT will be your wife, These were her
words.
s'Ah, Annie, will make you happy!"
The sea sobbed quietly. A little wind
crept 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 Derehaven folk The young men call
ed him The Lady, and Dandy, but liked
him, too, for a winning, friendly way,
and refined, pleasant face. The man at
the cliff top watched the man at the foot.
His heart was full of kindness and over
flowing charity tonight. He pitied the
| loneliness of the man below and wonder
ed that chap with learning and gentle
folks ways had not tried long since Of
| Derehaven. The slim form outlined against
the background Of gray sea and sky look
ed solitary enough. Was he waiting for
some one? Davie consulted his watch
again, looked inland across the darkening
moors for few minutes and resolved not
to wait for the appointed time.
Hush! Voicesl
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?
Why, oh, why were they two there at all?
| A slow red crept into Davies cheek and
a strange look into his eyes. He crept
stealthily down over the long, wavy grass,
clinging to it and tho cliffs side, till he
was near enough to hear their words. Their
faces were seaward. Behind big whin
bush he crouched and listened.
Promised! Annie, how could you?
| Never meet me againl Dear, came to-
night to ask you to marry me. I love you
too much to care what the world saysp'
| The woman sobbed.
'tYou," the man continued, "marry
himi 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 AnnieP'
He was going to put his arms around
| her, but she drew back.
Davie saw her blue, tear washed eyes,
sit is hard bargain" she said. "But
| hae made it. will never gaze back from
my promise, and he's good man, and I'll
| maxi him a good wife, butt She broke
down. ''Oh, my love, my love, kiss me
aimee, and goodbye
| Davie rose and clambered up the Steep
| He was not angered now.
| Over the links he went with, for him,
| quick steps. The door of little cottage
| gave to him when he lifted its latch. A
red fire burned in warm, tidy room. In
little cot slept a pretty rosy girl. He
took 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 a tiny
mirror pinned it to the sleeve on the
child's arm, outstretched from the blan-
| kets:
| DEAR ANN1E-I did not know it was q hard
bargain. Goodby. D. 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 a 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 perfect husband i
| But then-she loved him.-Exchange.