The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-11-22

rocked lazily to and fro, with the ris-
ing wind. The surf lines came boom
ing up at the foot of the rocks, froth-
ing and foaming angrily; the gulls
whiled above my head, shrieking and
dipping into the white capped waves.
And then. watching the sun go down,
/ began to wonder at Rogers delay.
VIC had walked upon the beach every
A a>ant evening, but never b.fcre
had | awaited his coming at this spot.
And, thinking how pleased he would
be to find me so much nearer than he
anticipated, smiled to myself as
marked at last his familiar form NOV
ing along the beach. But-where
was he going? He directed his steps
to a little nook or cove on the shore,
which I had never visited, for he had
warned me of its danger when the
tide was in.
AS he enter ed the sheltered nook, I
perceived that the place was occupied,
for there was the CLEAN of a gay
dress, and then I saw slender form.
1t was Milly Dean, the daughter of
fisherman, living near, and my heart
gave great, angry bound, as saw
that Roger evidently expected her.
saw her turn to meet him, and fling.
ing back her long, dark hair from her
pretty face, she seized his hands with
passionate gesture.
But waited to see no more. Down
from the rock I dashed, and turned
| toward home. Then, composed my
self, and walking quietly to the hotel,
sought my own partments. My
mother-gentle soul-attributiIg my
agitation to my parting with Roger,
tried to soothe me, and I was too
heart-sick to explain. In a short
time, I heard his voice asking the
servant if we were engaged, and re-
gardless of conse quences, sent down
word that was too i'll to see him, on
that, the last evening we were to be
together.
The next morning, before the ship
sailed, 1 wrote line to Mr.. Roger
Dermott, and returning book which
I had found awaiting me, told him
that he was free; our engagement
was at an end. And, with quiet scorn,
I warned him not to write to me, for
if he did, I w ould burn his letters
unopened. And Roger Dermott
knew that never rolze my word. I
slipped his 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. I went down to the
gates of death, but my feet were
staid at the portals; so came back to
life, with it's duties and stern realities.
One blow foil owed another in quick
succession. Hardly had I regained
my strength. when my mother set
forth upon that last lonesome jour
ney that we all must take alone.
watched her as she ''fell in sleep.
| She died uncons cious of what haG
come between Roger and I, anG
our two names were the last upor
her lips Died! And we, who hac
always been together, were part &c
, forever now!
I stood alone in the world. Goo
5 help the poor W oman who has that t.
say of herself, and with woman
|
} est livelihood. But, I was fortunate
in finding friend, and just at tn,
blacklist hour of my night, the hou
before the day-dawn, just when m,
heart had fail led me, and desolate ant
alone I felt "hedged in" by all tn
pitiless world, kind hand wa
stretched out to save me from de
spair. An old time friend of m,
father offered me the charge of a cir
culating library, and too thankful TO
words wrung his hand in gratitude
and turned my face in the directio
of my work.
1t was in the beginning of winter
and glad was of the employment
which would secure me from wan
during that in clement season, and
was ready for the hardest, most irl
some task.
Mr.. Lee, my employer, was ger
ial old gentleman, perfect 'bool
worm," and I soon found my wor
engrossing. Among books I could NJ
g be very lonely; and so the days wo1
- away, and at last I grew quietl
happy.
Some three years had elapsed sin {
Is my mothers death, when one ,da..
II going into an unus ed room, stun
&c bled over a small wooden box.
u "Bless me!' exclaimed Mr.. Lee, St
le there isn't that box Of second-har
" books which I purchased two wee]
10 ago! They comprise some valuab
u. works, and are worth something's
~ So saying, he removed the lid fro
~ the box. I assisted him in assortil
u" the contents. Almost the first W
'e ume touched was a copy of Longft
lows poems, with Roger Dermot
n name on the fly leaf. Well did 1 !
III member the book-which he had Sc
~ me the day before he had sailed
'io the Indies. 1r
49, AS Iopened it, a folded paper fl
lio tered from between the leaves to t
floor 1t was letter addressed
~. me, in Rogers well-remember
- hand, Trembling like a leaf, re
re- +bovo ,por1c. = r-..