Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-11-22
ROGER AND 1.

1t is a very simple story. My name Is
Marian Ray, and I was twenty years
old when first met Roger McDermott
at Cohassett. where l was passing the
ummer We-my mother and 1, who
composed our entire family circle-had
strayed to this quiet place because we
knew that her lease of life was not for
very long, and l grasped at any sugges-
ton Of possible relief to her, even as the
drowning catch at straws, forgetting
how frail they are. And 1t was terri
BILE to me to think that l must be left
alone in the great, wide world-alone
and poor.
We were always together-my mother
and for she was more like an elder
sister tran a parent, and we chung clos
er now, for we felt that the time was
short.
Therefore, I made her life rs pleas
ant n easy as possible, and her only
anxiety vas for my lonely, unprotected
future, when w must leave her out
under the flowers and the dew, and /
would be ~friendless.
But l., feeling very brave and conf
dent, as the young are prone to do,
smiled back courageouSly into her face,
and at last, when my future began to
be discussed, changed the subject of
conversation.
And so we lived on at the seaside,
and our two lives were very gray and
uneyentful, until the time came when
a ray of sunshine slipped in; but. All!
when the sunshine goes again. l notice
it is always darker han before it came.
We were strolling along the beach one
divine June morning, my arm around
my mother, in n tender, protecting way,
when she suddenly started from my
side. advanced a few steps, and with
a flush upon her pale face, held out her
hand in a cordial greeting. CHANGING
up In surprise. I met the laughing
brown eyes of Roger Dermott. He sa-
luted me with a courteous bow, insist
ed upon taking my place beside mother,
and together we reSumed our morning
walk. That was the beginning of many
pleasant days. Days no longer lonely,
for he was ever with us; no longer now
vas my heart filled with gloomy fore
bodings for the future, for Roger and
/ were betrothed.
1t is wonderful what great strides
hearts will make toward each other
when isolated from society and sur
rounded by the wealth which dear
Mother Nature loves to lavish upon her
children.
Looking back upon that past, after
a lapse Of years,
II think my eyes grow wet, as some
where within my breast
Stabbed a faint and slothful pang never
wholly laid at rest"
Somehow, that secluded spot has ever
been to me as the graveyard In which
all 1 eve loved lies sleeping: and yet,
there is no dust there to which | have
a claim. There are g%raveyards in the
memory sometimes, and there 1t seems
to me we always lay our bravest and
best.
Roger was a sailor; and 1t was strange
how soon / learned to take an interest
In all that pertained to the ocean. We
passed hours 10y the salt sea wave,
while he unfolded to me the mysteries
that lay hidden In its shining, deceitful
depths. I loved the sea, then; oh,
how / loved 1t! But now, when l walk
along the beach 1t talks to me Of part
ings, and all dreary things. and the
sound Of its tumultuous roaring comes
TO my ears like the cries of a soul In
despair.
One gloomy afternoon In September,
with the sky threatening and dreary, !
and the sun red and sullen, sinking In
q crimson ball behind the mass Of
clouds lowering in the west, I walked
upon the rocks beside the sea. Roger
was to meet me therefor he was to
sail on the morrow for the Indies, Ieav-
ing me, with a heart like a lump Of
lead, to await his return. l could not
endure the thought of this parting.
But he would be captain Of the vessel
when he came back, he said. and he
would not lose his chance in the world.
He would have taken me with him as
his wife, but there was mother, too
frail to undertake the journey, and so
l would stay behind. But no matter
how much Is to be gained by the voy-
age. there never was a woman yet that
could feel, at such a time, the value Of
any gain; and | suppose ! vas like the
rest.
And so I paced up and down the
rocks in the sunset. with my heart all
choked like, and my voice full of tears.
But my eyes we're ~dry-quite dry-for
Roger must not see my weakness.
When he was zone there would be
days and nights to cry In, and then my
tears need not be restrained.
So waiting bravely for his coming. 1
watched the offing. where the ships
rocked, lazily to and fro, with the ris-
ing wind. The surf lines came BOOM
ing ND at the foot of the rocks. frothing
and foaming ~angrily; the gulls whiled
above my head, shrieking and dipping
into the ~white-capped waves. And
then, watching the sun 60 down. l be-
gan to wonder at Rogers delay. We
had walked upon the beach every
leasant evening. and never before had
i awaited his coming ut this spot. And
thinking how pleased he would be to
find me so much nearer than he anti
/ smiled to myself as l mark
ed at last his familiar form moving
along the beach. But-where was he