The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-22

ing along the beach. But-where
was he going2 He directed his steps
10 a little nook or cove on the shore.
which had never visited for he had
warned me Of its danger when the
tide was n.
As he enter ed the sheltered nook. 1
perez we'd that the place was occupied.
for there was the CLEAN of n gay
dress. and then I saw a slender form.
II was Milly Dean, the daughter of .
fisherman. living near. and my heart
gave a great. angry bound. as l saw
that Roger evidently expected her.
saw her IA m TO meet him. and fling
ing back her long. dark hair from her
pretty face. she seized his hands with
a passionate gesture.
But waited to see no more Down
from the rock l dashed, and turned
toward ONE Then. com posed my
self and walking quietly 70 the hotel.
l sought my own apartments My
mother-gentle sou1-attri butirg nay
agitation TO my parting with Roger.
tried to soothe me, and I was too
heart-sicl1 TO explain. In a short
time 1 heard his voice asking the
servant if we were engaged, and re-
gardless of conse quences. sent down
word that 1 was too III TO see him, on
that the last evening we were to be
together.
The next morning, before the ship
sailed. ] wrote a line to Mr. Roger
Dermott. and returning a book which
I had found awaiting me, I told him
that he was free; our engage ment
was al an end. A nd. with quiet scorn,
! warned him not To write to me, for
if he did. l " Guild burn his letters
unopened. And Roger Dermott
knew that / never b rolxe my word.
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 its duties and stern realities.
One blow foil owed another IN quick
succession. Ha rdly had 1 regained
my strength. when my mother set
forth upon that last lonesome jour
ney that we a Il must take alone
With her dear hand in NINE I
watched her as she fell in sleep"
She died uncons eious Of what had
come between r oyer and l. and
our two names were the last upoa
her lips Died! And we. who had
always been together. were part ed
forever now
I stood alone IN the world. God
help the poor w oman who has that to
say Of herself and with a woman's
preearious chances Of ear ming an hon
est livelihood But, / was fortunate
in finding a friend. and just at the
blacklist hour Of my night, the hour
before the day-dawn. just when ny
heart had failed me, and desolate and
81 eel Al II
pitiless world a kind hand was
stretched out to save me from de-
spair. An old time friend of my
father offered me the charge of cir
culating lib rary, and too thankful for
words. I wrunP his hand in gratitude.
and turned my face in the direction
Of my work
1t was in the beginning OF winter.
and G lad was I Of the employment
which would secure me from want
during that in element season. and I
was ready for the hardest, most irl<-
some task.
Mr. Lee. my employer, was gem
ial old gentleman. perfect book
worm. " and | soon found my work
engrossing- Among books I could not
be very lonely; and SO the days wore
away. and at last 1 grew quietly
happy
Some tlree yea rs had elapsed since
my mothers death. when one day.
going into an unus ed room, ! stun
bled over a small wooden box.
Bless me,' exclaimed Mr.. Lee. .slf
there isn't tn at box Of secondhand
books which 1 purchased two weeks
ago, They comprise some valua bic
works. and are worth some things"
So saying. he removed the lid from
the box l assisted him in asserting
the contents Almost the first vol
une l touched was a copy of Longfel-
lows poems, with Roger Dermott's
name on the fly leaf Well did l re
mem Der the book-which he had sent
me the day before he had sailed for
the Indies
As opened it. a folded paper hut-
tered from between the leaves to the
floor 1t was a le tier addressed to
me. in Rogers well-remembered
hand. Ire bling like a leaf. I read
these words:
DARLING adAR1Ar.-Forzive me II 90 not
ONE early rs usual TO mig ht Little Mile
Dean has reg ed me to do her q favor The
poor little Girl has a lover. an honest steady
fellow. but her father. no IS a hard hearted
old man. IS opposed 10 the Maria and
] have some influence with him. I have con
sented 10 try and induce him 10 consent
send this note. darling. with the COPY Of
Lonzfeliow that / romised you Please
a ait patiently the comm Of your
ROGER
The spring sunlight stole into the
little room where / sat. staring my
own mad folly IN the face Bowling
nv head upon my clasped hands
wept tears Of bitter grief. 50. we
were separated forever and I. IN my
mad blindness. had done it all
Two weeks later came back to the