The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-20

settling over the lonely shore. He used
to. know without seeing her, that she
was there, under the pine. She won
dered II he knew that Dick had asked
her to marry him? The. sea was quite
dark, except where q faint wreath Of
white came and went where the waves
broke on the rocks. How dear and
kind Don had been; how full Of laugh
ter; how simple and II trusting; how care
less and good-natured; she remembered
this or that drollery, this or that dear
unreasonableness: hundred tender
nesses. No wonder she loved him; to love
such man was enough for one girls
life. she thought And yet, Dick Wheel
er had thought she might marry him!
But I've been true" she protested
to herself, as II in excuse. Then she
turned back to the path, and went on
to the little gray house. Don thought
1t wasn't rs nice as Dicks" she
thought. half smiling; "well, you see,
I've chosen it. anyhow" she said, half
aloud, as thought he were beside her.
She saw the kitchen door open and
shut, and heard burst Of laughter.
why, who is here at this time of
night?" she thought. And then she
saw that there were people in the door
yard, and two figures at the gate sud-
denly saw her, and came running
towards her:
Mary. he's back! Mary! Don's
home!" .,..
Mary stood still at the gate; she was
perfectly silent. Eager hands clutched
her and would have pulled her along
the path. Hes home! He's back, Nary;
do you hear? He's back: he says he's
been meaning to come these five years;
but he's been on three voyages"
Like woman walking in her sleep,
Mary was pushed to the door, which
swung open again to admit these
friendly on-lookers, who had come to
rejoice with those that did rejoice.
Afterwards she did not know whether
she saw him or not; the kitchen was
crowded. She heard Mrs. Hayes laugh
ing and crying. and saying:
"And Mary's been true to you-but
not because she hasn't had chances.
But why didn't You ever write to her?"
And then a voice, a voice from the
grave, dead voice, that made Mary
thrill with horror; q voice that made
her heart quiver, as though the founda-
tions Of the solid earth moved and
melted-a hearty. kindly voice. said:
well, was always meaning to"
and, somehow, she turned and slipped
away between the pushing. jostling,
congratulating friends; slipped out into
the night, and ran, stumbling, crying,
shivering, away from the house Of JOY
and thanksgiving.
Dick Wheeler was certainly tired
enough to have Jacob help him back to
bed; but Jacob was at the grocery store
listening, open-mouthed, to the story
Of Donald Hayes return: SO the young
man sat in the darkness. feeling miser-
ably faint and miserably unhappy. He
wished Jacob would come; he wished he
had lamp; he wished he had some
supper; he wished Mary would be kind.
er. And then he drew a long breath,
and set his lips, ashamed of his unman-
ly irritability, his cowardly collapse.
Some one knocked, but did not wait
for his "Come in to push the door open
and enter. 1t was Mary; she came
right to his chair and knelt down and
took one of his big, thin, gentle hands
in hers.
"Dick-he's come back. Dons alive.
And-and-and, Dick, take me, please.
I want-you; because Don's alive"
(The End.)