The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-11-07
Select gtorp.
THE SCUTTLED BOAT.
From London Tit-Bits.

When I was 90 my widowed mother
had been dead about Is months, and by
her desire expressed on her deathbed-
/ had married Gilbert Armstrong, after
ward so well known in literary circles. He
was then a rising man, but, apart from his
earnings, he had small fortune and was
able to give me home with all the COM
forts and luxuries | could reasonably wish
for
| had given my first love to Rupert
Garstang, who had proved utterly unworthy
of it. On his fathers death he succeeded
to a nice estate, but he ran into excesses
of all kinds, and by his gambling and ex-
travagance brought himself to ruin, and
suddenly absconded, leaving me heart
broken, for, despite his failings, had
loved him dearly.
Gilbert had all along loved me, and
without doubt his affection was as pure as
it was sincere. After Rupert Garstang's
disappearance Gilbert urged his suit upon
me- | told him what indeed felt, that
| had no love for any man now, but he
declared that he would ':wait for my love
to come afterward.
My mother was dying, and | should be
left unprovided for, as her income ceased
with her life, and she pressed me to accept
Gilbert, so, although in my then broken
hearted condition | was averse to the
match, | consented.
| knew Gilbert was moral. upright
and good man, and | admired and respected
him greatly, but | did not love him.
We had been married about six months,
and Gilbert kindness, gentleness and low
ing attention and forbearance, with his
ever thoughtful ways, had told on me. |
had completely lost my heart to him, but
was too proud to confess it.
In the earlier days of our married life l
had received his attentions coldly and in
differently, but he never murmured. He
had taken me at my own valuation. Il
had no love to give him. had said.
suppose there is limit to the patience
of all men Gilbert was very patient and
forbearing, but it became evident to me
that he was getting tired of my cold and
unaffectionate behavior. He doubtless
thought it was time | reciprocated his
kindness at all events, even if | were una
bic to return his love, and his manner be-
came less warm toward me, although he
was still kind-oh, so kind-and there
was a sadness overshadowing him in all his
actions.
Whether it was because of this gradual
cooling of his ardor | know not, but, as |
say, | was now conscious that | did love
him, not with the passionate ebullitiop of
my attachment to Rupert Garstang, but
with a deep, trustful, earnest, thankful
and lasting love.
Oh, how | longed to throw myself into
his arms and tell him he had won my
heart? But could not
BY tacit consent he had never pressed
me for any avowal of love, and was too
proud-too stiff necked-to admit it.
may have thought it modesty. |
know | made that the excuse to myself,
but it was lying excuse. 1t was my
wretched pride. wanted him, my own
husband, whom l had promised at the
altar to love, to beg for an admission of
my affection.
SO we were gradually drifting away
from each other. felt it every day. |
knew that l had only to say, Colbert, |
have learned to love you, and the warm
spring of his noble nature would have
gushed forth to me. But l would not,
and day by day inwardly chafed, until l
came to regard the matter from false
standpoint and persuaded myself that my
love was spurned by him rather than-as
was the truth-that | was spurning his
love
We went to Exmouth for change.
Gilbert was very fond of boating and
there he could get plenty of it. l, too,
used TO like the water, but my miserable
feelings induced me TO be disagreeable,
and rarely accompanied him.
One evening l stood on the sea wall
looking across the mouth of the river Exc
at the beautiful, placid scene. The sun
was disappearing behind the hills on the
opposite side of the river, and the huge
sand bank known as ''the Warren was
fast being hid in the shadow of the deep
blue uplands in the west.
Gilbert had gone in his boat to Dawlish,
and was watching with longing heart
all the more so because l tried to repress
its longing-for the appearance of his sail
round the point, when became conscious
that some one was standing beside me. |
looked up, and it was-Rupert Garstang
Had ghost appeared to me | could
not, think, have felt greater terror than
did at that moment. All the blood in
my body seemed to recede inward, and |
stretched out my hands and elutched the
low parapet wall to support myself from
dropping to the ground.
''Felicia, he said, II have returned.
l am rich again.
essayed to speak, but my voice failed
me. Then the reaction came. The blood
surged to the surface again, and felt that
| flushed crimson.
i'Mr. Garstang, replied, Il was
not aware you were in England. .
| did not know if he had heard of my
marriage, so | added
'We are staying here for awhile. My
husband is at Dawlish this afternoon.
81 heard you were married, Felicia,
he returned, in familiar tone, shut 1t
was great mistake on your part--a great
mistake. | am sure you can be happy
As he bent his head toward me | could
email HE breath of drink His imnudence