The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-07

II heard of a chance to buy some
phosphate beds up country for almost
n song. and l made a successful deal
there. Now / am negotiating with
New York syndicate for them. If they
pay my price l will he a rich man."
There was something strangely pa
thetic in his attitude and expression,
despite the ring of triumph in the last
words.
moved nearer, wild, appealing
words of love trembling on my lips,
but a rough voice calling "Darrow"
out of the shadows came like discord
into a troubled, tender song. / real
lied that memories made a gulf be-
tween u.s. that II was getting dark, that
there was scarcely time to dress for
dinner, and l turned away just as a
boatmad came to Rufus's side.
What did Bobbie Lawnton think of
me that night? Restless, mocking,
with feverishly bright eyes and a man
ner not my own, l led him on to tell
me all that was in his poor, meagre
little heart, and then refused to be his
wife, though ! said something of the
beauty and gentleness in a sisters love
which was at his disposal. Bobbie was
not the man to be satisfied with this
however, and told me so dolefully: he
really thought his little heart was hope
lessly hurt; l knew better; you can't
engrave anything lasting on dough. OF
course, my conduct was contemplate.
Poor Bobbie, who went to bed drunk
that night was the missile I flung in
the face of the Browning Fate presd-
ing over my life.
The thoughts of Rufus Darrow pur-
sued me; his tones were in my ears.
l had never loved him better than that
night, when he stood before me in the
rough pilot clothes, refusing to touch
my hand. Rest was impossible, and l
went into the gardens mysterious with
dew and moonshine. l know l clasped
my hands, ] know l wept, and that
an inarticulate prayer broke from my
lips.
When looked up negro boatman,
holding letter, stood before me.
"Yuh pardn, miss, but can yuh
drec' me to jest whar I'll find Miss
lomme see-Miss Elizabeth Northrup-
SOS / kin give her this letter d'rect'?"
ne asked.
Il am Miss Northrup. Give it to
be-" l said, faint, sad stirring in my
blood disturbing me, and I opened it
just beneath the electric light, pulsing
like great white heart above me.
1t contained q few almost illegible
lines from Rufus, praying to me to
come to him just for one moment.
Something has happened l said to
the negro, seizing his arm. what?
Tell me what?"
"Misr Darrows boat collided tonight,
Just off the lighthouse. He is hurted
1, ,sf xxrtI ifY,n
He looks like spook, mos"
In twenty minutes | stood in Rufus's
little cottage. 1t was a strange sight.
A diminishing wood fire made the
hearth req and mingled with the can
dies light, throwing a glow, that
seemed not of earth. over Rufus's face.
He lay on a couch, the brine-soaked
shirt open at the throat, his face very
white, a purple shadow on lids ard
checks. AS I knelt beside him he
stretched out his arms and took me in
close, hungry embrace.
"How often you have been with me
so in dreams, my dear!" he said, be-
tween difficult breaths. "Only in
dreams. I never believed this could
really be-oh, never! BY the time l
had paid all my contemplate debt be-
that perhaps you would have married
some lucky devil who had not, like me,
misused his life. All, Bess, my pretty
girl, my love from boyhood, my love
now, give me the kiss that promises
heaven, even though it means good
by.
AS my fingers strayed through his
nair l noticed the gray silvering it; /
noticed the worn, young face and
ycarning ewes.
Good-by? Oh, never. never! There
was a prayer to God, as we'll as love for
him, in that ki~3.
You will live, Rufus" l said, in
whispering. love-inspired tones. Did
/ find you at the end of the route, after
this long, sad time, only to lose you?
Could Goa be so hard to us? oh, no.
You will live! We will be happy, dear"
A wear later-We are,