The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-09-30

watch the stolen glances which passed
from the mans eyes to hers.
A new page in ife's history seemed
opening before her wondering gaze.
BATTERIES delicately yelled, thoughts
subtly spoken, led her daily into re-
gions strange and unknown, That
night, upon the beach, when she had
watched with plying gaze strong man
wrestle with his agony,~seemed passing
from her memory, while new, deli
cious feeling filled all her heart and life.
Yet strange pang shoots through her
as now and then she sees Allan Fame
ccme and go. She misses his kindly
smile, his welcoming words, until she
forgets both In the gladness which fills
her heart at Ernest Hammond's COM
ing.
1.-THE summer has been passing
sweet he says to her one day, "but I
must have done with idleness and 20
back to my working life. Will you miss
me, Mignon?"
"Will I miss you? lean scarce tell till
I know what absence means"
"Ah, need no absence to assure me of
the void my soul will know. You have
given the summer all it's brightness,
Ellie. When first saw your face, fair
beauty, wondered what strange wind
could have blown you to this rough
shore, but I learned to bless that favor
ing breeze, as having waited 10 my side
the fairest thing on which my eyes had
ever rested. Some day, Ellie, you shall
leave this place and make your home
with me. My wife will take good care
of YOU"
"Your wife? You are married, them"
broke from the girls white lips, while
as in a vision came memories of his
locks, his acts, his words-all, all
breathing love, and that love for her.
mo, not married exactly" came the
reply, as though he were speaking afar
off, "although so soon to be that can
play tr1ant no longer. I shall often
think Of you, Ellie, often picture your
fair beauty, and I fear, married or
otherwise, shall envy with mad envy
the man who culls you for his own"
''Then envy not the woman whom
you call wife. Go back to your gay
world and the girl who awaits your
coming; greet both with fair words;
press her young lips to yours, but re-
member one woman lives who would
feel her ears poisoned by your whis-
pered caresses, her lips sullied by the
touch of yours. I thank you. that you
have robbed your going of all its sting"
ELSIE, Elsie!" exclaimed the man,
who had listened, with great amaze
ment growing in his eyes. Listen ere
you so reproach me. I loved you ere I
knew it. meant not to drift into dis
honor nor yet to tell you of my love,
since the telling made it such. Listen,
Elsie. Return that which has burst all
bounds to-day. Let me see you smile
upon me as of old and will break every
bond that holds me, SO that only can
hold you to- my heart and call you
mine!"
''Think you that would accept your
love at such a price, above and beyond
all tainted with dishonor? am but a
simple girl, Ernest Hammond, but the
way of truth and honesty is at least
open to me. You have proved to me
how false a thing may. be, let the out
side be fair as it may, I doubt not shall
be the better for the lesson.'
Then she turned and left him, with
her words ringing in his ear, her look
of scorn engraven on his heart. It had
been pleasant pastime, and now that
it was ended he had expected rush OF
tears, lOw-spOken farewells, choked by
sobs, and 10, he had met a woman's
dry-eyed scorn, and felt new respect
spring into Goirth for her who had called
it forth.
The summer waned, the harvest fruits
were gathered. The winter came with
it's garb of purity, but Ellie seemed to
take no heed of time. The old people
listened vainly for the ripple of song
they loved so well to hear, and wondered
what had come over the child. But
there was an hour close at hand when
all idle surmises were swallowed up in
one common throb of anxious fear.
Two fishing boats had gone out from
their midst. Allan Fame commanding
them, but only one had come back in
safety. A terrific storm had overtaken
them, and those who escaped gave little
hopes of the others rescue. Ellie lis
tened to the story with wide, staring
eyes, then turned away with great
sob and stole down to the beach. Day
after day found her straining her eyes
seward, until at last the words which
tortured her broke bounds.
II told you, Allan, you would find
your mistake, and that one day you
would love another. I little dreamed
it was I who made the mistake, who
loved you even when I spurned your
great, honest heart. I knew it the day
he left me, Allan, and it gave me
strength to say the words which told
him all my scorn, for side by side with
his pitiful weakness I seemed to see
your face shining forth it's love for me;
to hear your voice with the misery in
it you could not hide. All, Sea, you who
spared my life, could you not have
saved his?"
The young voice died away in cholz-
ing sob, and she would have flung
herself face downward on the sands,
even as he had once done, but that
strong arms held and clasped her, while
two eyes radiant with love looked into
hers.
us it no dream, Ellie? Is this won
derful happiness really mine? 1should
have died, dear, during these awful
days. The strength and courage which
saved us would have deserted me but
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