Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-10-28

he has been pursuing hard lines. !
would not blame you. All the girls
like him. am not complaining. Ed
it'll. only want to let you see that
am taking you with my eyes open. and
you need have no secrets from me.
trust you, dear"
Roger, please don't. Jack and
have been friends for many years,
quite too many to mention, for ! am
terribly old. Now am your aflianced
wife, and no one else. except my
mother. has any claim on me. / can
not say love you, dear, as some wom-
en- love men. We have talked this
matter over before. But do admire
and respect you, very, very mucn'
Let's discuss something new"
Thomson moved uneasily, and set
tied down as II with liked purpose.
His hand stole along the arm OF ner
chair and covered her fingers.
NO." he replied, II want to say
little more, and please listen to me. !
fear l am in a disagreeable mood. but
this is about the last chance l shall
have to set matters right, and 1t Is not
too late. If you think you will ever
regret baYicg married me, Edith. you
ought To say Sd Eow. II will release
you-that is, you know what l mean.
You're not bound"
Roger, don't" =.
Eyes, I must go on, dearest. wish
I was not rich or useless. ! am man,
as well as Jack Dorr, but l have mao
my way paved for me, and never was
urged to do anything to make people
| look up to me. OF course l am not
sot or a roue. But what am 1? There's
Jack, who is making his way alone and
unaided, and getting no end or praise
for the work he is turning out. He Is
bound to be a great sculptor, every
body says. He is mighty fine fellow,
and any girl should be proud OF him.
Until met you never had an incent-
i've to make my mark. You see our
family have always had everything
they wanted, and was brought up to
it,"
Dear boy, you must not talk so. l
know, and l wish everyone knew,
what generous, noble man you are
one of the very best in the world.
used to like Jack; all the girls do, as
you say. / might have married him, II
circumstances had permitted 1t, but at
the time he was too poor to support us
both. Now, l understand, his future
is assured. He was my playmate and
companion, oh, so long. But, dear, /
owe you a debt of gratitude that / can
only partly pay by making you. as
wish, the happiest man alive. If 9TH
ers knew what you have done for US
mamma and me-when we were in
trouble, they would not be forever
bringing up Jacks name. They would
see why l admire you, and why
am glad to give myself to you II you
really want me. So let's drop the sub
ject. l am going to be your wife just
as soon as l can, and you cannot get
out of 1t, and l expect to be happy
too"
II don't know" laughed Thomson
81 could run away from my dreadful
fate, and leave you to my worthy Jack
But suppose ought to be satisfied tc
rave you for my own, even II you dc
not love me as hoped you would On
Edith" he continued wistfully, IF
could only win your entire heart!
feel now that l have bought, not
earned you"
what is the use of talking that way
Roger? You deserve me, If ever mar
did woman. l cannot go through life
, with a lie on my lips, by telling you
| 10 ha n in
J and you would be miserable when yol
came to see it. have laid bare to yol
: my sanctum sanctorum, and now. dear
J won't you take me as I ann"
"Who am to refuse such gift? Blu
IL l was out of the road. you would
marry Jack, wouldn't you?-and l an
keeping you from It,"
, The girl arose, her eyes filled Will
: tears. "You are unkind," she replied
ct am trying to please you and be t.
: you all that you want, and fail to sat
: isfy you. Now I am going to nam
: ma"
Forgive me, Edith" said the man
l stepping to her side. Il had no bust
e ness to do that. You are too good TO
r me. Let me know If 1 can do any
:, thing for the mater. l am going t
e stick my head out on deck, and will
l get in better temper"
.. When Roger Thomson peered Of
i deck he saw the same scene that ha
t greeted his eyes for the past two days
d whenever he had attempted to emery
n from cover-water beneath and above
s flying spray and huge waves shown
J, between attacks. Dripping, he speed
d lily withdrew from the battlefield, en-
d countering the purser as he did so.
|. What do we intend to do?" aske
. Thomson. "Stay afloat, or sink?"
e Were trying to get back to por
! just at present. This is about the or
r ly direction we can move. We haven
e gone very far, and ought to find ar
: chorage by tomorrow, the Lord b
{. praised. This does beat any storm
ever saw"
: Same here, purser. Much oblige
e for the information" and Roger has
e ened to impart the news to Edith an
n her mother, by shouting 1t throug
l. the closed door of their state room.
Morning came again. The storl
Y, had abated considerably, and the sea
were rapidly falling. But the shi
'e had been SO battered by the element
q. that the captain thought best to col
a. tinue on the course toward the nea
ot est port, where needed repairs cou
II ho N, ode IN tho hent nroneI1er rock