The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-05-02

mouse keepers daughter? You, with
so much to live for? Oh, oh, no! But
1T was pleasant. You have made these
past months so bright. When 1 go
will remember how you used to come
to our lighthouse to cheer us, and how
pleasant the evenings were. Good-by."
Standing before her, Ned Holcomb
lost his head, and poured out the pent-
up words. which, by Yvette's beauty
and constant companionship during
the past months, had been stored up,
waiting for just such an occasion for
utterance.
! What did he care for the worlds
opinion? Ned asked. Was not hap
piness the sole and rightful aim of
| life? Has not each one the right to
seek it, and grasp it, wherever and
whenever the chance occurs? Is it not
| for more honest to break faith with
one, when ones whole soul and
thoughts are wrapped up in another.
Yvette spoke like child! Like the
dear, honest, unsophisticated little
! girl she was. 1t was absurd, hideous,
to think for an instant of throwing
herself away on common shipwright
She must marry him, and they would
| join them. Who in all the world was
as beautiful and noble and fearless as
Yvette? His Yvette.
So Ned Holcomb urged in widest en-
treaty, and Yvette listened, keenest
anguish Juggling at her heart, her face
pale, but a resolute look on her face,
strange for one so young.
"You think so now-but it's all a
mistake, DEAR" she answered, slowly,
a great tenderness yelling up in her
eyes.
"Your life and mine lie far, far
apart. You must go your way, and I
| must go mine, and we will both forget
all but the pleasant hours we spent in
the old lighthouse, and on these rocks,
listening to the voices of the sea.
Good-by."
'Do you mean it? 1t must be for all
time, remember, Yvette."
"For all time!" she answered, stead
lily.
Ned Holcomb looked long at the face
I before him, and, STOPPING, kissed the
rich bronze hair the sea breezes loved
to toy with.
And when, the wind catching the
sail, his boat ran swiftly down the
channel.
"Where is your friend? Why did he
not stay to supper? Has he gomez"
queried Ben Ker, lightly stroking
Yvette's ruffied hair as she nestled
against him and leaned against his
shoulder.
"He's gone, dad. Gone away. He'll
not come back"
"Gone away for good? Well, we'll!
You'll miss his visits, my pet, and his
books. But well soon leave the old
lighthouse. We'll soon leave it. I'll
miss the roar of the waters and the
whistle of the wind at night and the
lighting of the beacon.
"But life ashore will be better for
my birdie. She will not miss stran-
gers visits then. Peter will be here
tomorrow and we'll settle on the date
in June, and soon We'll move out and
let Harrison take my place. You'll
have Peter to take care of you, and
your old dad, Ben Ker, has provided
well for his little girl. You will be
as happy as the day is long"
eyes, dad, as happy as the day is
long" whispered Yvette, clinging to
the old man.
"Can anybody tell me what in the
world is the matter with Ned Hol-
comb? Perhaps there's insanity in the
family Does anyone know anything
about it?" queried Mrs. Carson to
those around, while slipping.
"Can't imagine, unless he's in love.
1t must be with that wonderful siren
of the sea we came across last spring.
You remember? She's a perfect
Lorelie-a beautyl Ned Holcomb, to
my mind, has never been the same
since, and his rushing off to spend the
summer rambling about, all by him
self, in the Alps, when Kitty had her
trousseau ready, was the stupidest
thing | ever heard of. If I had been
Kitty I would have let him go-for
good But Kits so dead in love with
him!"
Don't wonder We all are. Ned
Holcomb's a dear"
"Sh-s-s-s-sh! Here's Kitty!" warned
some one.
There was an air of triumph about
Kitty as she came in.
"Where is Ned Holcomb? Why, in
town. No, won't go to the Whirtley's
next month. I'll probably be out of
town."
ga bridal tour?"
Kitty nodded assent, and was
bounced on by all the women present.
"Hello, old fellow. Let me congrat-
ulate you. Miss Kitty's a charming
girl, and deuced clever" an acquaint-
ance said to Ned Holcomb at the club
that night,
Ned Holcomb shook hands, and
lapsed back into his moody gazing
through the window.
He saw some jutting rocks, and a
weatherbeaten lighthouse; breakers
curling up and breaking against them,
and the tall, 1.-THE form of Yvette, half
hidden in the spray. He saw beauti-
full face, young and strong and tender
fading out if sight.
Holcomb turned and went out, to
call on Kitty Leversham, his fiancee.-
n. o. Times-Democrat.