Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-07-28
Black
Rock
By RALPH Common
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eyes, the estates" he went on, "and
tenants, suppose; your mother-in-law,
your little Marjorie's future, your own
future"
1.-THE estates are in capable hands, !
should suppose" she urged, "and my
future depends upon what choose my
work to be-"
"But one cannot shift ones RESPONSE.
bilities," he replied gravely. "These
estates, these tenants, have come to
you, and with them come duties"
az do not want them!' she cried.
"That life has great possibilities OF
good" he said kindly.
81 had thought that perhaps there
was work for me here" she suggested
timidly.
"Great work." he fastened to say.
"You have done great work, but you
will do that wherever you go. The
only question is where your work lies"
'You think 1 should co." she said
suddenly and a little bitterly.
81 cannot bid you stay" he answered
steadily.
"How can goT she cried, appealing
to him. "Must go?"
How he could resist that appeal ]
could not understand. His face was
cold and hard and his voice was al.
most harsh as he replied:
eff it is right, you will go, you must
60"
Then she burst forth:
al cannot go. l shall stay here. My
work is here. My heart is here. How
can 1 go? You thought it worth your
while to stay here and work. Why
should not I?'
The momentary CLEAN in his eyes
died out, and again he said coldly:
'This work was clearly mine. I am
needed here"
Eyes, yesv' she cried, her voice full
of pain. "You are needed, but there is
no need Of me-"
"Stop! Stopv' he said sharply. "You
must not say So"
81 will say it, l must say itw she
cried, her voice vibrating with the in
tensity of her feeling. 81 know you dc
not need me. You have your work
your miners, your plans. You need nc
one. You are strong. But" and hei
voice rose to a cry, II am not strong
by myself. You have made me strong
/ came here a foolish girl, foolish anG
selfish and narrow. God sent me grief
Three years ago my heart died. Now
/ am living again. 1 am woman now
no longer a girl. You have done this
for me. Your life, your words, your
self-you have shown me a better, 8
higher, life than had ever known be
fore, and now you send me away"
She paused abruptly.
"Blind, stupid fool!' l said to myself
He held himself resolutely in hand
answering carefully, but his voice haC
lost its GOODNESS and was sweet and
kind.
"Have I done this for you? Their
surely God has been good to me. AnC
you have helped me more than any
words could tell you"
''Helpedp she repeated scornfully.
'Yes, helped" he answered, wonder
ing at her scorn.
"You can do without my help" she
went on. "You make people help you
You will get many to help you. But
need help too"
She was standing before him will
her hands tightly clasped. Her face
was pale. and her eyes were deeper
than ever. He sat looking up at hel
in kind Of maze as she poured ou
her words hot and fast.
81 am not thinking of you" His cold
ness had hurt her deeply. 81 am self
ish. l am thinking of myself. How
shall l do? I have grown to depend OF
you, to look to you. 1t is nothing t.
you that go, but to me-
She did not dare to finish.
BY this time Craig was standing be.
fore her. his face deathly pale. When
she came to the end of her words, he
said in voice low, sweet and thrilling
with emotion:
"Ah, IL you only knew! Do not make
me forget myself. You do not guess
what you are doing"
What am doing? What Is there to
know but that you tell me easily to
EoY
She was struggling with the tears
che was too proud to let him see.
He put his hands resolutely behind
him, looking at her as If studying her
face for the first time. Under his
searching look she dropped her eyes
and the warm color came slowly up in
to her neck and face. Then, as if with
sudden resolve, she lifted her eyes tc
his and looked back at him unflinch
ngly.
He started, surprised, drew slowly
near, put his hands upon her shoul
lers, surprise giving place to wild joy
She never moved her eyes. They drew
him toward her. He took her face be
tween his hands, smiled into her eyes
kissed her lips. She did not move
lie stood back from her, threw up hi
head md lanChed aloud. She came Il