The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-02-13

you pleased, giving account to none,
and responsible only to yourselves
for what you pleased to- do? You
must needs fasten your own exist
cnce TO that of another, and forever
forswear the right to order your own
destiny, live your life on your own
lines, and for your own gratitica-
tion?"
The sun slanting from the west
must have sent a message to the sea
gulls, for rising suddenly, and shak-
ing the salt brine from their long
pinions, they went swiftly seward
until they were swallowed up in the
blues and greys of sky and water.
Not being human, they may be
good companions" Marjorie unused.
He may be so absorbed in the pleas
ing occupation of catching fish, that
she may be relieved of his company
most Of the time, and she may find
much pleasure in looking after the
children. Perhaps they r a newly,
married couple, they seem so fond of
each other. He evidently can't do
without her-for the time being.
Very shortly, ca changera, unless
they are quite different from us.
Come, Turk, let us have a stroll and
see if we can be good company for
each other"
A big Newfoundland, who had been
lying on the sand, got up and males
tically paced by her side, while they
strolled down the beach, and the
evening light faded.
When it "a quite. dark they turned
into a road, built high and firm with
beaten shells, which ran towards a
clump of wind-swe2t trees quite a
distance back from the coast line
of the island.
They sheltered, or rather surround
ed a large, rambling, weather-beaten
house, evidently inhabited, for lights
streamed out from the open doors
and windows, into the mild spring
air. On its deep veranda sat an ell
aerly gentleman in an armchair,
clearly a confirmed invalid, whose
thin, %clear-cut features bore just
enough resemblance to the contour
Of Marior;e's face, to proclaim him
her father.
But it was a querulous and an evil
face, n from which all kindness
if there had eve been any-and intel
lectuality, were gone, extinguished
and worn out by constant suffering
and years of ill-health, which peered
out at Marjorie.
"Late, as usual. Your society man
ners, l presume. You forgot I was
waiting and it is past tea time," he
said, with snarling emphasis, as she
came up the steps.
"Late! Oh, no. There's quite half
an hour yet before tea. I was walk
ing on the beach with Turk she an
swered, pleasantly.
Throwing her hat on the hall ia
BILE, Marjorie went indoors to see
about those ever-recurring, small du-
ties, the prelude of the last dull
meal of each day, cherries occupa-
tions which brought neither pleasure
o a restful peace to those on the
island.
What had brought Marjorie there?
A curious, persistent thought, that
whether he wished it or not, she, his
daughter, should tend the %querulous
r%ecluse, growing more morose year
~, who had sent her off, first to
school, then to her aunt, seeming
glad to be rid of a responsibility
which was solely his, after the death
Of her mother, long years ago.
There were letters on the table
She read: -
Dear Marje-When am 1 to expect
you back? 1t is simply absurd, your
burying yourself alive in this bar
barrie way. Nor does William want
you. l know him of old. He was al
ways selfish and self-centered.
Never gave a thought to anybody but
himself. He is accustomed to Ann
Dawson's care of him, and she knows
his whims and crochets, and they
both would be better pleased with
out you, I feel convinced.
Gas for your sacrificing yourself,
and shutting up yourself on that dis
NAL island just to see that Williams
milk Cruel is all right, and to let him
sheer and growl at you, it is sheer
Quixotic %nonsense! You will grow
thin and pale and old, and William
will not even be grateful. I tell you
l know him, child. We were brought
up together, and a leopard does not
change his spots, remember.
'The danger is, he may get used
to seeing you around the house and
to consent to your leaving
later on. He is as capricious as he
is despotic. AS it is, he doesn't care
just now whether you leave him or
not, and I know Ann Dawson would
like you out of her way. So for heav-
ems sake pack your trunks and join
at once. Before going abroad we
spend a week or two in Canada.
1 know some one who is inconsolable
at your sudden fight just at present.
But you are well acquainted with
'notre monde and you know how
many CONSIDERS crop up when the