The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1903-02-12

mind to remain there. am not writ
ing what I think or feel, only what
I propose doing. Faithfully,
ANDREW PERRINGTON."
A sharp voice calling, broke in on
Marjorie's musing, as she slowly
folded the letter and slipped it in its
envelope.
And while sitting at table with her
father, and listening to his querulous
complaints, and usual abuse Of his
manager, who was "a d-m fool and
knew nothing about Sea Island" 80
he declared, although the continuous
successful results obtained from the
fields stretching far back inland
seemed to prove the contrary, Mar
jorie's thoughts were occupied with
several queer conundrums.. Why was
she SO averse to seeing Andrew Per
rington? OF course he was charm
ing fellow. But Fannie Carston was
welcome to the succession if she de-
sired it-and the owner of those sew
eral millions.
Then again, being of better service,
and quite undesired, why did she per-
nit in cutting herself off from the
enjoyable life she was accustomed to,
and lead that of an anchorite, on this
solitary sea grit island? Looking
critically at her father, he seemed
to be pathetically worn, and even in
his grim snarling humor there was a
suffering which appealed to her pow
erfully.
Marjorie was discovering strange
and unsupported depths to her ma
ture, one she had hitherto thought
quite absorbed in her idle, pleasur-
able life. in cotillons and chiffons.
Marjorie stopped to caress Turk,
and glancing up found William Stan
ford's eyes fixed on her with look
she had not seen there before.
Marjorie's smile back had in it the
charm so few could resist, and al
though her father rose and went
slowly out of the room without
speaking, she felt as if the horrible
solitude surrounding her was bro
ken.
"My poor darling, you must go
without me this year." she wrote her
aunt. cit may be that am not
wanted here, but can make his life
more tolerable, even against his will,
and will try the venture. The sea
view is gorgeous. Turk and lux
uriate in the surf, and I am making
quite number of friends-among
the sea gulls. Remember me when
you are in the Paris shops. Elise has
my measurements, you remember.
The day may come when I will
emerge from these solitudes and fly
back to the dearest aunt in the
world. Fondly.
.sMARJORIE."
And Marjorie also answered the
other letter.
'No, I cannot possibly go back to
my dear, joyous life of pleasure and
freedom, nor must you come here.
Later you will be glad am unkind
and unappreciative to-day. It is quite
solitary, but the sea and the winds
are my friends, and the waves sing
grand anthems; and am always
busy. Don't try to remember and
you will soon forget. Yours, with
many pleasant recollections,
'sMARJORIE STANFORD"
The days and the weeks passed.
Then months and years.
Marjorie's father, old and decrepit
but not feeble, clings to her with
tenacious, exacting affection which
demands her presence day and night.
Beautiful, but graver, with spir-
itualzed expression not hers in the
days of her social triumphs, Mario
rie's many cares and occupations
make hers busy life indeed. Her
moments of recreation are those
when, slipping away, she goes slowly
along the beach with Turk for
companion, when the tide is low, and
her friends, the sea gulls, circle over
the water or dip in the waves.
The post brought announcement
cards on Tiffany paper. The mar
riage> of Miss Fannie Carston to Mr..
Andrew Bryon Pennington.
A slow flush spread over Marjorie's
face as she read.-N. o. Times-Dem-
ocrat.
Wouldn't vouch for Him.