The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-16

f~orebodings for the future. for Roger
and l We're betrothed.
1t is wonderful what great strides
hearts will make toward each other
when Isolated from society and sur
rounded by the wealth Which dear
her children.
the lapse of years.
Il think my eyes grow wet, as ONE
where within my breast
Stabbed u faint and slothful pang
never wholly laid at rest"
Somehow. that secluded spot has ever
been to me as the graveyard in which
all I ever loved lies sleeping; and yet.
there is no dust there to which have
O claim. There are graveyards in The
memory sometimes. and there it seems
to me We always lay our bravest and
best.
Roger was a sailor, and it was
strange how soon L learned to take an
interest in all that pertained to the
ocean. We passed hour by the salt
sea waves. While he unfolded to me the
mysteries thai lay hidden in its shining
deceitful depths.
| loved the sea then; oh, how l loved
1t! But now, when | walk along the
beach. it talks to he OF partings. and
all dreary things, and the sound of it's
tumultuous roaring conles TO my ears
like the cries of Il soul in despair.
One gloomy afternoon in September,
with the sky threatening and dreary,
and the sun REQ and sullen, sinking in
a crimson ball behind the mass of
clouds lowering in the west, l walked
upon the rocks beside the sea. Roger
was to meet lue therefor he was to
sail on the morrow for the Indies. leav-
Ing me. with a heart like a lump of
lead, to await his return.
l could not endure the thought of
this parting. Blu he would be captain
OF the vessel when he came back, III
said, and he must not lose this chance
In the world.
He would have taken Inc with him
as his wife, but there was mother, too
frail to undertake the journey, and so
l would stay behind. But no matter
how much is to be gained by the voy-
age, there never was "A woman yet that
could feel. at such a time the value Of
any gain: and l suppose l was like the
rest.
And SO l paced up and down the rocks
in the sunset, with my heart all
choked-like. and my voice full of tears.
But my eYes We're dry-quite dry-for
Roger must not see my weakness.
When he was gone there would be
days and nights to cry in, and then my
tears need not be restrained.
So, waiting bravely for his coming,
l watched the off1ng, where the ships
rocked lazily, to M fro, with the
rising wind. The surf lines came boom
ing UP at the DOT of the rocks, frothing
and foaming angrily; the gulls circled
above my head. shrieking and dipping
into the white-capped waves. And
then, watching the sun go down.,
began to wonder at Rogers delay.
We had walked upon the beach ey-
cry pleasant evening. but never before
u | waited his coming at his spot,
And / thought how pleased he would
he to find me SO much nearer than he
anticipated.
l smiled to myself as 1 marked at
last his familiar form moving along the
beach. But where was he goingo He
directed his steps to Il little nook or
cove on the shore, which had never
visited, for he had warned me Of it's
danger when the tide was in.
AS he entered the sheltered nook. I
perceived that the place was occupied,
for there was a CLEAN Of a gay dress.
and then | saw a slender form.
1t was Milly Dean. the daughter OF
a fisherman. living nea and my heart
gave u great, angry bound, as 1 saw
that Roger evidently expected her.
| saw her run TO meet him. and fling
ing back her long, dark hair from her