Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-09-16
CHAPTER XXIII.

Thus it was that poor Annie returned
% her home and was received once again
as a member of the little circle at st.
Gurlotts. But things were sadly
changed for her, poor child; and some
times as | watched her patient endurance
my heart rose in revolt, and / blamed
myself for having been the means of
bringing her home again.
But when people have poverty before
them they cannot afford to exaggerate
sentimental troubles, and l soon came
to the conclusion that the best way to
help Annie was to help myself obtain
a situation, in fact. AS all hope of OBJ
tanning employment in st. Gurlott's was
cut of the question, l turned my atten-
ton to other quarters. After many heart
rending disappointments and endless cor
respondence, l obtained a situation as
oyerseer of a copper mine in Devon.
l was in the midst of my preparations,
half happy in the thought of being able
to inhabit a part of the globe where my
misfortunes could not find me out, when
L one day heard piece of news which
killed at one blow all my hopes of the
future, and made my life mere Dead Sea
fruit.
A report spread over the village that
George Redruth was about to be married
forthwith to Madeline Graham.
When Annie heard the news, she cried
bitterly; and I, blind as usual, believed
she cried out Of sympathy for me.
1T is shame, HughI' she said, "after
having made you love her, that she
should vile away another man."
Don't say word against Miss Gra-
ham," returned, "for she is an angel"
''Iss, hold your piece" cried my aunt.
'Tis nawt to us, and why should you
interfere? And, after all, it's better as it
is. She could never have wed wi
Hugh"
There was sound sense in my aunt's
words, though at the time, with the
fiercest jealousy and hatred raging in
my heart against the man who had sup
planted me, could not listen to them
A few days reflection, however, brought
me to better state of mind-showed
me that was a fool, and that the news
which had wrought such an astounding
effect upon me was only what l might
have expected.
1t was a fine bright night, clear and
still, though the shifting clouds in the
sky predicted storm. | had stroiled out,
and found the sea as calm as a mill
pond. fringed with white where the edge
Tapped the stones upon the shore The
moon was shining radiantly upon it; also
upon the boat house, which l looked at
tenderly, remembering how had carried
Madeline there. With heavily drawn
si / 70 xxtbnn
a hand was laid upon my shoulder, and
turning, found myself face to face with
Madeline herself!
Yes; there she stood, looking more like
a spirit than thing of flesh and blood
her face was so white, her eyes so sad.
She was wrapped from head to foot in
costly furs, while a black hood was
thrown lightly over her head and tied
under her chin.
"Madelinev' l said; "Miss Graham,
you here at this hour?'
"Yes," she answered calmly, smiling
a little; ''it is a strange place to find
me, is it not? But then you know, Mr..
Trelawney, / am a strange creature.
l may as well confess the
truth. 1 followed you here tonight" 1"
out with Anita, intending to pay you
a visit at the cottage. When we came
within sight of the gate, l saw you
standing there. / paused a moment be-
fore stepping forward to speak to you,
and you moved away, striking across the
marshes toward the sea. / sent Anita
back, and followed you here"
was DOc altogether glad that she had
done -. X a'ss torture to be near her,
10 look az her. and TO know that she had
come straight from the caressing arms of
another man. However, l commanded
myself sgn5cientY 10 say:
III IL nOt night for yOu to be here,
Miss Graham. VIII you Jet me take you
homer
'Yog sbsli % 20 presently" she an.
swered, not lp1kfag AZ me. but keeping
her eyes srsG EpDa the ses. Now
want to talk 20 yDg. is il true you are
going spsyY
"Ycs; IL IL quite true"
"And pos WIil be z.sd 70 co." she con
tinued-"t9 assps Y0gT bOmeT'
"Yes," I fsTy,asS, II shall be glad u
go. "A ~ ay k0fas-whY, have NJ
home mar, III IA 30 s0reIy changed
There will never be Happiness for mt
here againr
"You talk vsry bitterly" continued
Madeline. What d. yoB mean, Mr.. Ire
lawneyr
81 mean," I answered, utterly losing
my self-control, that, through all thest
months Of darkness and trouble. have
been sustained by one thought, one hope
Miss Graham. we are alone together 10
night; there is no one but you to heal
me. / may never see you again in thii
world, therefore / win say 1t. I loy,
YOU. / have loved you all my lifew
She put up her hand and said, hurried
ly. "Mr. Treiawney, please say no morev
But 1t was too late; took her ham
and kissed it.
81 loved you" / continued, "in thos
far-off days when we were boy and cir
together. Then years afterward the SCI