Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-04-23
CHAPTER XVIII.


ranged the driftwood. For Mary Anne
was veritable Niobe these last days.
poor soul. and every spare moment
was given over to weeping. She was.
she told us as she struck the match.
going home to England. where she
hoped she might die happy some day.
II only she could learn to forget. She
could live on her savings. and II not,
work was always to be had when one
looked for II. And she hung lovingly
about us. too. with protestations OF
affection and regret at all that had
happened.
done what could. fur I come to love
you all. and 'ow could I 'elp It? I
made 'em give back your ring. Miss
Elizabeth, which she took often your
finger before you very h'eyes. miss.
when you was 'olding of 'er and on
the rocks in the moonlight. Oh. she
was clever. she was. But I made 'er
give 1t up. went out that night. but
she was away wi AIRY Graham and
I couldn't git II till next day. Which
Il was my shadder and WHY'S YOU
seen that night, Miss Elise. He. 'alf
crazy, pore lad. because Jest as soon
as you was out OF sight she up and
lined AIRY Graham and went out on
the water wi I'm. And them red
roses, Miss Gabrielle-you seen 'ow It
was. And she alwiz 'ad EN-. alwiz.
AIRY Graham seen to that. and Willy
couldn't do nothing"
Here she paused for breath.
And I never. never druggcd you
but the once" she continued-"in the
chocolate. you know. I wouldn't do 1t
for neither OF 'em. and very ard they
thought OF me for 1t, too: but 'ow
could I go for to do It and you trustin'
me. even when you card me and
Willy talkin' in the cellar? And I
brought you the tea myself that last
night, Miss Elise, when she wanted to
give It to you 'erself and put a powder
in It to send you to sleep: but I
wouldn't let 'er. for all she was my
sons wife. Oh. Willy. Willy"
We got rid of her after awhile. and
settled down for our last evening.
while the fire burned with its green,
blue. lavender. and red lights. where
in I now found wonderful pictures and
not so very remote either. and the
ocean rolled monotonously outside.
In the first long silence told the
girls about it-slad that the lamp was
not lighted. and glad also that the
freight did not shine upon my face.
Well. they were very. very nice. and
confederate enough to ask but few
searching questions-although they
81 hax
sumed with the desire to do so.
So the evening passed. and at last
we went unwillingly upstairs. careful
not to mention that 1t was our last
night in the little cottage. which. in
spite of everything. we still loved.
lay broad awake for a long time.
listening to the washing OF the
waves and thinking the thoughts that
come to n girl but once in lifetime.
when | heard low voice from the
next room. and knew the others were
wakeful also.
Were you surprised. Elizabeth"
Yes. certainly was"-the en-
phasis in Elizabeth's tone left no
room for doubt. Somehow. | never
associated Elise with marriage-or
men either. for that matter
Neither did I. She'll never be the
same again. but oh. Elizabeth, II Il
had been you. what should have
done?"
And / was Just lying here thinking
how dreadful It would have been II II
had happened to you. So long as we
have each other. nothing else mat.
ters.'
No. nothing else matters. I hope
she'll be very happy. but Elise is
well. she's Elise. and cant help won.
dering how she is going to like mar.
ried life
And l wonder. too, for, after all. 1t
is always like starting a very small
ship across very broad ocean. But
! am not afraid OF the voyage. for Cor
don is going with me. and We have
engaged pilot whose name Is
spelled with four letters: he Is war
ranted to steer a safe course through
every sort of weather, and we both
believe he will bring us safe into pot
at last.
THE END.