Willmar tribune., 1909-06-16

SldIcu WWc-cycu dIlu SpCcCuIeoS, WIN
. clutching at my heart l could not
understand. Was it Gabrielle or
Elizabeth?
''The one in the middle" he said,
gently. "Elise-will she be kind?"
And then realized he was not
speaking of. some remote, shadowy
paragon of a girl, but of me-just as
l. was, in my old rain-coat and dripping
hat. l realized something else. too.
for when looked up and met his eyes,
tried to speak, but could not, be-
cause my heart was too full. But
words were quite unnecessary, for We
were looking into each others eyes.
and of course we understood.
"And now," he remarked, some time
later, when We were back to earth, or
rather to water, by the fine soft driz-
zle changing into a brisk shower
"and now you really must go in, or
you will have pneumonia, and then
what should 1 do? But first it's up to
me to return that side-comb. said
I'd do it in my own way, you know,
SO I'm going to put it in myself"
But not now. Think how wet and
horrid my hair must be-
And then-well, I don't believe it is
necessary for me to say any more.
Things which are very sweet and nat
ural, and often form cherished mem
cries, are apt to look very different in
cold hard print, and, moreover, what
would become of the little shrine we
erected for ourselves that rainy after
noon if I took the world into our con-
tidence and allowed it to be desecrated
by the critical outsider?
CHAPTER XVIII.
Mary Anne made us our farewell
fire that night, almost putting it out
with the tears she shed as she ar
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,
If only she could learn to forget. She
could live on her savings, and If not,
work was always to be had when one
looked for it. And she hung lovingly
about US, too, with protestatioHs of
affection and regret at all that had
happened.
Il looked out fur you," she said; Il
done what could, fur l come to love
you all, and 'ow could '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 it up. I went out that night, but
she was away wi AIRY Graham and
1 couldn't git it till next day. Which
it 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
jined 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 'em, alwiz.
AIRY Graham seen to that, and Willy,
couldn't do nothing
Here she paused for breath.
"And I never, never drugged you
but the once" she continued-"in the
chocolate, you know. wouldn't do it
for neither of 'em, and very ard they
thought of me for it, too; but 'ow
could 60 for to do it and you trustin'
me, even when you 'eard 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 now found wonderful pictures and
not so very remote either, and the
ocean rolled monotonously outside.
In the first long silence 1 told the
girls about it-glad 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
considerate enough to ask but few
searching questions although they
have since told me they were con-
sumed with the desire to do so.
So the evening passed, and at last
we went unwillingly upstairs, careful
not to mention that it was our last
night in the little cottage. which, in
spite of everything, we still loved.
l lay broad awake for 4 long time,
listening to the washing of the
waves and thinking the thoughts that
come to a girl but once in lifetime-
when 1 heard low voice from the
next room, and knew the others wero
wakeful also.
Were you surprised, Elizabeth"
Eyes, l certainly was"-the en-
phasis in Elizabeth's tone left no
room for doubt Somehow, l never
associated Elise with marriage
men either, for that matter"
Neither did !. She'll never be the
same again, but oh, Elizabeth, II it
had been you, what should I have
done?"
"And I was just lying here thinking
how dreadful it would have been il It
had happened to you. So long as We
have each other, nothing else mat
ters.''
"Nc, nothing else matters. hope
she'll be very happy, but Elise is
well, she's Elise, and can't help won.
dering how she is going to like mar