Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-03-14

Nv NNIS ItAS vi OiOS
was beginning to look bright with the
green of early spring, down here on
the beach all was g~ray-sands, rocks.
sky. Even the water had the same
dreary tint. Not Il CLEAN of other col
or, except that of the crimson shawl
which the girl, sitting OF the ledge of
rock, had wrapped around her.
Laurence Dare. coming along the
road which ran along above the beach,
saw a patch of red and paused.
At the sight of her. Dare's heart had
given a great throb of joy. He made u
few strides and stood before her.
Monica he said softly.
The girl turned her read with a
quick movement.
.Oh, Laurence"
There was a ~displeased tone in her
voice. and her brows came together in
a frown as she regarded him.. After Il
silence of some moments he began:
Monica, you are cruel; you have not
let me see you once all this winter. But
chance has been good to me today. l
have caught YOU"
The girl made no answer. He went
on:
Last summer O gave me a faint
hope that you in time would listen to
me. What have o to say to me now;
have you not thought of me all these
long months?"
She turned round to him. her eyes
full Of tears.
II was wrong to let you think you
might hope, Laurence, for l can't do as
you wish. 1t seems wrong for me to
listen to you. Think, l belong to AL
len; 1 was to nave been his wife. He
was always talking of Cousin Laurence
and you eemed Cousin Laurence to
me. too. Don't you see? L belong to
Allen: / can't marry YOU
This is nonsense, Monica" he said,
half angrily. Are you going to waste
your life in his little village and give
up all chance of happiness for a fanci-
full idea of being bound to him? And
think of me; / have loved you so long.
Come to me, I shall ove you so much
that you must love me in return. Come,
I swear that you shall never regret 1t,
Monica"
II must not listen, Laurence. / wish
that o did not care for me-"
II can't help caring for you. I think
1 have loved you since the first day 1
saw you, and now hat you are free"
Before he could stop her h had
darted away.
In the old days she IL compared AL
len with him, and always to the for
mer's disadvantage. For after the
glamour of their engagement she had
seen the shallowness and s%elfishness
of Aliens nature.
When Allen had gone away for a
year, she had promised to be ready to
marry him upon his return. But the
year had passed and other months had
grown into years and he had not re-
turned. They had no news of him af-
ter that last letter written seven
months from his departure.
The only reasonable solution of the
mystery was that he was dead. His
mother believed 1t. but Monica did not.
One day in June Monica was return
ing home from a walk. Her way was
in the neighborhood of Aliens mothers
house and she decided to go and pay
her a call. She had not gone to see
her often of late through fear of meet
in. Laurence.
on reaching the house she found the
hall door open. She knocked lightly
and. without waiting for IA response.
walked into the little breakfast room.
where she knew Mrs. Dare was in the
| habit OF sitting.
But at the threshold Monica paused.
for there stood Laurence by the win
dow with ar open letter in his hand.
His aunt sat near him. apparently in a
state of great excitement.
Az she saw Monica she cried out:
HE lives. Monica, he lives: my boy
lives! Come in and hear incl letter"
Monica looked from her to Dare in
bewilderment.
rs it true?" gasped Monica, at
length.
Il received the letter this morning
and came down by h first train"
"Where is he-I don't understand.
I'm America"
Monica looked Mt him c~onfusedly.
.Why-why haven't but I have
been out all the afternoon. ] suppose
that I shall ind a letter at home"
Dare did reply. His aunt waa
still CRYING. She now looked up al
Laurence. Listen. Monica; our Allen
IL still living"
II shall 70 home now" said Monica.
Perhaps there u Q letter for me-"