Year: 1875




over to the village next b, another
seaport, from which vessels engaged in
the fishing and whaling trade sailed daily
Here the most searching inquiries reveal
ed only the fact that the horse and buggy
had been tound-the horse tied to post
and the buggy empty The people who
saw the vehicle recognized it as belong


ing to the hotel at B-, and sent it
back by the boy. No one had seen Harry
| Craige!


With such a story it was hard to face
Margaret, but an entire day of search re-
vealed no more. viii Hall and Mark
Halstead were pursuing the inquiries in
other directions, but learned nothing
A letter was written to the firm in Bos-
ton. and one of the senior partners came
to B--. 1t was some comfort to heart
broken Margaret to hear Of the high es-
TEEN in which Harry was held, and see
the evident sorrow OF the elderly gentle
man who spoke so warmly Of his partner


at is absurd to suppose he has run
away" said his partner; "he is man Of
influence in business and has an independ-
ent fortune, only a portion OF which is in
vested in our firm. His social standing is
of the best, and, here he turned to Mar
garet-' his love was pure, honest and
sincere. |, who have known him from
boy, know that he was a man who world
scorn to play with a woman's heart"


Only piteous cry OF where can he
be?" burst from the girls white lips.
" Had he any enemies here ?" was the
next stern question.


No one knew of any. The frank, bright
nature had won friends all about him
Even VIII Hall had been seen in friendly
converse with the missing man on the
day Of his disappearance. Every inquiry
resulted in the same disappointment, till
the nine days wonder died, and the mys-
terry was unsolvGd. If the sea was his grave,
she hid Harry Craigc in her bosom; tor the
body, though watched tor all along the
coast was never washed ashore


Others, who had taken active part in
the search for the missing man, resumed
their ordinary avocations, and John Ham
mersley ceased to torture Margaret by his
speculations limiting at murder or suicide.
But the faithful heart that loved Harry
kept his image ever closely folded, griev-
ing silently and in solitude, and YEARLY
resuming the routine OF life.


John Iammcrsley could find no fault
with his housekeeper, and the little maid
| servant found the eyes Of her mistress still
watchful over her Every duty of her
humble, quiet life, Margaret fulfilled with
patient care, but her step slow and weary
her face pale and her eyes heavy with
weeping.


But her uncle who loved her fondly,
missed her rippling laugh, her sweet
song Us she served or stepped about in
household work. He missed the active
interest in his pursuits, the intelligent
conversation upon the topic of the day
| He missed the clear voice that read his
evening newspaper, and talked well
| about its contents.


| And it was Il delicate tribute he paid to
| Margarets SORROW, that he never once
limited to her that there might be some
dishonorable explanation of her lovers
disappearance. This idea haunted him.
Since the departure of the senior partner
OF the firm, there was no one to speak Of
| Harry in terms OF commentator, and
| speculations We're numerous in the viii
| lage. \ Vile secretly hidden away, who
threatened exposure, was a iavorite the
| Dry Debt was another Escape from
| punishment for some crime was Il third
But all these theories We're kept from
Margaret.


As the autumn faded away and winter
| set in, viii Hall came often to the cot
| tage. His lace was one that could mask
| an evil heart with an assumption OF rough
| trankness, and seldom had any one seen
it as it revealed itself when he listened at
| the cottage window. lie had let the YES
| sell of which lie was first mate and part
owner, so upon long cruise without
| him. and he employed AL his time in
| vigorous pursuit Of his courting. AS
deeply rs ne could love any one he loved
Margaret and he had felt secure Of her
| favor until Harry Craige came to b
| From mere children they had been friends
and playmates, and Will Hall was well
to do in the world in which he lived
| Part owner OF one Of the finest schooners
| that sailed out Of b, he had also
money in bank, and owned a pretty cot
tage where his mother lived, presided.


John Hammersley, himself bachelor.
favored the sailors suit heartily, and after
Margaret had given her grief its full sway
for three months, she was hidden to ''mope
no longer but cheer up. as there was us
| good fish in the sea as ever were caught
So, with her sorrow as deep as at first,
| her heart true as steel, the girl had to be
present when Win Hall came TO the cot
ltNt, anu IlSutl w HIS toH7 oN'1 CT io MS
boasts of his own deeds, and his rough
wooing. Again and again she refused
| his presents, his compliments, his offers
of escort here or there. But the man
would not be driven away. Encouraged
by the uncle's liking, he persisted in spite
| OF Margaret's coldness.


ltwas not in the girls nature to be dis
courteous OF unkind, and her gentle man.
| t,,,f atol
agement than she ever intended it to be.
| The winter was one long agony TO her.
Her uncle urged Will Halls claims at
every available opportunity, and the sail
or himself was persistent III his attentions.
And while her days were busy, her even
| ings wearily spent in uncongenal society,
| Margaret's nights were restless and MEM
DRY haunted. Where, under the snow or
waves, was her murdered lover hidden?
Where was the dark story OF crime writ
ten, that carried him from her?
She never doubted him. She recalled
every precious word of love, every tender
| glance, every courteous attention, and She
kept his memory bright in her heart.
She did not hope ever to meet him on
earth again for she was sure if he lived
he would return to her, but no other love
should ever obliterate his from her heart.


A whole year wore away and the ami
versary of the wedding evening arrived.
Will Hall had urged his suit vehemently
in the few preceding days, and Margaret
realized with sad heart that her steady
refusal of his SUIT was alternating her un-
cle's affection. lie could not understand
this constancy. Other girls of B
saw lovers sail away, heard Of wreck and
death, and consoled themselves with hus-
bands among the living. Why should
Margaret live alone because one man
was false or unfortunate?


So he urged, as they sat in the parlor
of the little cottage, and Margaret lis
tened with dropping head and hands
folded wearily.


Il cannot marry, uncle" she said,
gently, but firmly; Il cannot forget the
only man | ever loved?"


The garden gate changed, step
| oI,o b<, .tL