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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1889)
THE WEST 8H0RE. 181 of her great love for George Watson, a love which had crept into her heart bo slyly, yet bo effectually. " Ib there anyone else you love better?" the old man ventured to ask. However much it might reflect to her discredit, Mabel was not the girl to shrink from the truth when the time come for a candid avowal She freely con fessed to her father the little story of her first and only love, and then looked up into his face, expecting to hear his disapproval. " You are very foolish, MabeL It is evident that George cares nothing for you a fact which you ad mit, yourself. Banish him from your mind forever, child, and seek for happiness in the devoted love of Mortimer Gray. He is worthy of you, and you will please me by accepting him as your future husband." " If Mortimer really loves me and wishes to make me his wife," the girl said, as she rose to leave the room, " you will have nothing to complain of in me, father. It matters little to me whom I marry now, or whether I marry at all, only for the sake of your happiness," and she turned away and was gone. Hairy, it must be said to his credit, was deeply attached to his sister, and the little story of her do voted love for George Watson affected him not a lit tle. However, in his short-sightedness, he could not see that his father was now only hurrying her into a greater misery, and that as betrothed lovers, Mabtl and Mortimer would each be doing the other a great injustice. Next afternoon, Mabel was not surprised when Mortimer asked her to walk with him, saying there was something he wished to say to her. Bhe went to get hor hat, and if Mortimer perceived how pale her sweet face was, he certainly did not give it any con sideration, being too intent with his own thoughts to think of anvthine else. They walked leisurely up the valley road, talking of trivial occurrences, for Mortimer found it no easy task to broach the subject for which he had specially sought the interview. " Mabel," he said, at length, as they came in sight of all that remained of the old log hut in which Peas had so happily reigned as mistress, " you know of my exalted love for Dessie Wataon-that is no secret to yon, is it?" " No, it is not," Mabel said, in a low voice " Next to her, I love you, MabeL Now, can you learn to love me iust a little in return? " I Uv avi. ihnnahi of lovinc you at all, savo as a friend, which you have always been to toe," the girl replied, frankly. " However, I esteem you very highly, Mortimer, and, perhaps- " Perhaps what, Mabel? M he asked, as bo tk ber cold, little hand in his. " Perhaps if I, too, had never really and truly oved, I might have liked you much better." M I admire your candor, Mabel; but your love your heart's first love-may not bo as hopeless aa mine." " It is," was the reply, " utterly hopeless." Mortimer was silent Hero ho was, fsco to faco with this girl who, he bad been told, loved him. Ho was now inclined to believe she was only testing Iho depth of his affection, for he could think of no one at Oak Dale to whom she could possibly have given her heart, and he felt assured that she had arrived thcro perfectly heart-whole. " Mabel," he said, abruptly, looking searchingly into the depth of her deep blue eyes, M will you bo my wife?" " I will, Mortimer, if you wish it, and will do all in my power to make you happier than you havo been during the past two years. If 1 fail, it shall bo no fault of mine," and she turned awsy to hido her tearful eyes from the searching giro of her cootnpan. ion. " God bless you, Mabel. My ambition henceforth shall be to make your life a happy oue," and stoop. ing down ho sealed their betrothal with a kit. A few minutes later this strangely.sfinnced pair retraced their steps homeward. Mortimer was some what surprised that the roses ncrer onco bloomed on the velvety cheek of the girl who hail promised to U bis wife, whilo on tho other hand, Mabel was com pletely bewildered by tho cool, undemonstrative man ner of tho man who professed to love her. Mortimer soon availed himself of tho privilege of writing to his friend George, informing him of his betrothal to Mabel, and slating, by wsy of postscript, that tho timo for tho marring hail not yet Uen fixe!. Tho inhabitants of Oak Palo were soon mado fa miliar witk tho engagement existing between Morti mer Gray and Miss llandall. Tho gossip lovers wero completely vanquished by this pleco of intelligence, but they all agreed, without a sioglo dissenting voice, that they had never seen a couple who wero Utter suited to each other. We must not forget our heroic. Now, after a Upso of two years, wo will one more venturs to pea. etrato tho lodges of tho badly, defeated ssvsg. Thcro now remained but a small remnant of thfl tho tribe, many having been sUio during tho war, whilo many others had beeo taken to tho reservation set apart for them. Tho chief. WatumLl, Lowevtr, i i r.....r,l tin eti'er dutches of tho whites. Lvl luum . who were only too anxious to lavo Lira safely reaoi . eJ to tho reservation.