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.