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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1889)
THE WEST BHOKE. 179 that this cold, haughty man possessed to make her love him bo? That was the question ehe asked her. self more than once as she lay there with the tears streaming down her cheeks. " I will notl I will crush his memory from my heart forever," she cried, bitterly, " rather than nurse a hopeless love under the guise of friendship. I will not be a fool any longer. I will show George Wat son that I can be happy without his love. 0, George, George! Why was it ever ordained that you should cross my path?" she added, giving vent to a fresh shower of tears, while her poor heart seemed ready to break from grief. And thus the hours passed by, and Mabel did not show herself in the dining room till breakfast time next morning. As George Watson and Mortimer Gray were sit ting on the porch after supper that evening, totally unconscious of the grief poor Mabel was suffering, the former said, while a hard, cold look settled itself on his handsome brow " I am going away, soon, Mortimer. I have en gaged to sell my interest in the mine to Harry lln dall, and I intend to take my departure next Wednes day morning. To-day is Monday, so there remains but a short time for preparation." Had a thunderbolt fallen at his feet, Mortimer Gray could not have been more astounded. Rising to his feet, he exclaimed, while his face became al most livid in his excitement " George Watson, I demand that you toll me the truth. Has Mabel IUndall trilled with your heart has she dared to spurn your true, generous love? " " There has never been a syllable of love spoken between ns, Mortimer," George replied. " Don't bo too hasty, my friend; I assure you that I esteem Misi IUndall as a dear, true friend, and that I consider her incapable of wronging anyone. I am glad for your sake, as well as her own, that she loves jou, Mortimer." " Loves me! " Mortimer exclaimed, as he resumed his seat beside his friend, evidently more surprised than pleased. " What can you be thinking abut, George? The idea of Mabel loving me, excepi in a friendly way, has never entered my bead." " Nevertheless, I believe that she loves you, Mor timer, and I am sure you can do no better than to marry her," George said, effectually concerning irom . his friend the true state of his own feelings fur the j girl whom they were discussing. ! I have never thought of marriage since-since. our j little Dees died. I can never love again as I loved her, George, never." ti . ...... " I do not doubt you, my noble in nu, would be folly for you to make yourself mu'i for a lifetime, limply on account of your exalU-d lore for her who has passed forever from this earthly abode. Mabel will make you happy, Mortimer, and I feel assured that she will never know perfect hap pinegg, awe as your wife" It was from the innermost depths of hit heart that he uttered theso words, and he felt that in saying so much he had only discharged a doty toward bringing peace and happiness to two persons whom he loved more than all else in the world Mortimer was silent and thoughtful. He could not see how Georgo hat! come to know so much alwut a matter which had so effectually escaped himself, but he said nothing. It was George who at length broke the silence, which had become somewhat oppressive to Mb. " I intend going to Han Francisco, where it may be my good fortune to engage in some light, lucrative employment," ho said. " My arm will nt vor admit of any great physical latar, and it is not in my nature to remain idle week after week, especially here, where everything tends to remind me of a happiness which has passed from me forever. I hoj you will writo to mo often, Mortimer, as I shall always U gliul to learn of the welfaro of all my friends at the Dale." " I will do so, George, with pleasure; but I must say I shall miss you sadly," said Mortimer, evincing considerable emotion. " We have been together al. most constantly for more than two years; wo have shared each other's sorrows when lifo held few in ducements for us to live; wo havo marched side by side, seeking to avenge the wrongs of the woman wo both loved. You havo leen liko a brother to mo, George, and I shall never cease to etera yoo as such. From the depths of my beajt, George, I wish you health, wealth and happiness wherever you may With this the two men clasped hands and parted for the night, both being deeply moved. Their devo tion to each otbr was mora than ordinary. There was no living person in tho worl J, save on whom George loved more than ho did Mortimer, and when tho hour drew car in which they were to utter tho ad word "gwnl bye," prbaps nevrf to meet again this side of tho gates of IIeveo, their grief was, in. deed, a sad spectaclo to witness. Numerous friends had usembled to bid swlieu to tho man, whom, if they bad not really loved, they bad rejected and etteemed tery highly. Among tho nuraUr prent were Traprrr Dsn and his family, old man IUndall, Harry, MaUl, and many others. . Wal, my boy, I'm sorry tr n-o yo l-ve,M tho oil trspj-er sail, regretfully, u ho elujl tlo youtjf. man's hand In his great, rough palm, M but tho Uat 0 ItlfwU taz part, they iy, though I'm dm! if I kin seo tho tecmity of Vn stay in AttlH Tho text to come forward was Mortlmtr Gray,