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,