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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1889)
I THE WEST SHORE. 211 " That's it," said the old lady, approvingly. " Now, dear, you jest run down to the office, an' in a few days George '11 be here, sure enough." Mabel obeyed, returning in a short time with a light step and happy face, that surprised Mrs. King ston not a little, though she said nothing. Next morn iDg, before day, the doctor came. It was an attack of brain fever, he said, but, with care and attontion, the patient would undoubtedly recover. All were pleased with this announcement, but none more so than Ma bel, who never left the sick girl's side for a moment longer than she could possibly avoid. " Wonder what the folks '11 think when they seo the doctor's been here," Mrs. Kingston remarked, as soon as the M. D. had taken his departure, " They'll come rushing in here at a terrible rate, I'm afeard. Guess we'd better tell 'em we've got a genuine caBeof measles or smallpox, an' I'll bet they'll steer clear of this locality." Mabel laughed, deolaring it an admirable littlo ruse, that would certainly afford them the desired re sult; and it did. Two weeks later, and Dess had so far recovered as to be able to sit up for a few hours each day. Tho fever had left her pale and emaciated, but her beauty was not greatly marred. She enjoyed Mabel's socie ty very much, and laughed and chatted with her so merrily at times, that no one unacquainted with tho fact would have guessed the sorrow that had entered into her young life. " You have never told any one that I camo to life Bgain after that hideous massacre, have you, Mabel ? " she asked, one day, as tho latter sat by her side, with a book in her hand, from which she had been reading aloud. " No, Dessie, I have not, but thero is ono I muht tell, and that very soon," Mabel replied, with a glad light in her blue eyes that did tho convalescent's very soul good to witness. " Wait until I am safely away frotn Oak Palo first," Dess said, " and then I do not care." " I can not imagine what your motivo for conceal ment may be, my dear friend; but the ono whom it is necessary 1 should inform of your good fortune and whereabouts is a person who loves you very wueb, Dessie. He has told me, many, many times, that you were his first love, and that ho could nwr take an other woman to his heart and love her m ho had lovi you, dear." , . . . "Ob, Harry! Poor Harry! I did not think ho cared for me in that way. I like Harry very much m a friend-a brother-but not as a lover, Marl. Mabel laughed merrily. "It i not o b.m tU I monk." .Ha H. tAkinff tho invalids httU fct hand in her own. " Did you not know that Mortimer Gray loved you, Desaio? Can you not Miovo that your imago is graven in his heart forever? " " Don't, liolle," tho invalid pleaded, with a des pairing wave of tho hand, " don't try to niako mo to Hove that, when I am convinced to tho contrary. Tho old love is but a memory to him now; yet I never blamed him -how could 1? I am glad that Mortimer loves you, Mabel, and that yon aro worthy of him in every respect. You both have my blessing, which Is truly and freely given." " It grieves me, Desiio, to soo that you doubt mo," Mabel said, sadly. "If thero is anything I would shrink from with loathing, it is a falsehood, especial ly in a case like this. I admit that at preseut I am betrothed to Mortimer Gray, but though I entertain tho highest regard for him as a companion, a friend, I can never, never lovo him as a girl should lovo her future husband I told him all, I had no deslro to deceive him, and ho as fraukly ooufeised the true stato of his feelings toward mo, ll told mo of a lovo which ho had cherished more than lifo Itself ; of a littlo girl whoso imago was graven in tho Innermost depth of his heart, and that girl was no other than DfHsio Watson. Hut slio was goue, gons from him forever. Ho esteemed mo very highly, ho said, aud ho would willingly dovoto his wholo lifo in trying to promoto my happiness. Hut can a girl who has ever onco truly and devotedly lovod, I happy with a love liko that, D.i? I Ul him, then and thero, of a lovo which I had foolishly allowed to steal luto my heart-a lovo which was as utterly hoj-dess as his own. Ho knew all, as well as I knew tho truo stato of his feelings for ra Urged by my father, how ever, I Ix'catno his affianced bride. What difference) did it make, at all events? IM held nothing In sUo for me that I valu.nl very highly; but I could seo that my protniso had not gladdened tho heart of tho wan who was to U my futuro husbaifl What I have Ul you, D'i I" lrulh M 1 c11 on hr'VPD War mo witness. You havo now heard my story, and will you not mako mo much happier by replug Mortimer, who loves you as fondly as ever, as your accept! lover?" I run not doubt you, Mahl," Dess said, as sha rained her companion's whit hand t her lips aud kissed it fervently. "You havo acted Biddy, baa. Iliarh as you havr adhered to tho truth so strenuously throughout all. IW, poor Mortimer I How ho must ! Ve iuff.-r.-d ; but scarcely more so than yoo, you dear, ,jear girl I M" fro,a Ul" f y luX IUI yo nay y 1 1-' wry, l W Y''u' "'J I ho.- le... MaM Horn lima In tho futore- Hu.h, you littlo ffw, doo'l try to insplro my Leart will a hop CiQ cem U rc,i?lL 1 m 4 wmw v 0 1 i ,1111m Hum 1 rtrttlvumi0mtm w "wifiig '