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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1889)
THE WE8T SHORE. 217 ! In his joy, George caught the fair girl to his reast, regardless as to who might witness the happy jene. "Then you love me, Mabel? Oh, my dar 'ug! I did not dream, when I came here, that such reat happiness awaited me. And you love me, and ill be my wife, Mabel?" he asked, fearful that he ad not understood her aright. I " I have never loved any one else, (taorge, and I ill wed you, and then I shall be a sister to dear, irling little Dess, whom I love so much. Oh, let e go, please; you forget how near we are to Mr. lingston's," the happy girl said, releasing herself om the young man's ardent embrace. " So we are, but it makes no difference. I Bhall troduce you as my future bride, if you will let me," jorge said, as he took his fiancee's hand and pressed fervently, as he led her to the door. As they entered, the scene that mot their gaze was most happy one Mortimer Gray seated by the side Dessie Watson, with her pretty little head reclin j on his broad, manly breast, while Trapper Dun i his wife looked on, apparently happy in seeing jir happiness. Old Bruno was evidently much :ased with the state of Affairs, as he lay before the 3, now and then looking up into his mistress' faco assure himself that she was content. We will not Jeavor to describe the meeting between brother and ter, who had been so cruelly separated for more n two years, or how cordially George was received Mortimer Gray, as well as by the old trapper and 5 wife. But when Dm had kissed and embraced a to her heart's content, Mabel crept slyly up to : side and whispered -" Ilaven't you a kiss for mo also, just one? " Dc'ss kissod her tendorly, but was surprised when brother said, as he took Mabel's littlo hand in his -" Allow me to introduco your future sister-in-law sio. Mabel has promised to bo my bride, which ope will be at no distant day." " Oh, Belle what a sly littlo minx you are! Htoop m quick, and let mo kiss you again and again, you r little darling." . " And this is the hopeless love you spoke or, m - Mortimer laughed, as bo clasped Mabels band lis own, . , - Wall, now, folks, I mus' say things runn.n .htycur'ous, somehow or other," the old trar put in, stretching his long logs toward the fire " I'm mighty glad to see you all so happy like. Hero, two weeks ago our littlo savage never wanted to look on Mortimer Gray's faco agin, an' uow it appears she can't look at it enough. Mortimer was goin' to mar ry ono gal, au' now he's goiu to marry t'other. Ma bel, that used to go pokln' about, l(K)kla' lib a ghost, is the happiest little mortal I ever see; an' George Watson looks liko tho world only held ono party pus. son, an' that pusson was Hollo Randall. It all Booms plagued queer, somehow or other. Come, olo woman, give us a buss, jest to start tho ball rollin', you know." Ho saying, tho old fellow caught tho "olo woman" in his arms, and, despite her efforts, succeeded in cap turing tho desired " buss," as ho called it Boforo dark, tho houso was filled with people, who, having heard of tho return of littlo I Vis, came Hocking in, two, throe, and sometimes as many as a half dozen at a time, to assure themselves that it was tho genuine Dessie Watson, and not her ghost, that had so mysteriously apared. Among tho uutuler were Harry Randall and his father, who were not content to retire uutil they had hoard tho girl relate tho story of her captivity and adventures among the savages. " It all sounds liko a story, by Jovol " Harry de clared, as tho girl conclude hor narrative. "The way that old chief got smitten with your charms on tho day of your strange encounter In tho forest, and then that ho should havo boon tho moans of saving your life on tho day of tho massacre. Your youth, beauty and daring evideutly wsrmixl tho old fellow's heart; and ho was going to marry you, whether you liked it or not, which so aroused his wife's jealousy that sho was only too glad M 7 lo J0" iVihl" " Yes, an' the way sho came in uon us ono night, rigged out an' out liko a squaw, an frightful the olo woman near out of hr sens.; an had got to U web savage that sho ositivrly refused lo ever Uk on Mortimer Gray's faro agin," tho old trapr added, with a mischievous glanre at D.'as and her lover, both (,f whom enjoyed tho joke Immensely. Wo will pa over tho fow happy weeks following, when Oak Dalo was fsvorM with doable wedding; and tho couples thus happily unit, are still living in the littlo valley. (Im I.f' itt' i.