The Argosy — page 248: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Story of the Sea-shore. 231 Down upon the beach went Serena, knowing that she should there find Mr. Loraine—that he was waiting for her. “* Now for a sail,” he called out. ‘‘ The water has just a pleasant breeze on it, and Peter and his skiff are ready.” But the next moment he saw her strangely-changed face. ‘‘ Hush!” she breathed. ‘‘ There will be no more sails for you and for me. People are talking of it, and my father is desperately angry ; and I—I have not been behaving well to Thomas Reece. You know I am betrothed to him.” Mr. Loraine caught her hand as she would have turned from him, *‘ Thomas Reece!” he cried in scorn. ‘* You cannot stoop to mate with him.” Her face flushed painfully. ‘‘ Yes,” she answered, ‘‘I shall keep my word.” “But I cannot spare you, Serena,” he said in agitation. ‘I want you to be mywife. If I have not spoken before, it was because I could not make it right with my uncle; but that is done now. My love, my love! you cannot think of being any one’s wife but mine.” “Don’t, don’t,” she cried wildly. ‘‘I must not, I dare not listen to you. My word is passed to him and to my father, and I will never forfeit it.” : | : He caught her in his arms and kissed her passionately on cheeks and lips. She tore herself away, and broke into sobs of anguish. ‘“‘It must not be; it must not be. Farewell, Ernest! farewell for ever.” ) That night, standing at the gate of their little cottage in her dumb agony, she saw Tom Reece steal up. Her first impulse was to run in and shut herself up from him; her next, to stay where she was. Whatever it cost her, she would not be cruel.to him. The terrible play must be played out ; and perhaps in time—in time—she might learn to bear. ; “Serena, I have wished to talk to you for some time,” he began, a tender compassion on his sad and suffering face, ‘‘ I can’t be off seeing that you have shunned me lately; that your time has been given to another—the gentleman, who is so high and speaks so fair. What it has cost me [’ll not enter upon ; but, my dear, your happiness is more precious to me than my own: and I’m come now to say that I won't stand in your way. Whoam I that I should set up my own feel- ings against yours, or let yours be sacrificed to me? So, Serena, my dear one, I give you back your troth: and I’m going away on a voyage, not to be in your way—and I know-God will comfort me in time.” How the generosity touched her! She burst into tears, and clasped his hands, ; ‘““No, Tom, never; you are mistaken. It’s true that he has dazzled me a little, and I’ve been so thoughtless as to walk and talk with him. But I have said good-bye to him for good now, and I will be your wife as I promised.” COMIIClOO© SS} (CO)