THE WATER CURSE.
For a brief space of time Winslow gazed at Marie, and then broke out, astonishment written in his face:
"What, Marie! Then we have both changed."
Her look was equally one of surprise and pain as she took his extended hand, and she was powerless to utter a word.
She was spared further embarrassment, however, by Pierre, who said:
"Marie, put Mr. Winslow's room to rights. We have been waiting for you."
Marie, glad to escape, hurried away.
From that moment a new light came into the life of Marie. New and pleasant duties became hers. Miss Gaston, who heard from her a few days after Winslow's arrival, realized the change in her friend. She wisely concluded not to go to Pierre Island that year, or at least till she was sure her coming would not be the cause of any break in the new condition of affairs. She had her own history to make, and yet her own happiness did not prevent her entering into the lives of her friends.
As the days went by, Marie became more and more a revelation to Winslow. After the fatigue of his journey, and the long and tedious road to Pierre Island, he did not realize fully what the extent of the development was that had taken place in Marie. He saw it more and more as the time passed and his keener perceptions renewed their activity.
So Winslow saw only Pierre and his family about him. It was some days before he could walk to the beach, although his strength came back with every breath of the Fundy air and the pure sunshine of the late summer days. Marie from the first was installed as nurse and companion. As an associate she was in a very short time as necessary as she had at first been as a nurse. In this way Winslow came to know the woman better than he had known the girl, every day disclosing some quality of her beautiful nature. At last he found that his years spent in the Yukon were of the greatest value in his life. They led to his present position, which any other course would have lost to him.