But I went out for Mary Stella 's sake . Tell me one thing -- I could n't bring myself to ask it of anyone else . When are you to be -- married ? '' `` The 12th of September . '' Benjamin did not wince . He turned away and looked out across the sea for a few moments . The last agony of his great renunciation was upon him . Then he turned and held out his hand . `` For her sake , '' he said earnestly . Frank Braithwaite put his slender white hand into the fisherman 's hard brown palm . There were tears in both men 's eyes . They parted in silence . On the morning of the 12th of September Benjamin Selby went out to the fishing grounds as usual . The catch was good , although the season was almost over . In the afternoon the French Canadians went to sleep . Benjamin intended to row down the shore for salt . He stood by his dory , ready to start , but he seemed to be waiting for something . At last it came : a faint train whistle blew , a puff of white smoke floated across a distant gap in the sandhills . Mary Stella was gone at last -- gone forever from his life . The honest blue eyes looking out over the sea did not falter ; bravely he faced his desolate future .
The white gulls soared over the water , little swishing ripples lapped on the sand , and through all the gentle , dreamy noises of the shore came the soft , unceasing murmur XXXXX the gulf .
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