Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-07-01

raised bewildering tumult about u.s. Taking a
hand OF each, Walter tried to urge us forward.
But our feet became entangled In the brakes
ana qnderorush, and We made slow progress.
Hark Is that thunder 2" said Miriam, under
her breath.
alt is too cold for a Thunderstorm" Walter
answered, 1t is only the wind"
Even as he spoke fearful gust tore our hands
apart. Denser darkness, darkness that could be
1eif, Tell aboCt us; We could not see an inch be-
lore our faces-we could not see each other.
suddenly the air was filed With flying particles
and crash after crash resOunded from the forest
We were in the very path OF the tornado. Great
trees fell PROSTATE to the right and to the left of
us, and huge branches were borne like straygs ON
the wing on the tempest. Stricken to the ground
crouehlng there In dire extremity, we waited for
what might come.
But high above the roar of the elements the
herce beating of the storm, heard my husbands
voice.
Barbaral Barbara, Barbara" L heard
h through the darkness, and could not answer
Barbara-not Miriam-even in that suurene
moment when soul spoke to soul, and we stood
upon the confines Of the other world! = =
When / returned to Consciousness I was in a
darkened room, and there were two or tire,
strange women about me. tried to move nv
left arm, but could not. 1t was bandagel from
the 81 builder down. Walter kneIt al the foo+ OF
the bed. -
The women went out
cannot tell you about it, Some things are
too sacred TO be made subjects of common speech
and earesses by the silent kisses that his tremb-
ling lips pressed upon my cold one7 by his few
scarce artlculate words of THANKSGIVING. by his
whispered prayers, how grievously had ErongeI
him by my jealous doubts.
learned more, by and by, after Miriam had
gone, and my bruised arm had got well. One
day told him ali had thought and felt and
suffered For a long time he sat silently, with
ms hand clasping mine. Then he said:
want to show you something, Barbara"
and left the room.
He came back presently with a little blue vel
tst case IN his hand. There was something in
ms race that hadneyer seen there before; some
thing that showed that his whole being was stir
red 10 its Utmost depths.
" want to show yOu something" he repeated.
" fou are wholly mistaken about my feeling for
miriam. Rumor coupled our names as was Init
na.ur al But never loved her, even when we
were boy and girl together, with any other than
aqu1et, brotherly affection. II had / should
have told yOu before asked you to be nv wife
but want to show you this picture of the Young
girl who tcdS my first love. There must never be-
any more concealments between us, Barbara
You must read my heart to the very last page"
MY hand trembled so that it was with difficulty
pntastened the clasp.
III was my own likeneSs-a little, miserable
worn, faded vfgnette, taken in my early girl
mood; and under the glass were awithered flower
or tw0-the first had ever given him Looked
up. There were tears in his eyes.
nat IL relic of my callOw days. he said
haff laughing. " stole that picture long before
you dreamed that loved YOU; and L have been
ashamed to show you the poor old thing. so mag
mhcently encased in blue and gold. But it tells
the whole story, my Barbara. You shall keen IN
henceforward, and study it at your leisure when
ever yon are inclined to be jealous of your hus-
bands first love-"
believed every word he said But yet-Ih hone
we shall never have another visit from Miriam.