Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-08-21

| was astonished beyond measure to see
an offended look upon her face, and &c
hear an offended tone in her voice. OF.
fered her my arm. She rejected it, re.
plying that the ground was damp, and
that her bands we're occupied with her
dress. and feeling in the wrong aud hav-
ing swallowed more wine than should u.
the supper table. grew very angry.
MAY l ask what / have done r. I
said.
lyon know" said Grace.
'I know J" repeated MAR. I know
.".ii-= -f -wOas&s-ss fsu5scs. Fou must
explain"
| 81 scarcely think i, worth while" said
SIZE.
IF you do not know ,ba. YOU have
done wrong tonight. | really should not
care.
"lou have neglected me. and devoted
yoursel! to that vulgar woman. I heard
lady near me say that you seemed tired
ot your bargain. She thought that you
were IN love with that creature. So did
other people. Under the circumstances.
l lave right to feel offended and insul.
ted"
Perhaps she thought would deny her
charge. Perhaps she expected ,ne to plead
Tor pardon. God knows what possessed
me. answered only.
MAY | not talk to pretty woman be-
cause | hope 20 marry you some day p
"lou were slrting-almos, making love
to her" she replied.
she Is the sort of woman with whom
men fall in love-" | said .Irrcsis,ible
IN her manner. I've heard she makes con-
quests everywhere; don't doubt it,"
Grace looked at me with a stern face
white, in the starlight. as a marble
statue.
"O'her women are always jealous of
such women" | added.
Her lip curlcd.
81 am not jealous OF her" she said.-
81 would not be like her for kingdom
She IS terrible woman. But since Won
admire her 50 you are free to tell her 50
after you have seen me to my door"
"Gracc - said.
Miss Hunter. il you please Mr. Ru-
therford." she said {. We have both
mnde n mistake easily rcc,iiicl; tia. is
all"
| felt as | stood looking at her, that the
effect OF the wine | had drank uron me
was stronger than had thought. but |
gave no heed to the warning of my gidly
head and ."l;i l...i,,.
just as you please" said. "I should
think that jealous woman would curse
any mans lifo. I'll 90 now. | won't
trouble you any longer. Good bye"
We were not at the door Of her home
we were very near it; but turned on
my heel then and there. and left her. |
staggered little rs | walked. and | was
ho; and angry. | made my way home.
and without undressing. fell upon my bed
AMI dropped asleep.
Ia two hours | was awakened sober. I
sat up aud looked about me. The scenes
of th" evening recurrcl to me vividly. |
saw how bIamewor;hy hal been. and a
terrible grief possessed me. | put my
head down upon my hand and burst into
bitter tears had lost her, and with her
all that made life precious. Then hope
dawncd upon my soul. would write to
her: tell her how. unused to liquor was,
the wine had affected me. would tel!
hcr that to my sober sclc there wns 10
charm in the woman who had seemed to
crchant me the evening before. would
draw the comparison that ccl: so kccnv
between her pure self and that bold eyed
frt. would then earnestly pray for her
to forgive ne.
Sprinsing TO my feet rushed to my
desk. | drew from it pen and paper. |
wrote a letter overfowing with remorse
and tenderness. read it and re-read it.
Then leaving it lying upon the spot where
i! was written, I stood at the window wait
ing for the tardy dawn. jealous of the
Sow hours which kept my precious mis-
sive from my darling.
Tie night was at its s,illest. The stars
were bright as ever, but the moon had
set.
| had put ont my candle when left my
desk, the room should have been dark;
but as turned my heal after n long and
anxious revcry. saw that it was full of
pale radiance like that OF moonlight
1t startled me. Whence did the light
come? Had n miracle occurrei-had the
moon risen again
Suddenly. amid this silvery light ap-
pcarcd still whittier radiance. II slow
ly took form. \ female ecurc. in white
garments 50 bright that they dazzled the
eyes, stood bending over my precious let
ter.
l remained mot:onless-.o speak or stir
was not in my power--and gazcd on the
strange object with terrified intensity -
The figure seemed TO turn the pages Of
my letter with i;s',ransparen, fingers. I
leard gentle sigh; then the head turned
toward NE, and saw a face | knew-,he
face ;ha, seemed tue loyelicst of all on
earth TO me, endowed with \ mysterious
and divine beauty for which no nlan could
find words-tLe glori6ed face of sweel
Grace Hunter.
At the sight burst the bonds which
held me-bcuds as tangible as though
could have seen them-and rushed for
ward. ! s;rOve to clasp my love. or heI
shadow. in my arms. A shock such a.
one might experience from an electrical
machine flashed through ne and fel
powerlcss to the floor.
When | recovered the day had fully
dawned. and under the blne morning SIX,
the city had awakened; tu, my day nevel
dawncd again. My heart never opened Il
J life's sweetness.
! To end tbs story in few words Grac'