, 1874-11-01
MlZPAF1..


sort OF natural embankmeut like bridge. divid-
ing the valley in two. and separating Maltre Le
Gave's half from Maitre somebody else's. Barely
indicated in sepau shadows, rough, strong path,
dug out OF the hills, powered in trees, and lead
ing down to the enbankment. This embaukment
In shadow too. beneath the fringe on either side
OF lofty elms, green, leafy. beautiful IN summer
glory, and tipped with cadmium gold on every
topmost twlS. Hanging somewhat per1lousiy
over one edge Of the bank, fallen trunk; and
resting upou it a woman, young. beamy-ayed and
beautiful; her feet buried in tuft OF Guernsey
daisies, cleaning like whits stars IN tho fore
ground; The tall stem Of fo1-glove, heavy with
pendent bells Of dusky shaded pink, pricking in
her loose waving hair; q basket Of ferns On her
knee; her whlte round hands clasped over the
fragxnt burden, and partly hidden in dainty
emerald frouds; her eyes half hidden too beneath
the cream~white lids, and long curved lashes,
which rest on cheek ~ rosy and purely soft as
an infants In the background. string OF mild
eyed COWS, patched with brown and white and
driven by girl in nhite Brittany cap and short
skirt, down among ths ferns and blackberry
bushes Of tue hillside path bud chipping in
the elm-tree Now aud then the bark Of q dog
from somo distaut farm. Over both the voice OF
ths cattle-girl singing in the summer twilight;
"Quo yeut dire cet 8MOur Z"
Dit Jeanot Jeanncton.
50 scraps of the refrain float up on the soft
summer air, while M1zpah lie Fcull1e sits waiting
on tne old t1ee-trunk. Below, the brook babbles
over the stones, aud frogs gHgle among tho long
grass and Water-ruhhcs. gray wood-beetle
CONES out On the log, and trots lcisure1y along.
making great piece Of work over every little
bullock OF crusty yellow ichen, or red-tipped
moss. Two disuipated hnnets dutter twittcring
among the branches overhead. instead OF going
home to 1oost. Tuen small brown lizard puts
out his head from hole in the bank. and begins
to leisu1ely ascend the log. It has slow, saoc-
titled air, this tizard, % il it we're thinking OF
nothing moro hublunary than prayer-fhcetins; !;
but happening to meet the gadding wood-beetle.
it stops short, and devours him In 4 se!f-abns-
satory way, much Ike some human Pharsee.
Mizpah sits still and waits.
By-aud-by there iB sound OF footsteps tramp
inc over the stonea down the hill~path. Out Of
tho shadows comes the figure Of man; man
before whom Mizpah rises, letting basket and
ferns fall unheeded to her feet; man who
catches her hands IN his, and holds her With a
passionate force-a Bmothered, quiver1ne cry, as
OF one who has waited long Tor this meeting, and
hunQered for it nightly.
Il il some SECONDS before he hears what Af1zpAh
il saving, some seconds before any words are ln-
tolhgiulo between the girls heavy, painting
breathing. that sounds ike sobs.
"Let me co. let me go, !" she eays t~ice; and
1t last he understands, though more from the
hands striving almost desperately to free hernelf
than from the parted, "perfecs lips, from "h'ch
Ill color has fed. 1ooslng her little, be puts
one hand under the little chin, turning 1t towards
him. and eays hAlf-Teproachfully-Av very loving
reproach:
sLet you go7 Why, my darling. have only
just got you! Is that your greeting, nizpah,
alter turee years. waiting for this one moment7 7"
He ia going to kiss hsr a. no speaks; His brave
blue eyes. and handsome face, bearded and
Drowned under suns more bnruing than these,
are very near her own: and she is only Is . it,
tlo bird in his hold In the desperation Of the
moment she tl,tusts his hand away with al the
strength Of both hers, and Rasps out;
"Getald, don't! for heavens sake, don't! I
am married"
Tined La let's her go-drops her Is though shot
to the heart BY some unseen bullet. ana al the
glad pood dies our Of his face, leaving It ghastlv
in tbs tyil!eht-even mora glastlJ than that
white daisy facs whlch moment before "as hid
den against his heart
TLere is no word spoken for 3 moment. Only
the book babLles among the rushes and far
sray the cattle-giri's song rings AooVs tho
shadow:
"Toi ma me, c'est tot que j'aims,'
Dit Jeanot Jeauneton.
With sound like = long gasping sob, NTH tho
voice hollow and broken Of dying nhn, he asks
at last; ri.
1.-The Il nth, she ans~ers, forcing ber voice to
steadne-s, forcing back the tears bu1n1ng-ln her
eyes, the agony striving for nsteEance III her
heart ii am married-married-do Iou heal,
Gerald 7-Ax months sgo. dared not "r1te 1t
to you; but it is true"
Her voice soundz harsh, almost cruel Looking
It her, The pam brings t'pge OF dull red to h's
face. $500 .
Horried }" be says slowly. "1t-it cannot
| be true. And your promise to me e
Broken" she answers almost herceIy, ous aer
lirnbB arc shaking like m aspen-leaf- "Geraid,
I hare told YOU. For i1earens sake 80 away now
aud forget ms am not worth remembering
not worth gr,eving for, OF signing over
.He does not believe 1t. Looking INTO that 1a1r
Young face, and blue innocent eyed, 1t would be
difficult Almost piteously he tells her 90, beg
| ginc some excu.e. some explanation. She has
| never bid him meet her here to tell him, after
three years Waiting that she Ia utterly false and
| Notwithstanding more!
| voice dead now with q sort OF weary despair
| ..To have been false is enough. Would excuses
! make it better? would not hayo met you at all
| il had been brayer-noro unseltish. ought
! to have written; and tr1ea' ont-i eon1o na;.
~ do not Wonder at it. he breaks IN ha1shy.
s.You we're not cold -blooded enough for that, it
1T vou1d hare been BETTER" she answers.
| 1ipchng under his tone; 1t would have spared
YOU pam: and since could not receive you il
nv husbands house, doubtif should hare met
you'll here"
"And why?"
| "He might be angry"
"Ang1y! Who has the better right TO bs
angry, be- or II Mizpnh, do you love this mao.
or ire you afraid Of him? Dy heaven believe
YOU xre, and think that you were forced into Ais
| treache1y!"
..Hs would have caughther hands, but abe draws
| back, winter than ever.
s.No one forced me. and am not afraid Of
! him. He is most Kind and lovable-Oh, Gerald
| (As be interrupts By an oath "rung from hlm IN
sneer desperat,on) for heavens sake-for pity .
sake 20: What talking can undo the r1ong that
has been done you1 I only ask you 70 @ forget
unless wien you are happy With soma one more
worthy Of you, you may care
voice with the blaze Of scorn in his honest eyes;
not If / we1e diving would forgive you; you
| who have deceived me for so long, and brought
mo back across the ~ido Atlantic to fad you
married to another-ialse to me Forgive you !
! No, but forgive Jour husband"
| Tho crimson has faded out of tho sky. The