The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-01
MIZPAh.

| MlZPAH.
Evening on the island of Jersey, and
the sun already set. A wash OF pure
earmine IN the western sky, a film ol
whiush haze in the grassy bottom OF a
long valley scooped out between steep
wooded hills. Rising out of the haze a
sort of natural embankment like a
bridge, dividing the valley in two, and
separating Maitre lie Gays half from
Maitre somebody else's. Hanging some
what peril0usIY over one edge Of the
bank, q fallen trunk, and ting upon it
woman, young beamy-eyed and beau
| tiful, her feet buried III q turf of daisies,
cleaning like stars, a basket of ferns on
uer knees, her white, round hands
/ clasped over the fragment burden. A
bird chirruping in tue elm tree. Now
| and tnen the bark of dog from. some
distant farm, over both the voice of the
cattle gil singing in the summer .,twi-
hight. so scraps OF the refrain fiOated
upon the SO. summer air, while MIZpaH
| fe Feui le sits waiting on the old tree.
By-and.by there is sound OF loot
steps trampling over the hil-path. Olt
| OF the shadow comes the figure OF a man
ia man before wnom Mizpah rises, let
ting basket and ferns iall unheeded to
nef i6ets u mdh WIZ sCdbCusb heI hdHuS
in his aid uulds her with Passionate
iorce-a smothered, quivering cry, AS oil
one who has waited long for this meet
| ing and hungered for 1t nightly.
1t ls some seconds before he hears
what Mizpah is saying; some seconds
ore any words are inteligIble be-
ta cen the glrPs heavy, painting breath
lag, mat sounds like SOUS. -'f' ''
"Aet me go-let me goW She. Says,
twice, and at last he understands,
though more from the hands Striving al
most desperately to fee herself lhaRi
from her ashen lips. Loesing her, he
puts one hand under the little chip,
turning it toward him., and says, half
reproach ully-a very loving Seproach-
'Let you go? Why, my darling, l
nave only just. go. you! Is tnat your
ere etinq, Mizpan, aater three years
Waiting tor this one moment? - a
He is going. to kiss her a. he speaks.
| His brave blue eyes and HANDSOME face;
bearded aud Drowned IuInler suns irfore
burning Than these, are very neafr nef
pwn,. and she is only as a little bird IN
inls hold. '".'-~.'s
Iu the desperation OF the meme9tSs6s
hrnsts hiss hand away with all shet
IstleugLho and gasps out, "GeTaid :, dan' !
for Heavens SAKE don's.l an 1. pssfL
iriedP'
TDen she let's her go4-drops skar : NJ
| though shot to the heart bY:sans;ai ifsss,i
bulle 3sand all The glad pt1passes % tf6So
ais lace, teaying it gsas ny SneS the4 Nj
| ight-syen 4anore & las tty"tn ansfhs While
daisy face, which " nome nv before W as
hidden against his heA1sG.. IL :. =" 70
There Is no WORD spoken for tasneme nc
Only the brook babbles: RLlsng bh
I trushes, and, far away: sbne ,cattlef girIs
| song rings abOye'the shadow - 81 =.
| With sound like y l;ehg.gasping Sob,
with the voice of lying. Han, me u Ok
at lengts, 'sMIzpah, s"haE'sa NE you 'sa1I
ihgfy s.. -, =. s.;S -.
har voice to stea diness;- forcing
back the tears burning Dls her seyes, the
| agony. striving Lnr, ii uttefapce' in her
ueart. 81 am IN marrie ina alrfied dosyoU
near, GeraldY six'. months Ago. dared
not Write TO you, ,.but'it is Iru5.".'' :. =
Her Voice sounds harsh, alihos tcrlle4.
Loo King at her, the pain brings a tinEe
| of dull ed to his face.
| "Married!p he <says, SLOWLY. "lt--il
can Let be. Eue!S And your. pIomise.ro
mew -, -
| .''Broken," she answers, almost fierce
! ly but her limbs are shaking like an
] AS pep leat. "4erald. 1 nave told you
For ,heaye4, s.Asake, go aWay,new aanu
forget mes,. + am boGsvs 81 i'rehish be erinl
not WORTH grIeving lof Drag =
| He does not believe n. Looking iiio
| that fair young face, and blue, ihnoc ent
| eyes, it would be difficult.
| Almost plteously ne tells hersso, beg
ging some excuse, some explanation.
| tell rim, after three Years waiting, thai
she is utterly false andwor56 less1no 9TH.
| ing more ,s.s
| "Wnat is the good of more ~, she asks,
| her voice dead now witt a sort Of we sry
despair. s"Io have been falseis enough,
| would excuses make it better? L Ntoail;
not have. net you at ala if" ADJ beeh
| braver, mo( e. .tlns ettfs h. 1 opgh 10 htS,.
wriIteIs: and tried, butt could, nqtv'
~ de not ~44ter at It," ne bIeakSs ~!
hars1ly. - 'sfou were mot colaA AE6eds d
enough tor, tua1, it seems" -
.'It .woula. rave been better,h she . n.
5 "egs,- I'll spt4pg .pnder. his t6pe. "lt
would bsye Spared you paips and, Since
aouse, douDI;i!.1 >sn9eptttAave /. met you
II "And whyTn ,.H.iS@
"He.might .b&airg4yn,.
"Angrys s.NApt Gasthe. better right to
be angry, he. .orI? .Mfapa6, do yottI6ys
| neaSenS fbsfisN gol tet. % d thas Non
We re forced ilnto tflfits TIE &C Il
sHs s;wbpM,Lfave c4llsht .4ett' haadf,t hiit /
she araWs:ba aek ,'&ifftdr tnab> E yars - :. :
mo one kgedft ftHf am ,lfdt q fraf fF ,ot
| him; neSiSmVsE ktGat and .fU1abIG -IOG
Gerald (as ne. ;hfeerr1p sss by .sp oath'
wrung from 6itG IL sAeer ssdesaefst fenJ
tor H9ayen's .srKei-ior 'Rity y saRiTglI
What taking ean .Sntto the: wio1 1t IL so
Aas.been done YOU? 1 n1y1Aasks Wi 10
forget me, noAihs mo Ee-Gyt: ,gSSh fot,,
siseuess4 uAless wheA' .yots ARE happy
with. some ohe more wo!tnY ;of yoG; ou
"Neverpshe brsat Ks H., I; crdisfins her i
falter ny xoice'wftLf the lazs ii Seoip
in h!s honest'eyes. NO ii i Mere .dy-
ing would fiorgive you-!oa who have
deceived pe lor 40 long, ahGbIputh BIT nie
back across the wide Atlantic to; ii ri.
You married to an0tber-false to M !!
Fot give gou! No;' but I''tofglye. your
uuSUanuP -, = :, E.
The crimson has faded out OF .the' sky.
The gold is dead on the tree tops. Lbhg,,
gray shadows float up from the vall6S !:
A faint, Whitsh mist is building an i'm
palpable wall between these two, once
so dear, now SO wide apart. Even the
DlrOS are gone to rnOSt unn tha p.v