Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-06-21
AT EDGERLY.

al beg your pardon" The nigh
was dark in the narrow path leading
from Edgerly woods two men suddenly
jostled each other with unpleasant
force. One paused as he spoke, un
certain if it were man or woman ht
had thus come upon, and one hurried
on at the same rapid gait, evidently
little recking what was in his way
"0h, it doesn't matter" he muttered
nothing matters to me tonight"
Nothing matters to him tonight
eh? Then theresa woman in his case
that is sure l wonder what he mean:
TO do?"
The speaker stared back into the
darkness with sudden, curious desire
to see the others face. There was an
unconscious sympathy in his own
which would have startled his nearest
friends. Yet not strange under the
reminding darkness and the soul in
that others words. For there had
been woman in his case once; a night
back into the years when nothing had
mattered unto him, when he had
walked away from the girl that scorned
him with murder in his soul.
With his mighty will he had forced
it all beyond him, and lived as in other
days-only that he grew a harder man,
cold to both men and women. Yet il
was not strange that, under the nights
weird spell, his heart should stir a
little.
' wonder what he means to do?'
He stared into the darkness with an
interest that grew. He had important
business on hand that hour, but he was
fast forgetting it in the desire to know
how this man would work out the
problem. voeying sudden impulse
he turned back in the path.
The turf was deep with moss, and
the steps of the man ahead sunk noise
lessly in it; only the occasional crack.
ling of dead branch beneath his feet
revealed that one was near. The dark
ness grew even denser as he followed
on, the silence more oppressive. 1t was
a weird walk; practical man as he was
the fancy sometimes seized him that
he was walking with ghost. With {
sigh of relief he emerged on the little
clearing at the other end of the woods
Two paths joined here; one leading
to the village, the other down to the
sea. The figure ahead stood out family
now; he could see it striding down
ward, the same rapid. reckless gait
He quickened his steps and followed
breathlessly.
What did this man mean to do?
Perhaps only to stand alone with his
lashed soul and the endless waters; t.
study the problem, and conquer as he
had done. Perhaps
But the path was opening on the
sands. A little way on the curve lead
ing inward he saw a light evidently
shining from a house. Almost 9
prayer burst from his long prayerless
lips as the faint form ahead turnei
from seaward and walked toward it
Then he was simply going home
With a smile he suddenly recalled his
business on hand, and stopped still in
the path.
There was strange fascination in
that dim form ahead the next mo
ment he was following it down the
sands again, almost despite himself
He would see this man home. at a.
events. Homel The word burst in
voluntarily from his lips as they drew
near the house, and curiosity was OF
edge again. For the light streaming
out from the blindless window shove
a dilapidated, whitewashed structure
the poorest kind Of fishing hut. Th,
window was low and at little dis
tance he could see within. A bun II,
Of straw, a chair, table--these were
the furnishings.
A home, nevertheless for on tn,
scant fire OF the hearth pot was boil
ing, and in front woman sat stirring
the contents, evidently her evenin,
meal. The figure ahead strobe quickly
past, and in the doorway.
"Monnief' r.
A boyish, handsome countenance th,
light revealed as he paused with hi
hand on the woman's shoulder, ant
looked sternly down at her. She hat
started at the touch, but she turnet
eagerly as she recognized the voice.
"Ahl it's Walter Penraven, is it
Good-eyen! /! I'm glad to see ye."
The man without instinctively re
coiled as he saw this face. And wei
be might. 1t had chilled the heart
of many man and woman who ha
viewed it for the first time, and he sa,
it at the worst-with smile upon II
lips.
aYe have found it, Walter Per
raven deep down where / told y
hoY2 And ye can marry tho bonnl