The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-11-16

s A r A H WALKER.
Copyrisht, ts,s, by Bret Hsrte.
All Rights Hessiysd

Greyport Hoto and the usual foyersh life of
Its four hundred inmates Ind succumbcd to
tho weather. Tho great vsranda was dc.
serted; tho corridors wero dcsolatod: no foot
fall echoed In the passages; tho lazy rustic OF
. wandering skirt. or u passing sigh that was
half pant. seemed to intensity the heated
silence. An intoxicated boo. dlsgraoofully un.
steady In wing and leg. who had boon holding
an inebriated conversation with himself In the
corner OF my window pane. had COMO to sleeI
at last and was snoring. The errant
| prince might have entered tho slumberous
halls unchallenged. and walked into any Of the
darkened rooms whose open doors gapod for
moro air, without awakening the veriest Grey.
port lrt with his salutation. AT times drows,
voice. lazlly INTERCEPTED sentence. an inco.
nerent protest. long. drawn phrase Of saccha-
rine tenuity suddenly broken Off with O gasp
came vaguely to the car as IL indicating q half
suspended. half. rtioulated existence some.
where. but not definite enough to Indicate con-
versatlon In the midst of this thoro was the
sudden crying OF child.
| looked UP from my work. Through the
camera OF my jealousy guarded window
could catch a glimpse Of the vivid auiverlnR
blue OF the sky. the glittering Intensity Of tho
ocean, the long motionless leaves Of tho horse
chestnut In the road-all utterly inconsistent
with anything as active rs this lnmontation. ]
| o'"fh"N W thV uooi tiO blIOnt nblI.
| Apparently the noise had attracted the equal
attention Of my neiGhbors. \ vague chorus OF
Sarah Walker" In Queruous recognition OF
| Lord! that child again. In hopeless pro-
test. rose faintly from tho different rooms. As
tho lamentation seemed to approach nearer, the
visitors doors were successfully sh tut swift foot
steps hurried along tho hall past my open door
camea momentary vision OF a heated nurscmaid
| carrying tumultuous chaos OF frlled skirts,
81 oh ALI
| Ing curls: there was n moments raj
lying struggle before the room nearly
| opposite mine. and then door opened and
| shut upon the vision. 1t was Sarah Walkeri
Everybody knew her: few had over soon more
OF her than this passing vision. In tho great
hall. IN the dining room. in the vast parors In
the garden. In the avonuo on tho beach, q
sound Of lamontation had always been fol-
owedby this Same brief apparition. Was therea
sudden pause among the dancers and subju-
CATION OF the loudest bassoons In the early
evening hop. the explanation was given In the
words Sarah Walker" Was there wild con-
fusion among the morning bathers on the
sands. people whispered Sarah Walker"
panic among the walters at dinner, an inter-
ruption in tho Sunday sacred concert. q disor.
ganization Of the nftor- dinner promenade on
the veranda were instantly referred to Sarah
Walker. Nor were her efforts confined entirely
vi n a
| rcceaaoa bcordod uno w,,hLoia 49, .ora.
| declaration IN muttor Sarah wo,,,nrH ~
| tween their clenched taatb. cov mi hosh,u,
| tonoues found enoocb =, ,oat ~ ~.
rand formulation ~ sarah W,,i,nrn Mo,oa.
| ever Thought Of abbroylotina bnr wi
name. The two nennIe in ,ho ho,ai
| otherwise individualized. but known only as
Sarah Walkers father" and Sarah Walkers
mother" and never as Mr.. and Mrs. Walker
| addressed hcr only as Sarah Walkor." two
| animals that were occasionally n mart NJ this
| passing pageant were known as Sarah Wall.
| er's dog and Sarah Walkers cat . and late,
| It was my proud privilege To sink NV own indi.
viduality under the tide of that friond n,
Sarah walkor'e,"
It must not BIO supnoseJ TINT sbo had a..
tainod this baleful ON inence without .oms M.
tive criticism. Every parent in tho Groynort
Hotel had hold his or her thoorv NJ tho nnrtic.
ular defects of Sarah Walkers olucotion avorv