Weekly commercial herald., 1885-09-18

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q and overcame, not only the WOmaRs physh
cal fatigue, but also the craving Tor ous
glimpse Of Beatrice which chaine1 her q
the spot She tore herself away, and With
out once looking back forced her tired limbs
to bear her to a considerable distance here
she found quiet doorstep on " hich she sat
unmolested, sat and fought against her e1-
haustion, until such time as she would be
able to procure food
Il was not long before slowly, little by
I little unit by unit, the city began to awake
Here ana there the shutters went down from
/ a shop. and at last the weary woman saw
| an but facing her a bakers window. She
entered the shop, bought some bread and
begged glass Of water. Not for her own
sake, but for the sake of another, she was
called upon to eat and drink
She ate her bread, and then somewhat
strengthened again began her pilgrimage
She crept through the streets until she
reached the railway station Here she a.
certained at what time the next train for
the west would start
She had long time to wait. She hid her
self in one corner of the waiting room, and
sat like a statue. But her brain was burn
ing and her pulse throbbing A strange
soun1, fierce rushing sound, was ever in
her ears; great wheels seemed turning and
turning in her head and if for moment
she dared to close her hot and weary eyes,
she saw through the darkness a light, a
fercs light, red like blood, and drawing
nearer and nearer.
But in spite OF all this she was able to
take her seat in the train, able to exult that
she had found the strength to bear her SO
far; able to pray that her strength might
last until she once more stood in London.
Then all would be safe No matter what
became of her then. The work was finished,
what did the future of tbs tool matter3
The tram left Munich, and as it steamed
out of the magnificent station, the woman
yelled her face with her black shawl IN
spite Of her conviction that she had but
executed pre-ordained task, she dared not
look upon the spot where she had knelt on the
previous night Miles and miles passed he-
fore she removed the somber covering from
her white worn face As the train hurried
on the wheels within her brain wLirled
faster and faster, the rushing sound grew
stronger, and the fierce red light shone red
der, fiercer and nearer.
Save for such inquiries as the exigeDcy
Of the journey forced her to make, and such
speech as was necessary to procure the food
and drink which nature absolutely demand
ed, the woman spoke no word during that
long journey back. Except that now and
again she pressed them to her brow, in
vain endeavor to stop the wheels which
whirled in her brain, her thin hands We're
for ever clasped beneath her dark shawl
She sat and stared into vacancy. How
could she close her eyes when doing 50 at
once brought the red light before them3
For all she knew, that journey might have
lasted months or years. Period. Of time
meant nothing to her now. Eternity, not
Time, lay before her.
The long journey by land, the shorter
journey by sea, passed like a protracted vet
incoherent dream. All she knew or cared to
know was that she was speeding ON to
London. At last the sound of English
voices, the sight of English faC s, told her
that she had reached the last stage of her
journey. Then she reused herself and made
her final preparations.
She searched her pocket, and tore into
small bits every piece Of paper it contained,
so that no written word could to left to
give clew to her identity. Last Of all she
drew from an envelope a photograph CT
Beatrice. She gazed at it long and passion
ately, and then, with deep sigh, tore il
across and across, and threw the pieces tC
the winds. She dared not even keep this
poor relic of her darling.
London at lastl Sarah Miller stepped
from the train, and once more stood on the
platform which she had quilted rather more
than three days before. 1t was now past
o'clock in the morning. Whittier should
she turn. She stood hesitating and bewil
dered.
There was one thing more which she had
settled to do What was itl Oh, those
wheels, those wheels, will they never stop
She pressed her fingers to her temples, ant
strove to recall what resolution had slippeC
from her mind
Ah, now she remembered what it was
Her money, she must get rid Of that. 81,
had no further need Of money, now that sh
had reached the final goal. In her poke
were both German and English coins Sh
collected them, and creeping stealthly t.
the box which stands awaiting contribution
for some, doubtless, very deserving charity
she dropped in every coin that was upon he
person. This done she believed there We
nothing left which could in any way shov
who she was OF whence she came.
She passed out under the archway, soil
tary, dark robed figure with head bent a
in grief. She passed from the gastly Whit
glare of electric lamps into the all but de
serted Strand She walked some way u,
the Strand, then, without any definite aim
turned to the right and by and by founC
herself on the embankment.
Still she wandered on until she. reache,
Waterloo bridga She went half way acros
it, then stopped short and gazed over tn
parapet into the river. But no thought O
self-destruction had entered into her head
although the red light was still before he
eyes, the wild rush still sounding in hsr ears
and those fearful iron wheels in her bratl
drcling more rapidly than ever No, th,
river had but for her the attraction which 6
smooth, calm, peaceful stream has for al
who are in deep distress. So she looked anC
looked; even craned over the parapet to peel
into its somber, placid depths
At that moment binding light flashed
upon her eyes an1 hand grasped he
shoulder. ''Now none of that nonsense, ;
said sharp voice--the voics OF policeman
who had seen her dark form against thl
stonework Of the bridge. The weman turnet
her face to his, and the anguish written upot
itpersuaded the constable that he had arriveC
! just in the nick Of time.
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