The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-10-23

If this had been an ordinary woman I
should not have noticed her. beyond the
passing regard Of the moment: it was
the grace Of her walk that attracted nv
attention, and | felt sure that as she
passed me by | heard the sound of bit
ter, passionate sObbing.
IIe old story over again, | thought,
sorrow and pain. longing and love, But
for the sound of that sob as she PASSED
me | should not have watched her.-I
should not have known what after
wards would have given my life not 10
know.
She walked right on to the very head
of the pier. and stood there for a few
miEutcs. | knew. by instinct, that she
was crying bitterly; then | was struck
10y the manner IN which snc looked
round; il was evident to me that She
wished to be quite alone. st times the
waves playing round the wooden pillars
made some unusual sound: she turned
quickly, a. though she suspected some
one was near her. Once gentleman
stOlled leisurely down tie pier. stood
for few minutes watching the sea in
silence, then went away; While he was
there she stood still and mOUOnleSS as
a statue; then she looked round with a
Stealthy gaZe-a gaze so unlike the free
grand grace Of her movements. that |
was struck 10y it. She could not see me,
because ! was in the deep shadow, but
] could see every gesture Of hers ! saw
her raise her face to the darkening
skies, and l felt that some despairing
prayer was on her lips, and the reason
why | could see her so plainly was this.
that she stood just where the rays of
the lamps fell brightly.
It was a dramatic scene, the dark,
heaving sea, with the litful gleam of the
moonlight; the silent pier. with the one
huge light; the tall, dark figure stand
ing there so mOtiOnleSs. Why did she
look round with that hurried. stealthy
glance as though so deSirOuS of being
aloneI Presently she seemed to realize
that she stood where the light fell
brightest, and she turned away. She
walked to the side of the pier farthest
from me. where she stood opposite to
the bright lights of the western pier.
She did not remain there long, but
crossed again. and this time she chose
that part of the pier where | was sit
ting.
Far back in the deep shade in the cor
ner she did not see me, she did not Sus-
pect that anyone was near. | saw her
give a hasty look down the pier, but
her glance never fell on the corner
where | sat. She went to the railings-
one or two of them were broken and had
not been repaired; in a more frequent
ed place it might. perhaps, have been
dangerous. She did not seem to notice
it. She stood for some minutes III si-
lence, then I heard again bitter weep
ing, passionate sobs, long drawn sighs.
l heard a smothered cry of ''Oh. Heav-
EN- oh, Heaven! have pity" and then
a sickly gleam of light came from the
sky, and by itSlight I saw that she took
the bundle from under her arm.
could not see what it was or what il
held, but she bent her head over it, she
kissed it.-ah; with what passion of
tears, kissed it.-sobbed over it with
passionate sobs, then raised it above
the ratings and let it fall slowly into
the water.
There was a slight splash, no other
sound. As she raised the bundle l saw
distinctly that it was something wrap
ped in a grey and black shawl.