Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-25
THE CRYSTAL HEART;
Or
THE WILL OF ALLAN BIRD
81 ALICE S. MIrCHELL.
CHAPTER I.

The night was stormy. The fast falling
feathery snow muffled the footsteps of
the hurrying throng.
Men and women were transformed into
dumb phantoms, appearing and vanish
ing between the rows OF fiery eyes that
twinkled and burned for miles down the
seemingly endless street. The spirit of
Christmas was abroad. Swinging wreaths
of evergreen beckoned invitingly.
Stately pine trees pointed their long,
slim fingers toward tempting treasures
Clouds OF velvet floated. RaInbows of
ribbons arched the portals and waved Sc
ductively in glittering palaces of enchant-
ment.
Amid the throng girl walked slowly
Some memory seemed to have driven her
forth into the storm, for she walked aim
lessly from one object Of beauty to an
other.
At last, utterly weary, she sought the
corner devoted to books and pictures. A
hungry look leaped into her eyes, as she
laid her hand softly on the cover of a
book, raised it, and quietly turned the
leaves.
The quick, business-like voice of the
clerk made her start. Book tonight,
missp'
"No, thanks" Laying the book down
hurriedly Edith Barwick turned to leave
the place, when her eyes fell upon a pic
ture which held her captive.
Above the edge OF gray horizon the
sun hung, ball of fire, ready to disap-
pear beneath the blue waves of the ocean.
The girl seemed to be standing on the
bare sand in the foreground from which
rose, sheer, huge gray cliff. On its sum-
NIT stood lion, his massive head thrown
back in defiance. Gazing spell-bOund
Edith imagined she heard a roar of rage
from the helpless monarch. In response
The lion in her heart awOke. She, too,
stood upon a cliff. in view OF world
beyond her reach. Nothing seemed pos
chile but plunge into the waters beneath
her feet.
The girl rushed from the building, and
walked rapidly on and on. 1t was 8
O'Clock when Edith Barwick reached the
cottage in r street. Entering the dimly
lighted parlOr, she stepped lightly to the
door of the adjoining room, and saw that
her invalid mother was sleeping quietly.
Thank Cod" she murmured, closing the
door and sinking into cushioned chair,
repeating. "Only one week before Christ.
mas" The words seemed to awaken
some old memory, as Edith sat silently
watching the dying fire.. Father, brother,
ana sisters gone. Hennlie5S ana alone: an
Invalid mother, the only treasure lett on
earth. Her heart beat fast as she re-
membered the joy which had once flooded
her life with glory. Ten years ago"
1t seemed ages.
LoOsening the throat Of her dress Edith
drew from her bosom a trinket. 1t was a
crystal heart. The delicate hinge was
gone and half of the crystal was missing.
The girl kissed the heart again and
again, while flood of tears poured down
her pale cheeks. ''1Iy darling, if you only
knew how sad and miserable, how friend
less and penniless / am tonight you
would forgive that fatal letter" The
room was yelled with shadows. The girl
leaned back, exhausted. Upon the
crimson cushion her face shOne like an
exquisite cameo by the faint glow of the
dying embers. A spark cleaned upon
her breast. A ray Of light had touched
the crystal heart. Suddenly starting up,
with clinched hands, she walked the floor
like a Gagged creature.
''Oh, God! have mercy" she cried, sink
ing upon her knees.
'Edithn The voice came from her
mothers room. "Are you coming s0onW
Yes, mother, in moment"
Lowering the light she hastily gathered
up her wraps and passed into the darken-
ed room beyond.