Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-06-04

Everything comes to the end" shere-
peated softly. rs that so, l wonder?
1t is rather hard world, is itnot. when
one comes to think that that is the text
of it?"
He did not answer.
Down by the river the glory of the
sunset was beginning to fade. and
faint gray shadow seemed to haunt the
river. The only sign of life was a tall.
black-rObed woman's figure across the
water, vending her hOmeward Way over
the tields-dark and distinct against the
sky; and smaller dark figure of achild.
that ran abouthither and thither search
ing for flowers, needless of its mother.
ut is sad," Sydney said. Somehow,
the moment of sunset is always little
suggestive of ath-loneliness-sad
ness. One feels something has been
taken out of our life"
"Mademoiselle."
1t was no answer to her words. no
comment on them that was coming.
The tones We're a little excited-a GER
tain thrill in them which seemed to
preSage the coming of something
special.
Sydney turned her head with a GER
tain consciousness of the unusualness
of his voice, and almost instinctivelv
took step away from him, shaking off
her dreaminesS as she did so. But as
she so moved, before his next word
reached her, there rang through the still
summer evening air a shrill, terrified
scream, that, before it had time to die
away, was caught up and echoed in
Woman's agonlZed tones, and then: "It
is the child" Sydney cried. "Oh, see!"
pointing to where small dark head
showed on the smooth current. Then
she was aware, in a misty, uncertain
fashion-for eyes and brain for the mo-
ment alike seemed clouded-that the
man beside her had moved forward to
the edge of the steep bank that formed
the border of the river, and that She
was it indeed she?-with hands tight
clasped about his arm, was imploring
him to stay. Was it her own voice?
Not you. Oh, do not go!"
She felt the hold of her hands loosen
ed. 1t seemed to her she felt also
light kiss upon them ere they were re-
leased, and then they We're hanging
down by her side, and she was standing
straight and tall on the bank, the sun
shining broadly down, and she realized,
all in a moment, that she, in her white
gown, and that other black-robed figure
opposite, were both alike standing, one
on either side of the river, waiting and
praying for the life that was dearest to
them on earth.
But though she felt it she did not
move, did not even clasp her hands,
could not even think. Past and to come,
even the present seemed vague and un-
defined compared with the golden sun
light that was writing her love in letters
OF fire across the evening sky and green
meadows, even in faint reflective fash
ion, on the surface of the flowing river.
He was across now-the little dark
headed child was safe in it's mothers
arms; the blonde-haired man was hold
ing the mothers hand, and listening
doubtless to the words that her love
and gratitude prompted.
And now through the sunlight, lit
tie flame of gold all about him, he had
turned quickly away toward the bridge.
that half mile off formed the connect
ing link between Hayes and the village
of Morland.
And as he thus turned away, thought
and the power of movement seemed to
return to her.
Her first instinct was to try and real
lze what she had said and done in these
last few moments; her second, to hasten
toward her home and the protecting
presence that there awaited her. There
was something calming in the thought
was never unwelcome.
So, obeying it after that moments
hesitation, she turned homeward step
ping lightly over the short meadow
grass. The sun had now very nearly
set, and the low-lying fields We're grow
ing gray and misty, the reds and yellows
slowly fading from the sky, and their
fainter reflection from the broad river
beneath.
She did not stop until she stood by
Mr.. Loraine's side; then, having told
him the story, and hidden him 90 and
meet Count Lindenheim, she went on
to her own room. Only there, in that
haven of safety, did she feel able to
think, though even in that secure re-
treat consecutive thought was difficult.
Standing by the window, round which
the roses clustered, with hands clasped
together, she strove to put into words
that which was troubling her.
Il was frightened" she said half
aloud. Il am more eXcitable than I
thought. Yes, that was it. For the
moment. l was really frightened"
ITO be continued