The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-12-24

how che and no used 10 make the noh-
cr boats II home into omcns? And, nc.
cording 70 the number that passed
them in certain time. obtain answers
10 their que ,tions respecting their tut
ure? Did he rccollcct how. the very
night before their quarrel. he and she
had gone 10 the cliffs beyond the
manor. aud, when he had declared he
would let The fisher boats decide their
future for him. and the odd number
had answered Eyes" to his inquiry rs
To whether she was 10 20 with him 70
India or not, late boat had crossed
the long path Of moonlight that led
from the sea to the sky. and answered
mo" at the very moment In which he
was clasping her In his arms. overjoycd
nj even the mere idea Of her giving up |
her duties NJ home 10 60 with him? |
Nay. he could not remember. as she |
did, every sail on the tiny vessel As
they CLEANED for moment like q
sheet Of silver, and then passed away
into shadow. Nor could he recollect
Of the choir in the church rs they
practiscd their carols. wildly careless
Of tune and time rs they took advan-
tagc Of the choir mistress absence. II
so, he could never have left her as he
| had done.
The eight years had not altered Edith
| one whit. While she was still az home.
| the sister who was to have succeeded
her in her duties had married, and i
was Laura's husband with whom Edith
was sitting In the Inyalids' Corner,
taking Laura's place for the present. as
Laura's baby was only abou. fort
night old How could Edith know
that Mrs. Priestly was dead, and that
the Majors loneliness was due to the
fact Of his being widowcr? How
could Major Pricstly know that Edith's
heart was still his, and that one word
from him would suffice To make her
stretch out her hands 10 him, and take
back the troth he had broken SO many
years ago? As The quick days went on.
bringing Christmas nearer. Edith
longcd to speak. Major Priestly lay
there so loncly--so very, very lonely.
No one ever sat BY him. No one ever
came and asked him how he was.
Every morning his servant would ar
, range the rug and chair in the same
unsatisfactory manner. and after turn
ING the newspaper for his master where
only the advert cments were visible,
Notwithstanding strict orders to the
contrary, would disappear only to re.
, turn with the midday letters. And
! ! again. when the sun went down, hS
! would come with the white pony thai
r drew the chair back again 70 the hotel
! where the Major spent long, sad even
Q ings. thinking over the past.
Every word that Edith spoke TO he
: companion, that he occasionally over
: heard. made him more than ever con
Y yinced that she was married. And
although at times Dugald Scott hat
: tried to begin conversation with him
= when he was left alone. while Edit
Q sought for shells or tiny very late, o
4 very. very early flowers, that even q
e Christmas were to be found in Tn
= chimes. the angry state of mind woul
k not allow him to avail himself OF thes
4 advances, and he received them >
y coldly that even Dugald's good natuT
would not stand such constant rebufi'
c and he soon gave up trying TO max
le the Major speak. Ursa Major, Dugal
Il called him, and Edith would ofte
IA vince at the description her brothe1
le in-law gave Of his sulky companion
n and more than once she was going
a take him into her confidence, simpl
lc as means Of stopping his needles
A. talk. But the remembrance Of the wa
"a in which she had been Tilted kept h
o. silent. and there seemed small chant
nr Of the two lonely souls. who were ioni
h. ing to forgive and be forgiven, ev'
to speaking to each other again, whs
e. quite small thing occurred whit
lc might have been tragedy, and on
m ended. rs things ought 10 end. in ma
us rage bells.
liz The night before Christmas eve h;
t. been terrible. The great north wiz
". had risen when the sun set angrily b
w hind the lovely range Of hills to Il
to right Of the Invalids' Corner. al
Id came signing and moaning throu;
IN the pine trees that presently began
8; crcak and groan like the masts Of
lis ship at sea. Then a ragged gr'
lis cloud drifted by. and the rain can
OF swirling down through the air; the =
began to roar and lash the cliffs, nc
to foaming at their feet. then rolling
~ with an angry howl that could
ut heard All over the town. And. in Il
ne time than il takes to tell il. the who
ru atmosphere seemed turned into q b;
AL !le-iicld, whore the wind and the RI
We fought and strove together for m;
~ terry. The morning broke peaceful
his the blue sky. fcckcd with pulls
IL: white clouds. looked like April; a II
IL thrush sang Justify, and the robi
In seemed as vocal as larks. There "
no no one at all in the lnvalids' Corn
ad when the Majors pony arrived thc'
-as The damp Of the night before was
cc ing from the shore and cliffs. uns
ad the warm sunshine. and was drift
lat out 10 sea. where the fishing boz
ter were dashing past under the FRI
his breeze. as II in a hurry to make up
lad lost time.
c's When the pony was unharncss'
lad the Majors servant said:
red ~ must put you bit further ba
US. sir. These cliffs are like powder. 4
let. give directly there's any rain, !
might have nasty fall; for see.
irst the pony's feet have gone right u
md the mirc az the edge"
di- And 50 saying. he pushed the ch
inn back into the pine trees. and left "
lin the pony. while the Major lay ba