The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-25
CHAPTER XIV.
A EI-NREAM IL Tie COTTAGE

1t seemed as If the DAYS of my boyhood
had come back 10 me. Never since then had
l experienced such fee ings as now filed my
heart. for with her fading they had faded
and during the years of our separation had
passed my time with tolerable tranquility; !;
but now that she had been so miraeuIously
restored to me. the old fire was rekindled in
my soul, and became another man.
Her very presence in the house that night
drove away all thoughts of sleep. ] paced
my room with restless footsteps, and when
the dawn broke hurried off to the shore
What a change had come! The wind had
died, the sea was like glass, and the only
record left of the storm was the wreckage
which had been cast upon the sands. Early
as l was, there were others before me, gaz-
ing eagerly seaward, and searching along
the cliffs for a prize.
| took walk round by the mine, and hav-
ing made hasty inspection, hurried back
TO the cottage, eagerly hoping, yet half
dreadiDg, to see Madeline. But / was disap-
pointed. Ny uncle had gone to his work
My aunt was busy, but alone. [ looked
round the kitchen, and my heart gave a
great throb. After all, the events of the past
night were real. There, hanging beside the
fire, was the cIoak-a rich mantle of silk and
fur-which had been clinging round Made
lines form when l took her from the wreck.
Inquired eagerly for Madeline. 'Haye
you seen her, aunt?' | asked. Ifs she well?
How does she lookp'
L suppose there was something peculiar in
my manner for my aunt gazed at me Curl
ouSly, and said:
''Who be she, Hugh? Dost knaw who she
be?'
s'Yes," replied; "she is Miss Madeline
Graham. She was at school with me long
ago Just before my father died she left,
and have never seen her since.
At that moment the door opened, and the
figure of the black woman appeared In the
light of day she looked foreign indeed-a
slight, delicate girl, shiyering with the cold
of our raw climate. ! asked her how her
mistress did. She made no answer, but
stared vacantly at me; and l then discovered
that she knew no language but the one in
which she had spoken 10 Madeline. l look
ed at my aunt and she understood-she went
herself into the bedroom to see how her
guest was getting on.
She was away only few minutes. yet it
seemed to me an hour. When she came back,
she smiled at my anxious look.
1T be all right, lad, it be all right, she
said. ''fhe lady be nawn the worse O her
bed to-day. She be pratty creature, Hugh,
and rich, darsay; for her fingers be cover
ed WI dawmond rings"
All that day, overcome by the fatigue
through which she had passed, Madeline re-
manned in her chamber. while |, utterly I'M
able TO work, hung like restless spirit about
the house. The next morning she awoke re-
freshed: and when We three sat at breakfast.
she astonished us al by appearing amongst
us, fully dressed. and looking bright End
we'll
Her advent caused general exclamation
my aunt ran forward to her assistance; my
uncle placed our most comfortable chair be-
side the fire: while /. dumb and powerless,
stood in the background doing nothing.
! Madeline. Could this be Madeline?-the lit
tie girl had dreamed OF all these years,
whose hands had been covered with passion
ate kisses and marked with my tears, and
who had even wept little herself at parting
with me; could this be the same?-this giOri-
Gus creature, with dreamy black eyes, warm
brown skin, and glorious black hairi her
form was tall and straight as a willow: she
moved ike queeni
As all her own clothes had been lost in the
wreck, she wore dress of my aunt; over il
she had thrown the cloak which she had
worn on the wreck. and which was now
thoroughly dried. She came for ward Ian
guidly, leaning on the shoulder of her black
attendant, and sank down into the chair
which my uncle had placed for her, while
I the native began crying and kissing her
hands. They spoke together in the foreign
tongue, then Madeline raised her eyes and
/ looked quietly around All this while | had
been standing in the background, longing.
yet dreading to speak to her; for saw clear
! ly enough that to her all the past was forgot
ten: but now. as her eyes swept the room
and finally rested with look of recognition
ON my face, felt the hot blood mount to my
| temples.
| sAm Mistaken she asked, softly; did
| you not take me from the wrech?v
| bowed my head. In a moment all her
languor disappeared. the old IRE darted from
her eyes. the old flush slIffused her cheeks
she was the Madeline of my childhood once
more. She looked at her hands, with one
quick movement pulled off the most valuable
Of her rings and held it toward me
"WiIl you not take it?'' she said. with q
| bright smile. You saved my life. y
/ Her whole manner was that of a lady
speaking to an inferior. Under my excite
ment hardly noticed it Scarcely knowing
| what I did, sprung forward and took the
ring; them eagerly kissing her hand, placed
/ It again upon her finger.
Madeline = said. ssdon't ron know mel
| Madeline Miss Graham! !''
She looked at me more critically, ana
shook her head.
Shave you forgotten Munster ss I said.
and Hugh TreIawney
II expected wild ouf1prse g =
SiS.,ooins11I S6c only smiled md. win