Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-04-23

A dizzy feeling came orer her.
1t was not long before, slowly, little by
little, unit by unit, the city began to awake.
Here and there the shutters went down from
q shop, and at last the weary woman saw
all but facing her bakers window. She
entered the shop, bought some bread and
begged glass of water Not for own
sake, but for the sake of another, she was
called upon to eat and drink.
She ate her bread, and then somewhat
strengthened again began her pilgrimage
She crept through the streets until shs
reached the railway station. Here she as
the west would start.
She had long time to wait. She hid her
self in one corner Of the waiting roo n, and
sat like a statue But her brain was burn
ing and her pulse throbbing. A strange
sound, a fierce rushing sounl, was ever in
her ears; great wheels seemed turning and
turning in her head and if for moment
she dared to close her hot ana weary eyes,
she saw through the darkness a light, a
fierce light, red like blood and dra wing
nearer and nearer.
But in spite of all this sh, was able to
take her seat IN the train, able to exult that
she had found the strength to bear her so
far; able to pray that her strength might
| lHSU unIll SIG once more SIpbl Ill Lon ION.
Then all would be safe. No matter what
became of her then. The work was finished,
what did the future of the tool mat cr!
The tram left Munich, AMI rs IL It AIMED
out of the magnificent station, e woman
! yelled her face with her black shawl In
| spite of her conv ction that she had but
executed a pre- ordained task, she dar d not
look upon the spot where she had Knclt Oh the
previous night. Miles and miles pass he
fore she removed the somber covering from
her white worn face. As the train hurried
| on the wheels within her brain wLirle1
faster and faster, the rushing sound grew
stronger, and the fierce red light shone red
der, fiercer and nearer.
Save for such inquiries as the exigency
of the journey forced her to make, and such
speech as was necessary to procure the food
and drink which nature absolutely demand
ed, the woman spoke word during that
long journey back Except that now and
again she pressed them to her brow, in a
vain endeavor to stop the wheels which
whirled i'll her brain, her thin hands were
for ever clasped beneath her dark shawl
She sat and stared into vacancy. How
could she close her ewes when doing so at
once brought the red light before themf
For all she knew, that journey might have
lasted months or years Periods of time
| y,
Time, lay before her.
The long journey by land, the shorter
journey by sea, passed like protracted yet
incoherent dream. All she knew or carel to
know was that she speeding ON to
London. AT last the sound of English
voices, the sight of English faces, told her
that she had reached the last stage of her
Journey. Then she reused herself and made
her final preparations
She searched her pocket, and tore into
small bits every piece Of paper it contained,
SO that no written word could lie left to
give cew to her identity. Last of all she
, drew from an envelope a photograph Of
Beatrice She gazed at it long and passion
, ately, and then, with deep sigh, tore it
across and across, and threw the pieces to
the winds. She dared not even keep this
t poor relic of her darling.
t London at lastl Sarah Miller stepped
from the train and once more stood on the
platform which she had quilted rather more
i, than three days before 1t was now past
o'clock in the morning. Whittier should
1 she turn. She stood hesitating and Devil
3 dered.
? There was one thing more which she had
settled to do. What was it, Oh, those
: wheels, those wheels, will they never stop
r She pressed her fingers to her temples, ant
Q from her mind
All, now she remembered what it was
Q Her money, she must get rid of that. Sh,
had no further need Of money, now that SHIT
Q had reached the final goal. In her poke
r wero both German and English coins. Sh
a collected them, and creeping stealthily t
the box which stands awaiting contribution
t for some, doubtless, very deserving charity
1 she dropped in every coin that was upon he
, person. This done, she believed there wa
3 nothing left which could in any way shov
9 who she was or whence she came.
n She passed out under the archway, a soil
d tary, dark robed figure with head bent a
!. in grief She passed from the gastly whit,
o glare of electric lamps into the all but de
3 serted Strand. She walked some way u
. the Strand, then, without any definite aim
n turned to the right and by and by foun'
k herself ON the embankment.
4 Still she wandered on until she reache
l. Waterloo bridge. She went half way acros
/ it, then stopped short and gazed ovc tn
IS parapet into the river. But no thought @
= self-destruction had entered into her head
although the red light was still before he
IT eyes, the wild rush still sounding in her ears
y and those fearful iron wheels in her brai
d circling more rapidly than ever No, tn
st river had but for her the attraction which
s. smooth, calm, peaceful stream has for a
l. who are in deep distress. SO she looked an
.s looked; even craned over the parapet to pee
x into its somber, placid depths.
lie At that moment binding light flashe
lie upon her eyes and hand grasped he
n shoulder. snow none of tn nonsense,
~ said sharp voice-the voice o. policema
~, who had seen her dark form against tn
Ia stonework of the bridge. The woman turne
" her face to his and the anguish written upo
II it persuaded the constable that he had arrive
TO Just in the nick of time.
s. "River airs bad at night for such as you,
De he said in a kinder voice. "Now you G
straight home like good woman. pll see 20
If safe off the bridge You can go from whic
n end you like, but if you stay here any Longer