Daily Republican., 1886-07-30
Woman's A'onement,
BY GUINEvERE

An early September evening In the
Catskills. On the highest peak of the
u ountains stood Glencrag, a veritable
''house in the Clouds" and upon its
rugged walls the moonlight fell with
radiance that was not intercepted by
towering cliffs or crags, a radiance that
never was shed upon the lehser heights
or shadowy Rlens beneath.
Roy Csrlyon walked slowly the length
of the veranda and back again, and as
be walked the sense of irritation and
disquietude that had urged him 10 seek
the outer world vanished under the in
tluence Of the mystto beauty, the aroma
and calm OF the summer night.
He was the only person visible with
out the walls OF Gleacrag The spacious
hotAi parlors were Illuminated, and an
impromptu concert was In progress; the
brilliant thronR Of guests Listened and
enj oy cd, chatted during the intervals,
and gave no thoughts to the moonlight
till one sweet voice broke out into melc-
dious entreaty:
"Hapd III hand let ne wander together,
While the stars light our way from
above,
And alone. mid the M moonlight and roses,
We will learn the sweet lesson Of
love"
The worcs were commonplace enough,
the sentiment one that lad been set to
hundred tunes or more, but there was
something ia the young voice that
touched the heart and stirred the tender
emotions
Roy Carlyon started at the first sound,
and drew close To one of the low, lace
hung windows; the evening breeze had
made narrow parting In the light
hangings, and through 1t he saw the
face OF the singer.
1t was just such face rs one would
expect having heard the voice of Gertie
May o, girlish, delicate and soulful.
The auburn hair YVES drawn back
! from the wide brow to q heavy coil low
! in the neck, and adoraed by spray of
white fowers.
! There we're clusters OF the bell like
blossoms among the mazarine draperies
she wore, and as Roy watched her from
his psf at the window, he COLE pared
her to u picture he had once seen, in
which gifted Spanish artist had ideal
lied Spring az a maiden in floating
azure robes, with disheveled hair err
| twined with blossoms 81 d myriad of
birds encircling her head.
What change came upon Roy Carl
yon's face as he watched ard medita-
ted. All the listlessness and cy n icit III
vanished; his lips smiled, his eyes
frightened, his gaze, riveted on that
blue iraped figure, grew soft and ten
der and earnest; he was absorbed
lost.
Thrice had light football passed him
and he never heard; he did not move
When it ceased beside him, unit. the
bretze flung fold of snowy gossamer
over his arm; then he started and reali
zed for the first time that he was not
alone.
AT first be saw but the drift of white
robes, the CLEAN Of golden hair; then, as
his eyes became accustomed to the hazy
light, ht sbrsnk with cry.
| AS nths!"
Following the bewilderment and SUI
prise, came look Of horror and scorn.
"Why are you here. " he demanded
in low, intense tones. II thought we
had parted forever. Is It not enough
that you robbed me of honor and har-
piness? My God! woman. the sight Of
you nearly drives me madl Why
conld you not let the past be buried?"
He turned aside and covered his face
!
had ceased; hut the woman beside hin
spt ke and I'll ere was nothing in her
low, II usieal accents TO warrant the
shudder that thrilled HIS frame at ths
fret word.
Goa, Roy, be merciful; you DO no,
understand ina / have not come tc
mock you or TO MAXI you miserable
come ro--beg Tor pardon
"Parior-you? All! you have heard
q iny prosperity. you wish 10 gain
Sop. you mi.judge me. | tell you
aIn Tepeptant. / wish 10 make
iamsnds for the wrong did you--,o live
u b tier life. | was foolish, reckless
on! Roy ny sufferinRs have sure
~iped out my sin. If you knew he.
much have endured. Look at me am
not changed? Is there no impress o
misery upon me-"
SIZE raised her face in the mooniigh
and stood ri aid and client; but moo
light is deceptive, ana does not rsvoa
the shadows and lines on human
'ceuuteuauc
Ros Carlyon saw only brilliau
I little figure In white gauze and SILVER,
pretty painted face with eyep tina
might be earnest, but lips that he knew
were false.
"You co not believer" cried the VIC
map, clssping her hands. "Oh, how
shall convince You. how redeem th,
faith l lost?"
"You can never hope for that" h
answered sternly.
'Rey, you will setd me from youf
Oh, DO not, do not Try me; let M,
prove my sincerity. The worst crini
nal when he truly iepents, should b,
igiven chance of redemption. Must |
bs denied? Roy, love you"
How dare you? I.ove!-the word Il
a PROCLAMATION from your lips Enough
of this; let us part
She stood one moment in silence, theI
leaned forward and clutched the lac
sindow draperies that huttered in tn
breeze.
"Look you love her, the girl VIII,
was singing. / read IL in your eyes
You would be kinder to me did no on,
stand between US. She is my rival"
Roy grew white TO his lips and hi
brown eyes gllttered.
"Do not speak of her!" he said II
: tones of suppressed passion. "Rival
, A woman who is despised can have n
rival save in one more INV srthy thai
he rself."
"But you do ret deny you love- hei?
NV hether do or do not, it can max
no difference 10 you"
e He turned away, but the figure il
gauze was kneeling at bis feet, with he
= jeweled hands closed upon his arm.
= Roy, Roy, for Heavens sake, b
i kind 10 me! Remember what We wer
. once to each other; think what / hay
I gone through. You know l must hav
: suffered. or l would never have crushe