The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-12-08
CONCEDED.

VI IlO IlOIIOM uhMll--tiiS INV HlllS
of new year--gave themselves to the
placed repose of slumber, uncaring
that the friend who had given them
of his best and utmost should draw
his last weary breath while they,
ungrateful and ungrieving, dreamed
through his dying throes.
The purple CLEAN of downy,
moonless night drew its velvet folds
close about the quiet rcctory-the
quieter little church near by about
the winter grass Of the natural lawn;
about the crisp foliage of the magno-
liza trees nesting close to the gray
church walls.
In the wide oaken hall at the rec
tory, dim night lamp sulked with
steady misty beam placed there by
mother-hand to light home the first
born from his New Year eve revels !;
revealing in its vague glow the gray
walls with their black-framed en-
cravings, the polished floor with its
lamb-skin rugs, the wide winding
stairway with its lustrous balustrade.
1t was like dream picture, so still,
so dim; and like dream form,
presently, some one--a slender,
cloak-curtained some one came
stepping down the shallow stairs.
At the first landing she paused,
looked over and listened. A white
hand clasped the dark cloak at her
throat like milk-fair pearl. Two
lips, pale pink as the inner surface
Of sea shell, were gravely pursed
together with anxious yet subtly
mirthful curves and two eyes,
dusky as the night, yet lit as the
hall was with lurking glow, peer
ed open-lidded and eager from Il
face as warmly pallid as the chaste
head carved on pink cameo
1t yet lacked thirty minutes Of
twelve; and, mindful of the fleeing
moments of that half-hour Of grace,
Audrien tippel on delicate feet on
down the second flight Of steps,
through the hall to the front door.
1t had been left unlocked for John !;
and for fear that, coming in her alb
sence, John might fasten her out,
she slid the key from its socket and
turned the bolt and stepped forth
into the velvet darkness.
Waiting few moments ON the
porch till her wide eyes had learned
to penetrate u space round her in
the gloom, she went cautiously yet
hastily forward. The stars were
shining hopefully at their far-away
posts-the air was balmy as only
southland winter air can be-the
scent of wet grasses and persisted
leaves inspiring its stiffness with
pungent fragrance.
Audrien had set her hurried foot
upon the grass--facing churchward,
when sudden sound, football,
smote upon her attuned ear. Some
one was coming from the gate-she
could detect the vague blur OF his
moving figure against the dense
blackness behind him.
In trice she had sped to meet
him, was grasping his muscular arm
was speaking in painting, hushed
whispers.
John I'm glad it is you. Ssh |!
come with me. Wait, I'll tell you.
Tonight, when VIII was here, you
know, he and ! got to wrangling Gas
usual and he vowed-because Pm
so contrary and things of that sort
that | did not love him /; and then
when l only laughed, derisively at
first, you know, he turned on me in
fury and said | did love him, |
loved him desperately that | need
not try to hide it, for as surely as
the bell of that church there would
ring in the new year tonight, Just
so surely loved him,
And was angry, John, and re-
torted. We'll, if that was his test,
we would abide by it, and as surely
as the bell rings to night ! love him
John-the bell shall not ring Come
with me"
The two figures hurried then, as
noiseless as bats, across the dripping
grass and into the church porch.
"Herc is the key" said the girl,
still in that excitedG mirthful whis-
per. 81 wonder i'll can find the lock-
All how dark, John she caught
his arm again as they stood in the
black, chill vestibule-''I must be
quick, for in less than half hour
the sexton will come to ring in the
new year Why did not bring u
Candida lantern-a match ?
Any matches, John y
mo he said in still whisper
II ,,,os tba only sound he had inter-