The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-31

urged.
She lifted her head. The blush OF fif-
teen came upon the cheek of fifty years.
Gould woman be mans wife and not
feel-like that? at isn't my fault" she
added, timidly; 81 can't help it; I can't
help being true to him."
The man of granite looked at her; his
eyes had the expression Of hurt boy;
he thought of his luxurious home, his
fortune, what people called his position,
we're SO small she did not think of them
at all. What was great? Nothing was
great to her-in all this world, in all her
solitary life, her coming age, her toll and
trouble, her anxieties and poverty and
growing need of daily tendernese-noth-
ing was large enough for her to see but
loyal human love.
Martin Derrick brought has hand
across the notes of "Annie Laurie as if
he clutched at something. He was jeal-
GUS Of that ghost.
81 will CO." he said; and so he said no
more, but hurried from her. In his heart
he meant to win her yet. He loved her
SO much that he could be patient. As
he opened the outer door the storm came
in with stampede. Feet seemed to fol-
low it-human feet. Annie Laurie
sprang.
"Ihe cry |" she said-"the cry There
is a cry. Doesn't anybody hear it but
me? Let me comel Let me byp'
Before his wits or his hearing came to
him she had sprung, and got herself past
him and out into the snow. She had
snstched long cloak from somewhere,
and was struggling to wrap it about her as
she ran, for it dragged, and the wind
took it and blew it away from her tall
figure like the mantle OF an Aurora on
Roman vase.
Feet, indeed there were, and voices.
In the advancing dark some of the quar-
rymen could be seer; they were moving
to and fro with the wasted force and pur-
pose OF people In great excitement. Some
OF them turned irresolutely, then came
pushing and rushing toward the music
teachers house. Some one cried:
"Annie Lauriel Call her. Send for
Annie LAUREL"
Washing ton Rock, with boy close at
his feet, and the Finlsnder painting be-
hind, dashed up.
"There's man in the pit-Satan's Pit
the old pitt
"Why, but he must be got out % said
Miss Laurie.
sect the men to work, and keep your
wits and don't bother the lady, Rock"
said Martin Derrick. Its no place for
her. Go back to the house, Miss Laurie.
I will attend to everything. Go.-Come,
Washington"
His voice had the masters ring; but
the man glanced at him with the sly
smile of unemployed opinion.
''She'll CO." he said, "she'd rather"
They were plunging on together
through the fast-drifting snow, for no
time had been lost in words. She paid
no more attention to Derrick's sugges.
ton than if it were snowflake that she
brushed away from her. She was used
to being with the quarrymen In their
mergencies- sickness, accident, what
ever it was; they expected her. Their
homes knew her, their wives loved her,
their rascals feared her, the children
kissed her; she was a part OF their life,
as delicate womanhood may become a
past of the life of rough manhood, as
love and wisdom and strength can be-
come a part of suffering and ignorance
and weakness. It was matter of course.
Nobody thought anything of it. II
wedding happened, or a burial, why,
where was Annie Laurie? If blast
exploded too soon and hit in the wrong
place, and somebody must hold him and
catch the last words, and then go and
tell the widow-send for Annie Laurie.
If man fell over disused pit on win
ter's night, sheer hundred feet into
the icy waters-Annie LAUREL Annie
Laurie !
"She comesl' called the Finlander.
He rolled on ahead, to show that he
could run as fast as any man, if he was
a foreigner. 81 see," he added with the
tone Of one who argued
that two eyes were therefore a super
fluffy.
"We've got her," cried the boy, who
had gained upon them all; we've got
Annie Laurie"
It was longer than it should have
been to Satan's Pit. 1t had never SEEM
ed SO long before. Derrick held her up
as they ran on together, but they wasted
no strength in speech; she knew she
would need it all. 1t was very dark
The lights in the lowly houses on the
lonely street shone family through the
snow. 1t was very slippery, for it had
glazed over. Beyond the village the
nethermost blackness of the
sea line yawned like chaos or chasm
into which the whole world must sink.
The rage of the full tide filled ocean,
earth and sky.
Yonder, nearer, more near, at last the
lanterns of the little group Of startled
quarrymen trembled upon the edge Of
fha dieucad NIT