The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-11-03
OUT OF THE DARKNESS
BY ELEEN BoLAHAN.

!, who had but lately been so careful lest
ruin my complexion, who had even slylS
sought mysterious herbs to remove tan and
freckles already accumulated, sat now
out upon the gray old rocks in the full OF
sunshine.
Not that | realized or cared whether il
was sunshine or shadow. They were ali
alike to me. 1t is, after all, by the inmosi
heart that sunshine and shadow which
affects us is made.
Perhaps was suffering. hardly know.
To this day there is kind of haze, sucl as
results from delirium, over the memory ol
that yellow June morning.
Below my station, great white waves
came rolling in and broke with moan
against the flinty shore. Dipping and glid.
ing over the opal-tinted, restless water,
were countless yachts, yawls, skffs and
fishing boats. Sea-guls circled and
screamed above my head, and seemed to
mock at me as they sped away-away into
the distance which vision could not pierce.
Afar off, around rocky cliff, lay the
fishing village. Like one in a dream
noticed its lofty spires. With dull, apa-
thetic eyes even selected certain one
the one which to this day stands as a
monument to the widest anguish my heart
has ever known Beneath it Law '1he
house of Cod where every Sabbath throngs
of rough, Supplemented fisher-folks as
sembled.
Apart from the village aud high above
its humble dwellings-as high as in ms
sight the master of i, was, alas !--rose an
other set of spires and towers. The spires
and towers of Rockledge.
was not worldly then. had no regard
for social advantages. That comes with
age and experience. TO youth and mex
perience Love is lord of all.
The grand, palatal walls of Rockledge
were therefore deaI to me, only because
they held my idol-Phllip Grey.
My idol God What a world of bitter
sorrow idolatry of human things can be il,
itself.
lie was going away. Yon white yacht,
anchored against the shore like restless
eagle yearning for fight, was his. How
well-how miserably well-I knew it.
How often, how happily, and needless Of
The good villagers head-shakes, had, it
borne us two afar from land, censure care.
But now, this very morning, ,hilet I was
here vaugely miserable, it was to carry him
from my sight, perhaps forever.
What black, dreary, useless, tuneless
set the future hours of my life must be.
A shadow fell across my feet. knew it
that broad figure, and sun-tanned, trust
worthy face.
Men, women-old or young-and little
children loved Dick Deane, captain of the
fishing smask Zellah. | loved him, too,
perhaps the fashion all women love
good. strong, true-toned manhood.
You mother told me would find you
here, Zellah. You will be burnt alive in
that hot blaze, little girl"
What odds?" shrugged my should,
ers. "What an easy taking off It would
be-to sit in the sun until it absorbed you.
Dick. ! wish it could be-"
"Nonsence! Llfe's too good a thing tc
wish it done with, little girl"
us itr Perhaps--to some. TO me.'i
with sudden, miserable outstretching OF
my hands, lifted to his my weary eyes
and cried, with world of desperate pas
sion, sit is the most loathsome thing. Oh
Dick. If could only die"
he took in his brown palms my brown
outstretched hands. Between his teeth h,
muttered an imprecation. heard it. ye
was not frightened. Dick and / were of
kind-the common fisher-folks our kin an(
quality. He had given me promise. Com,
what might, l knew he would rather di,
than break it.
'Be mercful, little girl" His voic,
was as hoarse as mine had been wild. "Re
member | love you, and YOU torture me
Do you know, zellsh, / often regret tba
promise made you, and am tempted
No, no" as ! cried out; don't be fright
ened. I win not break IT, But / ought {,
have shot him down as the villain he was
You had no father, no brother, only an in
valid mother, and
Don't criel. Cant you see | an
eating my heart out for him? that. villain
though the world term him, TO me is th
one man on earth, and will be until die
Pray God it may not be long"
He made scornful gesture. KNOWN
his provoeation, I forgave him then as d
now.
Il gave you credit for more pride and
sense, Zelab, than TO mourn after ma
who would have ruined you eternally
justice had not stepped in. A man VIII
amused himself and the world at your eS
, pense."
There WAS impatience-eyeI anger, in hi
deep tones. had fallen back after tina
first burst of passion into my former ap'
thelic state
80 the fisher-women yOnder say. WIS
odds9 hays lost all the world holds Il
me. II is mostly my own fault-fate-
what you viii. Pride and sense are for I'll
fortunately happy. They viii come to N
some time perhaps land can talk to otn'