Wichita eagle., 1889-04-28

WAE GWN cleaning, and softl.
NV :, TX q touched the pink and
MI& <NMsW pearly ears of Gwen
M4&sA AG1ES dolen Gabrielle
My&$E1sA3sAAG6S Gerster, as she stood
MJEtEfHHHaagNN} listening by the turn
pike gate for the re
turn of the meek and loving cows. Neare
came the sound, and louder grew the tlnkl'
Of the bells. Twilight grew apace into dusk
and the crlckets and lightning bugs sans
and flashed In the darkening, dewy air. TIT
old cottage was dimly outlined against TIT
mountain side, and the tallow candle flick
cred through the window pane. Back ant
forth the form of her mother passed th'
door and window. Tired Father Gerster sa
doing by the chimney, slowly, UNCONSCIOUS
ly putting curling rings of smoke from hi
briar-wood pipe Never was nature more
beautiful in quiescent perfection than OF
that July night. The day had been hot and
dry adown the valley, and in the cities Of
the plain. Gwendolen stood immovable al
an incomparably sculptured statue Of 8
Venus de Medici. She did not appreciate
theloveliness, but thought only of the loneli
ness of the summer night on the mountain.
Truly it was lonely life for such girl
woman to lead, with no confidential friend
save her faithful mastiff. By day and by
night Old Tiger was her constant friend
and solace Of her hours of utter solitude
His big brown eyes were fixed upon her,
and every breath, every heaving of the
breast, each motion of the lips, and her
every movement were worshiped by him,
She felt that to Tiger, at least, she was an
object Of love and respect But nameless
Law fnnfy eli n
her that summer evening, and over her
sweet features there came a gloom in
describably sad. Who can fathom the bot
tomless pit of soul that longs for love.
There is neither depth or breadth, nor
boundary of any kind for the flight of the
thoughts Of a soul like that Of Gwendolen
Gabrielle Gerster.
Suddenly from out the gloom there came
dull, deadened, regular sound like the far
off beating of heart. Nearer it came, and
louder. What is ita She believes, yet
dares not hope, that it is the sound of the
galleping of horse. Clearer, clearer,
nearer, nearer it comes; it is, it is the
speeding of horse and now its neigh is
heard. He is snuffng the nearness OF
habitation. There in the dense shadow, q
mile away, is the form of man and beast
Nearer, in plain sight; how grandly he sits,
and how proudly comes the thoroughbred
bearing him. Is it Prince in disguised
Surely it must be one of the great, if not
one of the good of earth. How beautiful
lnen are to the untutored mind of woman
hood.
"Whoal Ellzol Whoa there, boy. Good
evening, miss. May ask if l am on the
right road to PickWlcktownl"
Good evening, sir" she responded
''You are ten miles OF the road, and going
wrong, too"
''Then may rest here tonight? have
lost my way, and it is impossible for me to
find it in this strange country. May stop
here until mornings Any place will do for
me, if 7 may picket nay Elko safely"
II will ask papa Wait here" she said.
'Whatl' responded Father Gerster, as
he reused himself from his reverie "A
stranger wanting to stop all night Not
for the world. I never keep dodgers, and
neither man nor beast shall stay on my
place, not for moment. Tell him to be.
gone.r
Il pray you, kind sir, do not turn a
stranger away in the night, and in strange
country. Have mercy on my poor animal
if not on me.' And as he spoke Captain
Ka,ghtly stepped into the candle-ight by.
the door-sill, and bowed very low, with hat
in hand.
''Why, papa, Of course you wouldn't turn
a gentleman away under such circum.
Stances pleaded Gvendolen.
"Silence, child. never spoke an unkind
word to you, but if you plead for such
thing as the admission of a stranger be
meath my roof, shall become harsh and
cruel. 1t is my will that not for single
hour shall stranger lodge here. BECOME
Sir" Rudely and gruffly Father Gerstei
spoke, and touched his ever-ready revolver
as he gave his order to begone.
Gwendolen burst into tears. Mother
Gerster interceded and pleaded for the
handsome stranger, but the old man was
resolute, and the stalwart stranger bowed
low as he turned and disappeared into the
darkness. Presently the sound of the neigh.
ing and trampling was again heard, as he
galloped down the mountain side, retracina
his way to the forks of the road in the val.
ley, or else seeking a more hospitable roof
for the night.
Father and Mother Gerster soon foreo,
the incident and slept soundlg. Gwendolep
Gabrielle was never so wakeful. Her rude
pillow was bathed with tears. Think, think,
think, until it seemed that she would 90
mad; but she could not recall where norun.
der what circumstances she had seen thai
noble face. Was 1t in dream? No, some
where, and at some time, she had seen him
She felt that he gave her smile and token
of recognition as he departed Who could
he bef What was thata Is there not
sound out there in the gloomi Up, quietly
up she raised the curtain. The moon was
through tho clouds. Yes, there
in the garden is man. He is digging. he
stops, stands up, the light strikes his face.
1t glitters in the moonbeams. He ties
strap to either end and swings it over his
shoulder There is sound in the room be-
low. Father Gerster is rising He is dis.
turbed. Gwendolen raises the window.
making considerable noise. and calls out
into the air: Father GSrster, are you up?r
The stranger hears, he speeds across to the
copse and disappears. The cottage door is
opened and Father Gerster steps out into the
moonlight. His rife is in the hollow of his
elbow. He scans the yard and peers into
the gloom. Gwendolen, from above, calls
down: Father Gerster, is that you down
therea heard a noise, what is it,"
Il, too, heard a noise, Gwendolen. / fear
your handsome stranger has not entirely
left Us. If l might but see him, this
good and trusty rife should speed him e
Heaven"
He retires again. All is quiet. An hour
passes away. Out into the moonlight again
stands the stranger. He beckons and
Gwendolen bows. Lightly she drops from
the window. Why has she such confidence
n that strange mani She knows not They
meet Together they glide away down the /