The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-01-31
THE SHADOW OF A SIN.
BY MRS. E. BURKE COLLINS.

The sun setting trailed It's dying
crimson over the shlmme'ing wa
lers Of the pretty river, oyer the
dainty boat floating slowly down
stream, and cast a faint tinge OF
pink athwart the pale colorlesS
face OF The woman in the boat
with a heap OF snowy water-lIlies
at her feet, one slim white hand
trailing over the glistening water
as the boat glided along. Alma
Dane might live for years, but she
would never again view such a
perfect scene, or feel within hel
heart that strange, sweet peace.
Doctor Cameron laid down the
oars at length, and let the boat
float down the stream, Ills dark,
earnest eyes fixed upon The small
face 0llhe woman before Inn.
"We can never forget il, can we,
Miss DaneW lie asked, at length.
She started, ana was it the last
rays OF crimson sunlight, or did
she blush at the sound Of his voice
and the deep eyes fixed upon her
with such eager intensity?
"No, shall never forget" she
said, softly, and the gray eyes
dropped from before his eager,
passionate gaze, and the white
hand trembleI a little. 81 was
thinking of Undine," she added,
irreIeyantlY.
lie smiled-iL was wonderful
how that smile, rare and sweet,
lighted up the mans grave, dark
face. 1t was like a burst OF sud
den sunshine through a bank Of
grim, dark storm clouds.
Poor Undine ~ he sighed, "In
finding her soul she found doubt
iul blessing. She would have been
better off without it,"
Miss Danes big gray eyes met
Mark Cameron's eager gaze, and
they dr. oped shyly once more.
"Heresy - she cried, lightly,
shaking The water from her little
white hand and drying it upon a
lace trimmed cObweb of a hand
kerchIef.
His eyes were upon her with
such a deep, intent expression that
she found herself trembling under
it.
"Alma r'-his voice shook a tri-
fle IN spite OF his efforts 10 Le calm
-"lhis is our last boat ride logeth-
er, l suppose" For l 90 lo-mor-
row."
80 morrow? Oh, Mark y
"That name-his gwen name
slipping from her tongue quite un.
awares. 50 often had she called
him by it IN her thoughts that che
spoke it now and did not know il.
Eyes, to-morrow"-gravely-'It
must be, Oh, Alma, if you knew
all! Listen, | have a story TO tell
YOU. my friend! You are my
friend, are you notl True, it ii
only three months since We first
met, but somehow | think / must
have known you ln'anOIher world
Ia stale of pre- existence. When
| first laid my eyes upon you-at
the church festival IN the town
yonder-my heart gave a sudden
leap. | recognized you-do not
smile, Alma-and | sad to myself
the one fair woman under the sun
for me- And yet, Alma,I can not
ask you the question that fingers
upon my tongue, because there Is
a reasOn--a good reason. Alma
look me in the eyes and say, MAY
Heaven help you, Markl'
She glanced into his face and
faltered forth the words that he
had spoken. Tears were in heT
eyes-lhe red lips quivered. Whal
was it that stood between these
twog Something-the black shad'
ow of an awful wronel
Doctor Cameron bent his stately
head, and as he piled The oars once
more softly, hOmeward bound. he
went on speaking IN a low, gentle
voice.
"Miss Dane, answer me TIN.
question. Suppose that you loved