Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-03-20


the supporting oak. Nearer and nearer
came the slender, white figure, and the
Young man could see that it was a
woman's aud that over It's shoulders hung
long, dark hair. She moved slowly
across the white sand of the beach and
entered the little hollow.
Fo. a moment she paused, while the
heart of the watcher beat wildly. Closer
then the figure came, and as it came he
saw that the dark hair framed an intense
white face and dark, wide-open eyes.
When but a few feet away, she turned
her head, and the young man felt wave
of sadness roll over him. On the white
face was look of intense anguish.
Then the figure moved on, past the
paunt oak and out of the little hollow.
Suddenly she disappeared, and Carter,
with ouivering limbs, sank to the ground.
He would have followed her; but the
twenty -four hours fast, with which he
had prepared himself for his experience,
told on hin, and he was unable to move.
After some time his strength came
back, and he rose and walked to where
the figure had vanished. He saw only a
sudden fall Of the ground, and beyond,
a cottage built by some summer resident.
All the world seemed sleeping.
A few days later Carter was snatched
from his dreamy life by a party of young
fellows who had come down from the
city, bent on making the most of their
vacation. Their gaiety grated on the
nerves of the mystic, who had been
somewhat unnamed by his midnight ex
perience. Courtesy, however, forced
him to lend himself to all their plans
and to enter into all their boating, sail
ing and fishing parties.
On one of these he was presented to a
Miss Tremaine. Whether she were
pretty or not Carter could not tell; for
she wore veil, thick enough to conceal
her features. But she had low, pleas
ant voice. and wonderfully easy, un-
affected manner.
To Carriers remark that she had been
in none of the other sailing parties, she
answered that her health had not per-
mitted it.
He hoped it had been merely passing
indispositior.
eyes; only a cold"
The young man noticed a tinge OF con-
straint in Miss Tremaine's answer, and
that she Immediately left the subject.
The party had started out in the after
noon, for its members wished to sail
home by moonlight. The supper on
board was a merry one, and Carter was
surprised at the heartiness with which
he joined in the general gayety.
1T really is better for me- he de-
cided mentally, ''to see more of people"
As the moon rose the party grew
quieter; even the songs became less roll
licking. Suddenly the gay little dam
sci to whom Carter was talking saw his
face change, while he stopped in the
middle of his sentence.
why, what is itl" she asked.
But Carter did not hear her. He was
looking across the boat to where sat Miss
Tremaine. She had taken off her thick
veil, and the face on which the moon
shone was the face of his vision.
Unconscious of everything else, Carter
rose abruptly and left his little compan-
ion.
Miss Tremaine was sitting rather apart
from the others. AS Carter approached
she smiled up at him and moved little,
in mute offering of the seat beside her.
As if in dream, the young man took it.
1t did not occur to him to talk; be merely
looked at the white face which he had
seen under such strange circumstances.
Presently he became aware that Miss
Tremaine had been talking to him, and
that she was waiting for an answer. But
what could he sayl He had heard moth
ing.
'T-I beg your pardon" he stam-
mered.
Miss Tremaine laughed easily.
"You have not heard one word l
said"
The merry laugh broke the spell that
lay over him.
Excuse me; but you will think me
very rudeAbut your face reminded me
of one l Aad seen before, and l was
itc
$50 l per- lived
Seeirg the young mans evident con-
fusion, she laughed again, and good
naturedly helped him out of difficulties.
81 wonder if you have as much trou-
Die as I, in locating people. If you do,
am sorry for you"
But, during the whole of the conver-
sation, which lasted until the landing,
Carter was conscious of an odd sensation
Of unreality.
After this the meetinA of the two
we're frequent. They found much in
common to discuss, and they also found
hat long walks together on the hard
,o..1 r A l. r. Ill 70