The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-01-25
from the drawing room.
Ucxaod night .


She stepped in at the window. Az
she crossed the sill and entered the brill
iantly lighted room she turned. A
smile, frank, happy smile broke over
her face. It bespoke the merry side OF
her disposition; certain witchery that,
seen between moonlight and gaslight.
made me wonder for moment if she
were not veritable witch. In another
moment she was gone.
That night | dreamed. was again
in the park in Germany. It was night
the shunida noxp of Virgil-a night
suggestive ofcypress, of exuberant YER
dure, Of hanging bough and twisting
vine, all seen by the light Of waning
moon. The image Of former dream
walked beside me. The features of that
image had long ago faded from my MEM
ory Now they were the features of
Miss Ward.
would you kill him because you in
suited him? because you struck himY
The words came strangely, as out Of q
dead past
..No, no; l win kill no enc. I am no
longer boy. / thank God escaped
the dreadful result of that boyish folly.
1t was you who taught me what is true
courage: teach me now what is love.
My dream haunted me all the next
day. sat on a rock against which the
waves beat sluggishly. There was
something in the slow surging, the
broad stretch Of ocean view, the clouds
changing their fantastic shapes, that es-
pecially accorded with the condition of
my mind. Ny meeting when q youth
with the little girl in Germany, the
transition from state Of mind wherein
considered the taking of human life
quite an exhilarating affair, to one day
later, wherein was willing to risk my
own life rather than defend it from my
antagonist, began to seem strange to
me. Then my vow--it had suddenly
become menace. All these matters
kept passing and repassing while lis
tened to the ever splashing waves.
That evening met Miss Ward again.
expected 1t would be my last evening
at the seashore that summer. We sat in
the nook where we had sat together SO Of
ten before. Whether it was the prospect
of my departure or suddenly impaired
knowledge of the condition of my feel
ings do not know to this day, bat the
spell that had been gathering about me
for weeks appeared suddenly intensified,
Without intention, without forethought,
led on, 1t seemed, by sort of fatality,
suddenly burst into torrent of words
which had never dreamed of speaking
when joined her Ipoured out my feel
ings in a number of short, glowing SEN
tences- sentences never could have
spoken had prepared to speak them.
well remember her FIRST words after
had ceased to speak. They conveyed
to me the first knowledge Of how deeply
was stung.
"But your vow?' she asked. Fstarted.
had forgotten it. "Do you think it
would be right for you to break it?''
was silent.
"You must keep It."
Something told me that however /
might regard its keeping or its breaking
there was no Compromised be hoped for
from the only woman who would be a
temptation for me to break it.
koitc &t<.s& DCoA toJAAS Wtt&i hiJ Ctttttcos
which she had desired to examine again,
and which seemed to have curious
charm for her. AS she spoke the last
words she arose and handed it back to
me. / interpreted the act to mean a
parting.
II cannot. l will not" I cried pas
sionately.
'You can and you viii" she replied.
There was bright spark in her eye. The
other features Of her face indicated only
sympathy, kindliness.
ssGood-by," faltered.
"Rather say adieu," she said softly.
She took my hand, and pressed it kindly,
30 kindly that it almost seemed that her
regret was not entirely on my account.
II shall have word to say to you before
you go,v she added May see you here
tomorrow evening when the moon rises?"
Better go at once, replied bitterly.
"Shall see your she repeated.
bowed silent assent.
The interval between this parting and
the next evening, on which was to be
accorded one more interview, seemed in
terminable. believed her decision to
be irrevocable; but what lover will not
hope so long as there is desire? Still
wished it all over and steaming on G
train--anywher to get away from her
who had suddenly discovered was to
embitter my life. AS the hour Of our
meeting approached I paced the porch,
walking. cha6ng, waiting for-t the moon.
/ had consulted the almanac and set nv
watch carefully. Nevertheless it seemed
on this evening that all astronomical cal
culations were in error. The time would
not go, or 30 slowly that whenever ex-
amined my timepiece the hands seemed
scarcely to have moved. At last there
was Frightening of the heavens, but
ali! how slowl 1t gathered and deepened
and grew until, far out ON the dark ocean.
. tiny wave leaping higher than its fell
lows canght spark of gilt Soon others
We're touched by the gliding moon, and
at last broken stream of light shot from
the rising orb to the shore. When the
moon stood full out ON the horizon Iheard
a step behind me- turned. It was Edith
| Ward.
She was clad in the light drapery Of
midsummer. The moonlight fell on her
advancing figure softenin0 <ha ,v.,,nx