Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-03-04
SIDNEY Lorraine,
CHATTER II. CONTINUED.

CHATTER ~. CONTINUED.
The light smile had died away that
had been visible when she first spoke,
and she was quite grave as she accom-
panied him in silence fora few minutes.
And then, rs If shaking off the shadowy
anxiety: What a n-worshiper you
are" she said. "You are never happy
unless he is shining down upon you.
DO YOU feel the cold very muchy"
very much. only live in the sum-
mer."
You are not strong" she said, more
as If stating fact than asking ques-
ton.
Il am much stronger than 1 was" he
answered. evaSivcly.
She looked up at him qui ky, as il to
read the truth of his words in his face.
But she did not speak. Neither did he,
though he did not turn his eyes away,
but let them rest on hers.
She hesitated second, then gave n
quick little sigh. But, 1T is n pity for
a man not to be strong" was all she
said.
at makes their lives more difficult"
he answered.
They were standing now on the broad
terrace, up and down which peacocks
were Haunting, apparently well pleased
with the attention they were exciting,
Sydney in her white dress and large
shady hat, her grave eyes looking steadi-
ly over the meadows beneath, far away
to where shone the river in the sunlight.
Not once did she lift them 10 the man
standing beside her, with fair, uncover
ed head, his eyes following the direction
of hers.
at last: "Let us go down." he said.
"Down to the river. mean. We shall
not be able to do it very much oftener."
And Why" she interrupted, lifting
her eyes swiftly.
"Oh, the weather will change-or L
shall be gone. Everything comes to an
end"
Everything comes to the end" she re-
peated softly. rs that SO, l wonder?
1t is rather hard world, is itnot, when
one comes to think that that is the text
Of it,"
He did not answer.
Down by the river the glory Of the
sunset was beginning 10 fade, and
faint gray shadow seemed to haunt the
river. Tho only sign of life was tall,
black-robed woman's figure across the
water, vending her homeward way over
the fields-dark and distinct against the
y, u,
that ran about hither and thither search
ing for flowers, needless of its mother.
at is sad" Sydney said. Somehow,
the moment of sunset is always little
suggestive OF Observation-Disclosures
ness. One feels something has been
taken out of our life"
"Mademoiselle."
It was no answer to her words, no
common. on them that was coming.
The tones were little excited-a GER
tain thrill in them which seemed to
presage the coming Of something
special.
Sydney turned her head with a GER
tain consciousness of the unusualness
of his voice, and almost instinctively
took a step away from him, shaking off
her dreaminess as she did SO. But as
she so moved, before his next word
reached her, there rang through the still
summer evening air 4 shrill terrified
scream, that, before it had time to die
away, was caught up and echoed in q
woman's agonized tones, and then: 1T
is the child" Sydney cried. "Oh, see."
pointing TO where a small dark head
showed on the smooth current. Then
she was aware, in a misty, uncertain
fashion-for eyes and brain for the mo-
ment alike seemed clouded-that the
man beside her had moved forward To
the edge of the steep bank that formed
the border of the river, and that She
was it indeed she?-with hands tight
clasped about his arm, was implcring
him TO stay. Was it her own voice?
Not you. Oh, do not go!"
She felt the hold of her hands loosen
ed. 1t seemed 10 her she felt also a
light kiss upon them ere they were re-
down by her side, and she was standing
straight and tall on the bank, the sun
shining broadly down, and she realized,
all in moment, that she, in her white
gown, and that other black robed figure
opposite, were both alike standing, one
OF either side of the river, waiting and
praying for the life that was dearest TO
them on earth.
But though she felt it she did not
move, did not even clasp her hands,
could not even think. Past and to come,
even the present seemed vague and UNI
defined compared with the golden sun
light that was writing her love in letters
OF fire across the evening sky and green
meadows, even in a faint reflective fash
ion, on the surface of the flowing river.
He was across now-the little dark
headed child was safe in its mothers
arms, the DlOnue-nalred man was nOIU-
ing the mothers hand, and listening
doubtless to the words that her love
and gratitude prompted.
And now through the sunlight, lit
tie flame Of gold all about him, he had
turned quickly away toward the bridge,
that half mile off formed the connect
ing link between Hayes and the village
OF Morland.
And as he thus turned away, thought
and the power of movement seemed 10
return TO her.
Her first instinct was to try and real
ize what she had said and done in these
last few moments; her second, to hasten
toward her home and the protecting
presence that there awaited her. There
was something calming in the thought
of tie kind old man to whom her advent
was never unwelcOme.
So, obeying it after that moments
hesitation, she turned honeward, step
ping lightly over the short meadow
grass. The sun had now very nearly
get, and the low-lying fields were grow
ing gray and misty, the reds and yellows
slowly fading from the sky, and their
fuintar renaction frou tba broad riyar