The morning call., 1892-01-03

seemed given me here by which / could
accurately divine a fact or circumstance on
merely a moments reflection or perception.
The singular degree to which possessed
this faculty served me in good stead Of
actual experience.
At length l stood in patch of moonlight
between the trees, and looked UP at the sky.
There was not a star in the darkly blue eX-
pansc. strange world Ny brain seemed
to swOOn for moment l had faint recOl-
lection of the devotional acts had been ac-
custOmed to practice when alive, but my lips
were elOsed-calmly and finally closed, 1t
seemed.
My head dropped forward, and for long
stood staring at the ground, while the
mountains, the trees, the shadow-fecked
turf slowly circled round me in rhythm
with the swell and fall Of the wind.
After time became gradually conscious
OF far, faint thrObbing sound that REQUIRED
regularly and seemed to come nearer toward
me. On, on came that tranplng sound.
and soon / recognized it as the beat of
horses h0ofs-eyen powerful strides that
were approaching the spot where / was
standing with fateful directness. few
moments ago | had tried to suppicate for
companiOnship, deliverance, but now at the
approach Of some one toward me-for | felt
that the horse was guided by human hand
"a greater fear than that caused by my iso-
lation seized me.
The reverberating hoof-strokes seemed to
proclaim calamity.
Motionless, l deliberately awaited who
ever was coming, experimenting that fly,
hide, evade as might try 10 do. still would
that coming fate oyertake, discover me-
A GALLoP.
With loud, re-echOing clamor the great
horse galloped forward beneath the lofty
trees, and the ground yibrated with the
mighty passing tread.
AT last / saw them, horse and rider-the
horse magnificent brown animal with
glossy coat that shone In the moonlight; the
rider man enveloped in a black cloak, his
face shaded with wide. dark hat. My
eyes, forced to the strongest and fullest
vision, were rlveted on the rider. Who
who-where-surely ] knew himP Surely /
could recognize that peculiarly fine, easy
figure, that proud anu supple action Of the
head? An. j knew him, | knew him SO
then he of all those | had known In that
other world far away, he was come, or sent,
to me in this strange and yet unknown life.
Names signify nothing. | could never
have recalled his name, even had | speech,
as he refined his splendid exercised horse be-
fore me; but ah, his presencel In that old
world agOne we had lOyed-he and las
only an earnest man and woman can love in
their youth and strong, sensitive human
nature-to the death. But a fatal clrcum-
moral code in that world Of which we were
atoms, debarred him from taking me to
blmself-a hasty marriage with a young
girl OF untried character, who proved faith
less and deserted him. All this had
occurred before | knew him. and at the time
Of our meeting he knew not whether she
was living or dead, and long and dilgent
search subsequently failed to reward him
with views of any sort concerning her. Yet,
he loved me, and /, thoughsnOt knowing if
he was free or not was OvermasteTed, and
he discovered It,
the sweet privilege as perhaps not lawfully
ours; but neither had word or thought for
any one else.
A clasp of the hands, meeting of the
eyes, full of the hearts hunger and sorrow,
were our only and rare associations. Now
we two alone had come together in a new
world-a world of our own, perhaps-vthere
old codes and conditions did not rule, where
new life was open to us. The heavy sense
OF foreboding that lay upon my senses be-
fore discovering the identity of the horse
man now left me entirely, and, instead. |
was filled with sweet, calm delight.
There, in the moons soft splendor, lifted
my face to my lover.
UP AN INCLINE.
He stopped down from his high seat and
offered me gauntleted hand. | put nv
hands in his and he lightly lifted me into his
arms, seating me on the powerful shoulders
of his horse. Pressing me to his shoulder.
my lover shook his rein and the superb.
dOcile animal sprang on. again. lay still
against his breast and never looked to see
whittier he was taking mel trusted him
perfectly. Presently | could notice that our
steed seemed to be galloplng up steep and
stony incline as il ascending the mountain,
Still did not move or look. And all this
while neither of us had spoken word to
In fhnr mn 20 Ill
speech never we're
Up. up the steep the noble horse mounted
sturdily. and at length halted. MY lover
set me gently back from him, and looked
around. We were beside fallen archway
Of the old mountain ruin Below us spread
the vast tree-grown plain, around US were
the mountains The strange moon shone
c0ldly on the wind had ceased.
We descended to the ground, and leaving
the horse within the archway crossed a
gravelly Enclosure and reached the walls OF
the ruin. low. dark hall or gallery
opened toward US, and my lover entered
first, striding ahead with resounding steps,
his spur clanking on the old stone floor 1
followed him as a shadow follows its BODY
as something submissive, inseparable, re-
Elective. lie led on down the hall til he
arrived at the last OF the several low, heavy
doors placed at either side of the hallway.
After many efforts and much noise of un-
barring and unbolting, he finally unfastened
and pushed open the great door.
My lover had not once looked while adj
vancing down the lonely old gallery to see
whether | was accompanying him, nor had
he seemed to notice that / had stopped be-
side him while he worked with the rusty
and intricate fastenings, yet now that the
way was open, he turned toward me as one
confident OF finding the object desired in
readiness, and drawing me to his breast
with strong arm pressed on my lips a kiss
THAT was as the full, sweet communion of
one soul with another, then gently handed
me into the strange room. The massive
door closed loudly after me, there was re-
newed the noise with the bars and bolts
without; then heard my lover walk away