Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-02-11
CHAPTER XXyIII.
-HE STRANGER on TIE SAND!

The tide was coming in, the sun setting
over the sea: the crimson and golden light
seemed to be reflected in each drop of water
until the waves were one mass OF heaving
rOSeate gold; a sweet western wind laden
with rich, aromatic odors from the pine
woods seemed to kiss the waves as they
touched the shore and broke into sheets of
beautiful white foam. 1t was such sunset
and such a Sea-Such a calm and holy still
ness. The golden waters stretched out as
far and wide as the eye could reach. The
yellow sands were clear and smooth; the
cliffs that bounded the coast were steep and
covered with luxuriant green foliage. Pau
line Darrell had gone to the beach, leaving
Miss Hastings, who already felt much bet
ter to the enjoyment Of an hours solitude.
There was Il small niche in one Of the
rocks, and the young girl sat down in it, with
| the broad, beautiful eXpanse Of water spread
| out before her, and the shining waves break
! ing at her feet She had brought book
with her, but she read little: the story did
not please her. The hero Of it was too per
| feet With her eyes fixed on the golden,
| heaving expanSe Of water, she was thinking
| of the difference between men in books and
men in real life. III books trey We're all
| either brave or yicious-ejther very noble or
| very base.
She passed i'll review all the men she had
| ever known, beginning with her kind-heart-
| ed, genial father, the clever humori>t artist.
| who could define mans character i'll an
epigram so skiIIfuliy. He was no hero of
romance; he liked his cigar, his glass; and
| his Jest She thought Of all his rugged. pct
uresque artist-comradts, blunt of speech,
| honest of heart, open-handed, generous, self
a
rade's prosperity, nor did even their greatest
enemy an evil turn; yet they were not heroes
OF romance. She thought Of Sir Oswald
the stately gentleman Of the old school, who
! had held his name and race so dear, vet had
/ made 50 fatal an error i'll his marriage and
| will. She thought OF the captain, handsome
| and polished in manner, and her face grew
| pale as she rememb ared him. She thought OF
| Lord Aynsley, for whom she had a friendly
| liking, not unmiXed with wonder that he
| could so deeply love the fail, Soft-v0iced, inane
! Lady Darrell.
Then she began to reflect how strange il
| was that she had lived until now, yet had
| never seen a man whom she could love. HeI
| beautiful lips curled in scon as she thought
! of it.
IF ever l love any one at al" she said to
| herself, sit must be some one whom feel to
| be my master | could not love Il man who
! was weak in body, soul, heart, or mind. /
! must feel that he is my master; that my soul
| yields to his; that [ can look up to him as
! the real guiding star Of my life, as the guide
| Of my actions. II ever [ meet such man,
| and VOW to love him, what will my love do
| for me? [ DO not think | could fall in love
with a booll-hero either; they are too coldly
| perfect | should like hero with some hui
| man faults, with touch of pride capable OF
being reused into passion"
Suddenly, as the thought shaped itself in
her mind, she saw tall figure crossing the
sands-the figure of a man, walking quickly
| He stopped at some little distance from
| the cliff, and then threw himself on the sand
| His eyes were fixed on the restless, beautiful
! sea; and she, attracted by his striking mascu-
| line beauty, the statuesque attitude, the
| grand, free grace of the strong limbs, the
| royal carriage of the kingIy head, watched
| him. In the Louvre she had seen some mar
velOus statues, and he reminded her OF them.
| There was one of AntinOus with a grand,
noble face, royal head, covered with clus-
| tiers of hair, and the stranger reminded her
| of it.
She looked at him in wonder. She had
| seen pi:tuesQue-looking men-dandies, fOps
| but tbs was the first time she had ever seen
noble and agnifcent-Iooking man.
eff his soul is like his face" she thought
! to herself, she is a hero''
| She watched him quite uncOnSciOusly, adj
miration gradually entering her heart.
Il should like to hear him speak," she
thought. Il know just what kind of voice
| ought to go with that face"
1t was dreamy spot, dreamy hour, and
| he was all unconscious of her presence. The
face she was watching was like some grand,
| harmonious poem to her; and as she sc
| watched there came to her the memory OF
| the story Of Lancelot and Elaine. The rest
! less golden waters, the yellow sands, the
! cliffs all faded from her view, and she, with
| her vivid imagination, saw before her the
| castle court where Elaine first saw him, lifted
| her eyes and read his lineaments, and then
| loved him with a love that was her doom.
| The face on which she gazed was marked by
no great and guilty lOve-it was the face OF
| Lancelot before his fall, when he shOne no
blest, purest, and grandest of ali King Ar
| thurs knights
at was for his face Elaine loved him, u
| thought the girl-"grand and noble as is the
| face on which the sun shines now"
Then she went through the whole of that
marvellous story; she thought of the purity,
| the delicate grace, the fair loneliness OF
| Elaine. as cOntrasted with the passionate
| love when, flung DacK upon lJS9l1, led ner IC
| prefer death to life-of that strange, keen,
| passionate love that so suddenly changed the
whole world for the maid Of Astoat.
And | would rather be like her, said the
! girl to herself; 81 would rather die loving the
| highest and the best than live loving one less
worthy"
| 1t had seized her Imagination, this beauti-
| full story of a deathless love.
II too could love as Elaine did" she
| thought; ''fOr love cannot come to me wear
ing the guise it wears to Others l could read
the true nobility of a mans soul in his face;
could love him, asking no love in return. /
could die so loving him, and believing him
| greatest and best"
Then, as she unused, the sunlight deepened
on the sea, the rose became purple, the wa
tiers one beaming mass of bright color, and
he who so unconsciousIy aroused her sleep
ing soul to life rose and walked away over
the sands. She watched him as he passed
out of sight.
Il may never see him again." she thought;
'but shall remember his face until l die"
A great calm seemed to fall over her; the
very d rs of her heart had been stirred.
She had been wondering SO short a time be-
fore if she should ever meet any one at all
approaching the ideal standard of excellence
she had set up in her mind. 1t seemed like
an answer to her thoughts when he crossed
the sands.
4 may never see him again." she said /;
, ''but shall always remember that l have
met one whom | could have loved"
She sat there until the sun had set over the
waters and the moon had risen; and all the