Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-08-11
CHAPTER VIII.
Wha has dune you wrang, fair maid,
And left you here alone?
Or VIVA has kissed your lovely lips,
That We ca HazGl-green?

The smithy by the brook in which the
alder-boughs dipped stood dark and for
saken; if strangers horse should cast
shoe in passing through the village
that morning, he must cen re-shOe it
himself, for there would not be one
found to lend hand in aid.
And beyond the smithy it was more
silent still, but the silence was of an
other sort, for here lay the coppice, that
lovers walk which of evenings was
never without it's rustic pair, but by
day rested still as cloister with the
flowers for nuns, and bright-winged,
angelic-tOngued choir of birds for
chOriSterS.
Here you might see, side by side, the
poplar, with its pale shimmerlng hue,
and the fringed larcheS tender green,
mingling with the young beechen stems,
that went arching and INTERVENING in
a natural trellis overhead, their shining
leaves just bursting from their yellow
gloves, like young girls Shyly emerging
from their Workday grab to don gliS-
tening robe of silk.
Here, too, might be seen the pale
sweet sunshine of the late-tarrying
primrose; and here, nesting close to the
beecnen roots, the Wood-SOrrel drOOped
her exquisite little head in endless
replica toward the wildly green cup
formed by her trefoil leaves, while hard
by, the male fools orchis stood stiffiy at
arms, the ugly custodian of so much
beauty.
"G0d has two dwellings," said a di-
vine; lone in Heaven, and one in a con-
tented heart" and | think Madcap's
heart was never SO fit dwelling, nor
did it ever reach higher beat Of graft
tude than in that moment, when, with
a sudden vivid realization of the per-
feet happiness of her life, size stood still
in the midst of the lovely alley and I'M
consciously stretched out her arms to
the unseen Being who was the source
of all.
Suddenly she swerved aside, as close
at hand she heard a sound as must have
carried comprehension with it, even to
one who had never heard or dreamed of
pain-the stuffed des0late cry OF soul
in EXTREMIST anguish, that believing
Itself alone with its God, calls upon
Him by name for succor!
Madcap trembled-crime and despair
had never in any shape approached her,
and the language they used was I'M
known, yet she intuitiveIy felt the
depths of the pit in which yon lonely
soul was struggling, and she was not of
those who could stand looking on from
the shore, and hear unmOVed.
The bubbling cry,
Of some strong swimmer in his agony.
Close to the beechen roots by which
she knelt, stood a pollard oak, whose
sturdy body had shOuLdered away the
underground on either side. and also
cleared for himself a space behind. as
Madcap perceived, when softly pushing
her way between the oak and the bram-
bles, she saw into little green interior
which contained woman, who lay with
OutStretched arms and face pressed
downward against the grass.
For moment Madc2p heSitated. then
entered and knelt beside her; hesitatad
again, then laid her hand softly on t1ut
dark, uncovered head, trembling as
beneath her touch the woman shrank
violently away, with the gesture OF a
creature that is at once desperate and
dangerous in its helplessness.
Madcap drew back. She cIasped her
hands together. and great, slow tears,
born OF intense pity, rose to her eyes; in
a moment she seemed to realize the gulf
that lay between her own happy life
and this miserable one to which even
pity came as cruelty, not solace.
For minute the woman lay notion
less, then, like a startled animal that
turns with shy gaze to see if it be still
pursued. she half looked up, making
screen of her hands, and caught that
lovely look Of pity bent on her. Who
are you?" she said, in a whisper. You
are not one of those that shrieked at me
by the pool?"
"a woman and sister," said Mad
cap. with all her heart, as she spoke.
Hester leaned a little forward, as one
who listens, yet thinks her ears have
played her false, then slowly looked up
to see what manner Of woman was this
who claimed sisterhood with such as
she.
For minute the two faces gaZed in
tently at each other-the one, beautiful
through all its haggardness and an
guish, of olive tint framed in masses of
blue-black hair, with eyes
Deeper than the depth
OF waters still d at even:
the other so young, so pitiful, so pure.
l think that a new world opened to each
as she looked, and the contrast of their
lives was brought more keenly home
than it could have been by lifetime of
words or familiar knowledge.
81 wanted to be alone" said Hester,
with that certainty of her story being