The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-04-21

WaCDlEo. 6EUHtlt SISSrN ete.
and the faint splashipg Of the hidden
fountain was like an exquisite melody
In his ears. 1t was good to be in
such q place. to look upon such .
woman, to breathe such odors and to
hear such tuueful music. A dream
like, half-mysterious satisfaction Of
the senses dulled the keen self
knowledge of body and soul for one
short moment. In the stormy play
OF his troubled life there was u brief
interlude Of peace. He tasted the
fruit OF the Lotus, his lips were moist
ened in the sweet waters OF forget
~fulness.
The lady spoke at last, and th'
spell left him. not broken, as by a
sudden shock. but losing its power by
quick degrees. until it was wholly
gone.
ii will answer your question by an
other" said the lady. LET your re-
ply be the plain truth. 1t will be
better So"
t.Ask what you will. I have moth
lHS 10 COHCeal.
do you know who and what l sAv
Do you come here out of curiosity A.
the vain hope of knowing me. having
heard Of me from othersa"
"Assuredly not" A pale flush rose
in the mans pale and noble face.
"You have my word,' he said, in the
tone Of n who is sure Of being be-
lieved, that | have never, to my
knowledge, heard OF your e%xistence;
that am ignorant even of your name
- forgive my ignorance - and that /
entered this house not knowing whose
it might be. seeking and following
after II for whom l have searched
the world. one dearly loved. long lost.
long sought"
1T is enough. Be seated. l am
Unorna.'
.'Unorna?" repeated the Wanderer,
with aa unconscious question in his
voice. although the name recalled
some half forgotten association.
'.Unorna-yes. 7 have another
name she added. with a shade Of
bitterness. ''but it is hardly mlne.
Tell me your story. You loved-yQu
What eise?"
The Wanderer sighed.
''Gou have told in those few words
the story OF my iife-the unfinished
story. A wauderer / was born. a
w%arderer l must ever be, until at last
I find ha, w n Ovn T cnalr 1nau, ban
in a strange land. far from my birth
place. in a city where was known
but to afew. and / loved her. She
loved me toe, and that against her
fathers will. He would not have
his daughter wed with one not
of her race; for he him.
self had taken a wife among strangers.
and while she was yet alive he had re-
pented of what he had done. But I
would have overcome his reasons and
his arguments-she and I could have
overcome them together. for he did
not hate me. he bore me no ill-will.
We we're almost friends when / last
took his hand. Then the hour OF des-
tiny came upon me. The air of that
city was treacherous and deadly. I
had left her with her father, and my
heart was full Of many things. and of
words both spoken and unuttered. I
fingered upon an ancient bridge that
spanned the river, and the sun went
down. Then the evil fever of the
south laid hold upon me and poisoned
the blood in my veins, and stole TIE
consciousness from my understanding.
Weeks passed away, and memory re-
turned, with the strength to speak. 1
learned that she | loved, and her
father, were gone, and none knew
whittier. | rose and left the accursed
city, being at that time scarcely able
to stand upright on my feet. Find
ing no trace Of those / sought, l Jour
neyed to their W country. for l
KIN /, W where her father held his lands.
l had been i'll many weeks and much
time had passed, from the day on
which / had left her. until l was able
to move from my bed. When reached
the gates OF her home, | was told that
all had been lately sold. and that
others now dwelt within the walls.
l inquired of these new owners of the
land. but neither they, nor any Of all
those whom | questioned, coulu tell
me whittier l should direct my search.
The father was a strange man, loving
travel to find change and movement,
restless and Gnsatisied with the world,
rich and free to make his W caprice
his guide through life; reticent he
was. moreover, and thoughtful. not
given to speaking out his intentions.
Those who administered his affairs in
his absence were honorable men, bound
by his especial injunction not to reveal
his ever-virying plans. Many times
in my ceaseless search ! met persons
who had lately seeh him and his
daughter and spoken with them. l was
ever on their track, from hemisphere
to heS sphere, from continent to
continent, from country To country,
from city to city, often believing N.Y.
sell close upon them, cften learning
suddenly that an ocean ~ between
them AID Tie. y. aS he GLIDING me,
purposely r~esau.ely, o. wa he un-
conscious o. my desperate pursuit,
being serreH b. ..1"iaa airne and bv