Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-02-18
MYRA'S SACRIFICE
By MRS Il. LovETT CAMERON.


The Kentish weald lay dim and misty
beneath the darkening evening shadows,
the air was redolent with the pungent
odors of newly gathered hops. Already
the fires of the gypsy like encampments
Of the hop pickers CLEANED out redly
across the great wide plain below
whilst the furnaces of the oast house,
belched out gusts of lurid smoke from
every cluster Of farm buildings far and
near.
Presently the silver moon arose be-
hind the shoulder of the far western
hills, and all the land became bathed in
the tender radiance The mists cleared
away. the dim vague shadows became
black and distinct, the open fields shone
like silver Every hop garden with iii
long trails of ungathered blooms fes
tooned from pole 10 pole in graceful
garlands, every pocket" slung ham
mock wise between two stakes where the
days toll had ended. every little settle
ment where the gatherers rested, or slept.
or talked in low voices together in the
gloom. stood out picture like and with a
startling individuality in the cold and
searching light which flooded the fairest
of Kent's fair valleys from north to south
and from east to west.
Good night" said woman's voice
far up the side of the long range of hills
that guarded the northern boundary OF
that glorious plain.
Good night" was the answer in q
mans deeper voice
Yet they did not part.
She stood leaning upon the railing oi
the wide veranda that encircled the
white house beneath an archway greenly
twined with summer creepers and
studded with starlike jasmine flowers
Her silver gray satin draperies reflected
the CLEAN of the moonlight. and shon,
with the chaste cold colors of Diana Hel
face too in that pale radiance seemed Z,
have gathered its almost unearthl,
beauty from nights pure queen herself
The white brow, the fiaxen crown of sof
hair, the delicate features, even the pal,
blue eyes, tender yet trifie cold anC
passionless-all seemed in harmony will
the white beauty Of the moonlight.
The man stood below her ut the foo
of the short flight of stone steps, sh
reached ont her hand to him:
after all these years, she said softly
.'all these years in which have love
you, whilst you knew it not, at last il In
come to ne-to be happy
He lifted the white hand gEtterin
with diamonds to his lips,
Il am not worthy" he murmuied q
he kissed. "If you knew all
Nay, dearest, !" she answered quickly
II do not want to know your past. Yo
have Travelled, yon have seen the worl
-yon have liyed-perhaps even you hay
lovedl | will never ask, will neye
seek TO know. 1t is enough for me tha
you have returned at last TO the one lol
ing heart who has cared for you evs
since we were boy and girl together,
that long ngo before you went away. an
before had begun to live through thi
dark chapter of my life. which is nov
thank God. over for ever. We will bot
forget the past-all ask is to live in Il
present.
You are too good. too geaerousr'
murmured.
Lady Hilton laughed softly.
"Oh, no, | am not good ] am on
happy. Bernard 1t is SO easy to see
good when one is happy. Come ear
tomorrow Think of me as yon ri
home Good night"
.'Good night. Constance" he sa
again. He walked quickly down Il
short drive. At the gate groom wait
with his horse He sprang lightly in
the saddle.
Good night, sir.
"Good night" he said once more. t
gate changed to noisily behind him. +
mans footsteps died away upon t
gravel beyond.
Bernard Harding rode slowly down {
hill toward the plain. The road W
steep, and the oyerarching trees ca
strange fiickering shadows across
whiteness: the woods on either side !
darlzly shronded in a mysterious glool
The horse picked his way carefully. Al
the horseman seemed content TO lea
him to guide himself
Presently the woods cleared away a
horse and man stepped ont into the I
brightness Of the summer night.
sight of the weald. with the glamour
moonlight flooding 1t with pale radian
was SO beautiful that instinctively Hal
ing refined in his animal