The morning call., 1893-11-12
world of blackness and woe and despair.
like unto that which was before God said,

| world of blackness and woe and despair.
| like unto that which was before God SAID,
"Let there be light"
| The universe had dwindled to surging
waste of cruel. hungry waters. The waves
dashed high with an angry roar. and the
winds. bowling q mad war-p9ean. beat
| them back remorselessly in wild conflict,
which was as if the legiOns OF hell opposed
forces. The heavens frowned blackly
down upon the tumult, weeping bloody
tears in their impotent rage. Indeed, DER
all was the CHASTITY hue of blood-red
blood! And the smell of blood was in the
air. for the passionate waves, broken and
wounded in the strife, expired in showers
of blood, making room for new recruits.
who came forward valiantly, only to meet
like fate.
The boiling. seething flood was spanned
by narrow bridge. hair line in the dark
ness, and across it came, walking slowly.
with wagering footsteps, girl, young, and
pale as death; her features rigid with
fear, and shielding her eyes from the hor-
rid rain as she wildly gazed to right and
left seeking some avenue of escape. And
now she would throw herself into the
flood on either hand, but might not; and
again would turn and retrace her steps
whence she came. but in vain-for behind
her was presence, grim and implacable
as Death himself, and futile was the
again deathly chill pierced my heart, for
the girls face was-my own!
Her black, shrOudlike garments EMBODIED
her mistily, while her hair streamed wildly
in the wind-and her terror was fearful to
behold. Her feet slipped upon the fragile
bridge, unsteady aud wet with the rain and
spray, and the fierce wind came up and bit
at her face and hands vengefully. Great
harpy like creatures brushed softly, stealth
lily by her, resenting her presence; Shiny
things crawled where she must tread, and,
worst of all, dead bodies now and then
thudded horribly against the bridge. peer
ing at her with staring, sightless eyes. or
reckoning mOckingly to the gruesome
depths with dead fingers.
Suddenly, afar In the distance, glimmers
Pickering light, awaking faint hope in
her terrOTlZed heart. She presses on,
stumbling, slipping. shrinking from the
nameleSs horrors Of that maddeDing night.
And the Presence behind smiles with
CHASTITY mirth at her haste. But she hur-
ries on. the bridge widening as she nears
the light, which. struck at last with a ter
rible. haunting fear, she hesitates to ap-
proach, but may not draw back.
And now before her are two men-at-
arms, guarding with flaming brands and
drawn swords something that lies between
them-cold. quiet, mOt1onless, half-re-
vealed, white-shrouded. The swords flash
dSluo d. SISu lIUu lHo L l6ScuCc, Wuilo
the torches, held aloft by the ghostly
warders. flicker fitfully on the scene. The
girl, pushing back her dripping hair, adj
vances to the side OF the quiet form with
wavering footsteps. Kneeling there she
turns back the covering from the dead face
and suddenly there shrills above the howl
ing tumult cry of passionate rebellion
against rem orseess fate.
''Oh cruel! cruel! to give me death in
stead of life; a corpse instead of lover!
Fondiy l hoped for one last glance from
those dear eyes, one message from those
loving lips. but now all hope is dead for
ever"
Blindly rising she reels dizzily away
into the great darkness, which wraps her
close in its muff1ed embrace, sitting the
wild cries of despair on its dusky bosom
and hiding her forever more"