Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-04


still in the neighborhood and waiting
for the noon train? If So could Ii be
confronted ON the cars and accused of
his crime? He looked ut his watch 1t
was nearly IL, and he must push ON to
the hotel before that hour, report to the
colonel, then hasten back to the station.
He sprang to his feet and was lust about
to mount when n vision of white and
scarlet came suddenly into view There,
within 30 feet of him, making her
dainty way through the shrubbery from
the direction of the church, sunshine
and shadow alternately fitting across
her lovely face and form, Alice Renwick
stepped forth into the pathway, and
shading her eyes with her hand gazed
along the leafy lane toward the road,
rs though CXpectant of anothor's COM
ing. Then. attracted by the beauty Of
the goldenrod, she bent and busted her
self with gathering i'll the yellow sprays.
Armitagc, with one foot in the stirrup,
stood stock still, half in SURPRISE half
stunned by sudden and painful
Thought Could il be that she was there
i'll hopes of mccting-any one?
He rvtook his foot from the stirrup,
at her over his horsc's back. That placid
quadrupCd. whose years had been spent
i'll these pleasant byways and We're too
many to warrant an exhibition of coltish
surprise promptly lowered his head
and resumed his occupation of grass nib
bling, making n little crunching noise
which Miss Rcnwick might have heard.
but apparently did not. She was singing
very softly to herself:
Daisy. tell my fortune. pray.
He loves me nOt-he loves me"
And still Armitago stood and gazod,
while she, absorbed in her pleasant task,
still pulled and pluckcd at the golden
rod. In all his life no vision of fair
women had been to him 50 fair and
sacred and exquisite rs this. Down to
the tip of her archcd and slender foot,
pceping from beneath the broidcrcd hem
| of her snowy skirt, she stood the lady
born and bred. and his eyes looked ON
| and worshipcd her - worshipcd, yet
questioned. Why came she here? Alb
sorbrd. he released his hold on the rein,
and Dobbin, nothing loath, reached with
his long, lean neck for farther heritage
and stepped i'll among the trees. Still
stood his negligent master, fascinated
i'll his study Of the lovely. graceful girl.
Again she raised her head and looked
northward along the winding, shaded
! wood path. y few yards away were 9th
or great clusters IF the wild flowers she
loved, more sun kissed goldcnrod, and,
with little murnur of delight. gather
ing her dainty skirts i'll one hand, she
fitted up the pathway like an uncon-
| ~
sweets from every blossom. \ little
farther ON the pathway bent among the
trees. and she would hc hidden from
his sight. but still he stood and studied
her every movement drank i'll the soft.
cooling melody Of her voice as she sang.
and then there came 4 sweet, solemn
strain from the brown, sunlit walls just
| visible through the trees, and reverent
voices and the resonant chords of the
| organ thrilled through tho listening
woods the glorious anthem Of the church
militant.
At the first notes she lifted up hel
| quccnly head and stood, listening and
apprcciativc. Then he saw her rounded
throat swelling like birds, and the
rich. full tones of her voice rang out
through the welcoming sunshine, and
the fluttering wrcns, and red breasted
4, robins, and rival song queens, the brown
| winged thrushcs-even the impudcni
shriekiEE jays-sccmed to hush and lis
ten. Dohbin. fairly astonishcd. lifted
up his hollow eyed head and looked
amaZCdly ut the white sungStresS whose
scarlet sash and neck ribbons CLEANED
in such vivid contrast to the foliage
about her. y wondering little cotton
tail rabbit, shy and wild no n hawk
came darting through the bushes into
the sunshiny patchwork ON the path
and then. uptiltcd and with quiverine
ears and noStrils and wide staring eyes
stood paralyzcd with helpless amaze
ignoring the tall man in gray rs did tn,
singer herself Richer. roundcr. fuller
grew the melody rs. abandoning her
self TO the impulse of the sacred hour
She joined with all her girlish heart il
the words of praise and Thanksgiving
in the glad and triumphant chorus o
the Tc Dvum. From beginning 10 enc
she sang, now ringing and cXultant
now soft and plailtivc, following tn,
solemn words Of the ritual-swCct anC
low and suppliant in the petition, Nv,
therefore pray thco help thy servant
whom thou hast redeemed with thu
precious blood, " confident and cxultinl
in tho declaration. Thou art the knt
of glory, . Christi and then rich witt
fearless trust and faith in tho thrilling
climax, Let me never be COMPOUNDED
Armitago listened as one in trance
From tho depth Of her heart the CIR
had Joined her glorious voice to tn
chorus of praise and alteration, and nov
that all was stillcd once more her heat
had fallen forward on her bosom; he
llands, laden with goldenrod, wcr
Joined together. 1t seemed as though
she werc lost in prayer.
And this was the girl, this the pure
God worshiping God fearing woman
who for one black instant he had dare
to fancy had come here cxpcctant of
meeting with the man whose aim In
been frustrated bat the night beforei II
could have thrown himself at her fee
} and implored her pardon. He did ste
! forth, and then, hat in hand, barring hi
> proud Saxon head rs his forcfather
would have uncovered to their monarch
| he waited until sho lifted up her eye
and saw him and knew by the look i
, his frank face that no had stood by,
/ mute listener to her unstudied devotion:
/ A lovely flush rose to her very temples
, and her eyes dropped their pallid lid
t until the long lashes swept the crimso
( of her cheeks.
} Have you been here, captain?