The morning call., 1894-08-12
CHAPTER III.

How Miss Calista got back to Canada
she never knew. Day after day she sat,
her eyes fixed upon the heaving waters
and feeling that she was coming nearer to
hiram to tell him her last hope had failed.
She had kept her promise TO her father,
and expected to return to her patient lover
with sum which would forever set at
rest all questions of money between them.
And now. she came back as poor as she
went, only to look at his faithful face and
tell him that she. peEnilesS woman.
would not link her life with that of SO
wealthy q man for very shaEe's sake.
Would he remain faithful even then? Still
come down every morning to see her gate
Still wait for her in the evening shadow?
Still find her fair and sweet to look upon
as the weary years went by and old ages
mercless finger robbed the color from her
checks and touched her golden hair with
gray? 1t made her heart ache to think
how i'll she had rewarded him for his con-
slant devotion. But even in the midst of
her sorrow she had never thought of giving
way. Her father had been proud man.
and he had taught Calista to be proud
Also She knew that Hiram had enough
money for them both, but the knowledge
did not content her. They must part.
Hiram would learn to care for some one
and come No more to her gate. She had
been patient so long. endured so much that
paJIeHC6 ldu diIuOSG U6COuo u udUits
And yet, and yet. she pictured herself
sitting alone in the dark, growing older
and older. more bent and feeble. knowing
that the Angel of Death would one day
come to meet her. sad old woman In
sad gray world. If only Love stood beside
Death there would be no terror, but
folding of the hands to sleep, passing
away into an infinite love. During these
days her life was prayer for courage. for
strength, for warmer faith. firmer hope.
and-resignationi And so one evening in
the dewy dusk Calista crept slowly up the
back garden from a little boat which had
brought her across the river.
Caista had purposely delayed until the
evening train so that no one might know
up through the little garden under cover
of the night and feast her eyes upon her
lover before estrangement came between
them. AS she stole softly onward she
pictured his face when she heard what
she had to say. Perhaps we would not be
there. He had said that no evening should
pass without his coming. Would he keep
his word?
As sha stole silently on toward the little
cottage her question was answered. There
was Hiram walking on the verands, his
face pale in the moonlight Then he would
sit down for few moments, only to rise
once more and stride about again. She
noticed that his hat lay on the floor beside
him.
Thinking to surprise Hiram. Miss Caiista
stole softly up under cover of the bushes
until she reached the end of the veranda.
vague fear oppressed her heart. Why did
Hiram look SO pale in the moonlight?
Usually he was very quiet. But tonight
he seemed greatly agitated. She stole
little nearer. parted the sweet-smelliDg
syringa bushes and peered through.
Hiram had again flung himself into
chair. one hand hanging idly down.
Its all over" he said. looking round
as if she were sitting by his side. IT'S
all over, CaliSta. All over. Every cent
gone. When you went the luck went,
too. | haven't dollar / can call my
own. You'll come back with pile. You
wouldn't have me all these years because l
was rich and you were poor. Now | can't
have you because I'm poor and you're
rich"
He looked round as if awaiting her an
swer.
Seems kind OF rough on us both, don't
i;?' he asked Of space. Kind of rough.
All ones life gone in a dream-;here's