The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-28
mking, black funneled stern wheeler,

WAS sioWiy lofBlub ltS way u tne out-
let of the lake, its shadowy edge sprin-
kled here and there with little sparks Of
lurid red-the pilot lights that gave
warning Of its slow and silent coming.
Far down along the southern shore,
under that black bluff line, close to the
silver water edge. glowing meteor
seemed whirling through tho night, and
the low, distant rumble told Of the At
lantic express laundering on Its jour
ney. Here, along with him on tho level
plateau, wero other roomy cottages,
some dark. some still sending forth a
guiding ray, while long lin0s Of white
washed fence cleaned ghostly in the
moonlight and were finally lost in the
shadow of the great bluff that abruptly
shut in the entire point and plateau and
shut out all further sight Of lake or
land In that direction. Far beneath he
could hear the soft plash upon the sandy
shore of the little wavelets that came
sweeping in the wake of the raftboat
and spending their tiny strength upon
the strand far down ON the hotel point
he could still hear the soft melody Of
tho waltz. He remembered how the
band used to play that same air and
wondered why it was he used to like it,
1t Jared him now.
Presently the distant crack Of whip
and the low rumble Of wheels were
heard, the omnibus coming back from
the station with passengers from the
night train. He was in no mood to sec
any one. He turned away and walked
northwrd along the edge Of the bench,
toward the deep shadow Of the great
shoulder Of the bluff, and presently he
came to long fight of wooden stairs,
leading from the plateau down to the
hotel, and here ho stopped and seated
himself awhile. He did not want to 20
home yet. He wanted to be by himself,
to think and brood over his trouble.
He saw the omnibus go round the bend
and roll up to the hotel doorway with
its load Of pleasure seekers and heard
the joyous welcome with which some Of
their number were received by waiting
friends, but life had little of joy to him
this night. He longed to 90 away, any
where, anywhere, could he only leave
this haunting misery behind. He was Sc
proud Of his regiment. He had been SO
happy in bringing home to it his accom-.
plished and gracious wife. He had been
SO joyous in planning for the lovely
times Alice was to have, the social sue
cesses, the girlish triumphs, the garri-
son gayeties, of which she was to be the
queen, and now, SO very, very soon, all
had turned to ashes and desolation! She
was so beautiful, so sweet, winning,
graceful. Oh, Godl could it be that one
SO gifted could possibly be SO base? He
rose in nervous misery and clinched his
hands high in air, then sat down again
with hiding, hopeless face, rocking to
and fro as sways man in mortal pain.
1t was long before he rallied, and again
he YEARLY arose. Most Of the lights were
gone. Silence had settled down upon the
sleeping point. He was chilled with
the night air and the dew and stiff and
heavy as he tried to walk.
Down at the foot of the stairs be
could see the night watchman making
his rounds. lie did not want to explain
matters and talk with him. He would
60 around. There was steep pathway
down into tho ravine that gave into the
lake just beyond his sisters cottage,
and this he sought and followed, NOV
ing slowly and painfully, but finally
reaching the grassy level of the path
way that connected the cottages witt
the wood road up the bluff. Trees and
shrubbery were thick on both sides, and
the path was shaded. Ho turned to hii
right and came down until once moro
he was in sight of the white walls Of ths
hotel standing out there on tho point,
until close at hand he could SEQ the light
Of his own cottage glimmering like {
faithful beacon through the trees, spt
then ne stopped short
A tall, slender ngure--a man in dark,
snug fitting clothiug--was creeping
stealthily up to the cottage window1
The colonel held his breath. Hi
heart thumped violently. He waited
watched. He saw the dark figure reaol
the blinds. He saw them slowly, softly
turned, and the faint light cleaning
from within. He saw the figure peer
ing in between tho Stats, and then