The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-06-02

music! AS passed my foot struck one
Of the legs, and the rickety structure
groaned as if it were coming to pieces;
I thrust out my hand to steady it, but
at my touch the velvet covering of the
lid came off and the tiny gilt orna-
ments ratified downward
By now the full moonlight pierced
the window and quivered on the floor,
AS I gazed on the tremulous pattern it
changed into quaint devices of hearts,
daggers, rings and a thousand other
tokens. All suddenly another object
glided among them so quickly that
wondered whether my eyes had been
at fault-a tiny satin shoe, stained Grim
son across the lappets. A revulsion Of
feeling came to my soul and drove
away all my fear: I had seen that
self-same shoe, white and unsoiled,
twenty years before, when vain, vain
Rose danced among her reapers at the
harvest home. And my voice cried out
in ecstasy: "Rose, heart of mine! Do
light of all the worlds delights!:'
She stood before me, wondering,
amazed. Alas, so changed! The red
and yellow silk shawl still covered her
shoulders; her hair still hung in those
eldritch curls. But the beautiful face
had grown wan and tired, and across
the forehead were drawn lines like
silver threads. She threw her arms
around my neck, and, pressing her
bosom heavily on mine, sobbed so pit
eously that 1 grew afraid for her and
drew back the long masses Of hair
which had fallen forward, and kissed
again and again those lips that were
too lovely for simile. Never came
word of chiding from them. "Love,"
she said, when she had regained her
breath, 1.-The past struggle was sharp
and torturing-the future struggle will
be crueller still. What a great love
yours was, to wait and trust for so
long. Would that mine had been so
powerful! Poor, weak heart that I
could not endure!''
The tones of a wild fear throbbed
through all her speech, strongly, but
yet with insufficient power to prevent
her form feeling the tenderness of
those moments. Often, timorously rails
ing her head from my shoulder, she
looked around, and then turned with
a soft, inarticulate and glad murmur
to hide her face on my bosom. ! spoke
fervently; told Of the years spent away
from her; how, when working in the
diamond fields, she had ever been pres
ent in my fancy; how, at night, her
name had fallen from my lips in my
only prayer; how I had dreamed Of
her among the greatest in the land
the richest, and, I dare swear, the
lovellest woman in the world. / grew
warmer still; all the gladness which
had been constrained for so long now
burst wildly from my lips; a myriad
OF rich ideas resolved into words,
which, being spoken, wove one long
and delicious fit Of passion. AS we
stood together the moon frightened
and filled the chamber with a light like
the days. The ridges Of the surround
ing moorland stood out in sharp relief
Rose drank in my declarations thirs-
tlly, but soon interrupted me with q
heavy sigh. "Comc away" she said,
softly; Il no longer live in this house
You must stay With me tonight. This
place is so Wretched now; for time,
that in you and me has only strength
ened love, has brought much ruin here"
Half leaning on me, she led me from
the precincts of Breton Hall, We
walked in silence over the waste that
crowns the valley Ct the Whitelands,
eAA'~, oNAAAS ANAI l14C fSI sc VI Cl:o IOckS,
saw the great pine wood sloping down
war.l. lighted near us by the moon, but
soon lost in density Along the mys-
terious line where the light changed
into gloom, intricate shadows of with
cred summer bracken struck and re-
ceded in 4 mimic battle. Before US lay
the Priests Cliff. The moon was yelled
here by a grove Of elms, whose ever
sWaying branches alternately Increased
and lessened her Brightness This was
place of notoriety-a veritable Col
gotla-;l haunt fit only for demons.
Murder and theft had been punished
here, and to this day fireside stories
are told OF evil women dancing around
that Druids' circle, carrying hearts
plucked from gibbeted bodies.
Rose" 1 whispered, 'why have you
brought me here?''
She made no reply, but pressed her
head more closely to my shoulder.
Scarcely had my lips closed than a
sound like hiss of a half-strangled
snake vibrated among the trees. 1t
grew louder and louder A monstrOus
shadow lowered above
Rose, from my bosom, murmured:
Love is strong as Death! Love is
strong as Death!''
l locked her in my arms so tightly
that she grew breathless Hold me!'
She painted. you are strong.''
A cold hand touched our foreheads
so that, benumbed, we sank together
to the ground, to fall instantly into a
dreamless slumber.
When I aWoke the clear gray light
Of the early morning had spread over
the country. Beyond the hall garden
the sun was just bursting through the
clouds, and had already spread a long
golden haze along the horizon. The
babbling Of the streamlet that runs
down to Halkton was so distinct that
it seemed almost at my side. How
sweetly the wild thyme smelt! Filled
with the tender recollections Of the
night, without turning I called Rose
Pascal from her sleep.
Sweetheart, sweetheart, waken!
Waken! Waken! See how glad the
world looks-see the omens of a happy
future
No answer came. I sat up, and,
| looking around me, saw that I was
alone. A square stone lay near. When
the sun was high I crept to read the
inscription carved thereon: Here, at
four cross-paths, ieth, with a stake