Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-01-24
Saint Maru's Beacon
A LA1TER-DAY ALLEGoRY.

turea on the canopy stretched De-
tween the four tall posts of the old
fashioned bedstead on which he lay.
The room was in semi-gloom, bat
the cherubs stood out in bold re-
lief from their white back ground.
Then he looked about him and en-
deavored to collect his thoughts.
Eagerly he CROPPED back after straws
thEt would direct his puzzled men,
CRY; and, presently, his eyes be-
coming more and more used to this
dim, half-light, he caught sight of
red coat, torn and muddy, lying
across the back Of O. great arm.
chair, near the door. With this
there suddenly came to him a vivid
recollection of q scene. Far of, it
seemed, in the years long gone, but
sharp. clear and well-defned, new
ertheless.
A rough stnbble field, over which
score OF horses, each mounted by
an enthusiastic huntsman, are mad.
" flying at the top of their speed.
Himself in the lead, he hears the
others following him closely, while
just ahead there is the chorus of
the hounds in full cry, and the fox
itself may be seen darling across
the open, not fifty yards in advance
Of the foremost of its pursuers.
One more hedge to take and the
hunt will be over. The brush will
be his. II is bat an instant, and
he feels the horse beneath him leave
the ground. Up. up, up he is 60
ing as though he never meant to
stop, and then---a sudden breath
taking plunge forward. Even as he
braces himself for the shock, in less
than a heart beat, he knows the
brute has stumbled; that the horse
and he are falling together, and he
instinctively struggles to free him
self from the stirrups. Then dark
ness. black as Egypt, and after that
the fat cherubs on the canopy of
his bedstead.
The torn, mudspattered red coat
on yonder chair told him that he
had been brought to this room di-
rectly from the field, aud with this
link forged he began to run along
the chain and to try to read the
story of the others. He wondered
rs to the time that hea--f psed
since the accident; xls-lollcS Is osls in-
inries were serious; to whose house
he had been carried; under-whose
care he had been placed. He made
AN effort to raise his head to look
about him, but as he did so sharp
pain. excruciating and cruel. shot
through every nerve of his being.
and he cried out in the fierce agony
Of he moment.
Then he became conscious that
woman had risen from u place close
by his bedside and was standing.
looking down at him, with great
lostrious eyes. in the depths of
which he deserted an unspoken pas
sion. Tall, slender, and with a
dignity that was regal, she seemed
to him the quintessence of feminine
grace and queenly beauty. Her
face was pale as marble, aud stern
as Fate; but in her wondrous eyes
was a longing that wooed him; that
brought his breath in quick con-
vulsive gasps; that made his heart
beat faster. and that spread over
the pallor of his cheeks flush that
burned like fever. lie stretched
forth his hand and clasped her long,
taper fingers. and held them, cool
~ stone. in his feverish grasp.
When some time after the doctor
came in to rearrange the bandages
on his injured head, and found him
with his eyes open, gazing, pleased
smile on his lips, and his fingers
nervously reaching out for the hand
which had suddenly cluded him,
the professional man looked grave,
and tear trembled for a moment
on his lashes.
Doctor" the patient pleaded.
in voice so weak as to be scarcely
heard even in the stiffness of this
darkened room. "tell me her name.
She is my nurse. is she not? She
will not leave me. Not for a mo-
ment, doctor. Don't let her go
from me-
The doctor. in kindly tone. hu-
mer.l him as best he could.
She will be with you always"
he said: and then his face grew still