Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-12-11

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Armitagc listened as one IN. a trance.
until the long lashes swept the crimson
Of her cheeks.
"Have you been here, captain? I
never saw you," was her iutterlng
question.
"I rode in here on my way back from
the station, not caring to meet all the
good people going to church. I felt like
an outcast.
81, too, am a recreant today. 1t is
the first time I have missed service in a
long while. Mamma felt too unstrung
to come, and I had given up the idea,
but both she and Aunt Grace urged me.
T was too late for the omnibus and
walked up, and then I would not go in
because service was begun, and I want
ed to be home again before noon. lean
not bear to be late at church or to leave
it until everything is over, but can't
be away from mother so long today.
Shall we walk that way now?'
"In minute. I must find my horse.
he is in here somewhere. Tell me how
the colonel is feeling and Mrs. May
nard." "
"Both very nervous and worried,
though I see nothing extraordinary in
the adventure. We read Of poor hungry
tramps everywhere, and they rarely do
harm"
IT wonder little at your venturing
here in the wood paths after what oc-
Cured last night"
"Why, Captain Armitage, no one
would harm me here, SO close to the
church. Indeed I never thought OF
such thing until you mentioned it.
Did you discover anything about the
MANI"
Nothing definite, but I must be at
the station again to meet the up train
and have to see the colonel meantime.
Let me find Dobbin, or whatever they
call this venerable relic I'm riding, and
then I'll escort you home.
But Dobbin had straycd deeper into
the wood. 1t was some minutes before
the captain could find and catch him.
The rich melody of sacred music was
again thrilling through the perfumed
woods, the glad sunshine was pouring
its warmth and blessing over all the
earth, glinting on bluff and brake and
palisaded cliff, the birds were all sing
ing their rivaling psaltery, and nature
seemed pouring forth its homage to the
Creator and Preserver Of all on this his
holy day, when Frank Armitage once
more reached the powered lane where,
fairest, sweetest sight Of all, his lady
stood waiting him. She turned to him
as she heard the hoof beat on the turf
and smiled.
"Can we wait and hear that hymn
through"
"Aye, sing it. "
She looked suddenly in his face.
Something in the very tone in which
he spoke startled her-something deep
er, more fervent, than she had ever
heard beforehand the expression in the
steady, deep blue eyes was another rev.
elation. Alice Renwick had woman s
intuition, and yet she had not known
this man day. The color again mount
ed to her temples, and her eyes fell after
one quick glance.
II heard you joining in the Te
Deum," he urged "Sing once more.
1 love it. There, they are just begin.
ming again. Do you know the words?"
She nodded, then raised her head, and
her glad young voice caroled through
the listening woods:
"Huly, holy, holyl All
Heavens triumphant choir shall sing,
When the ransomed nations fall
At the footstool of their King.
Then shall saints and seraphim,
Hearts and voices, swell one hymn
Around the throne with full accord,
Holy, holy, holy Lordp'
There was silence when the music
ceased. She had turned her face toward
the church, and as the melody died
away in one prolonged, triumphant
chord she still stood in revercnt attl-
tude, as though listening for the words
of benediction. He, too, was silent, but
his eyes were fixed OH her. He was 30,
she not 20 He had lived his soldier
life wifeless; but, like other soldiers, his
heart had had its rubs and aches in the
days gone by. Years before he had
thought life a black void when the girl
he fancied while yet he wore the aca-
demic gray calmly told him she preferred
another. Nor had the intervening years
been devoid of their occasional yearn-
ings for q mate of his own in the lsola-
ton of the frontier, of the monotony OF
garrison life. but fitting fancies had
left no trace upon his strong heart. line
love Of his life only dawned upon him
at this late day when he looked into her
glorious eyes, and his whole soul went
out in passionate worship of the fall
girl whose presence made that sunll'
lane q heaven. Were he to live thou.
sand years, no scene OH earth could rival
in his eyes the love haunted woodland
pathway wherein, like forest queen, she
stood, the sunshine and leafy shadows
dancing over her graceful form, the
goldenrod enhancing her dark anc
glowing beauty, the sacred influences Of
the day throwing their mystic charm
about her as though angels guarded anc
shielded her from harm. His life hac
reached its climax His fate was sealed
His heart and soul were centered in one
sweet girl, and all i'll one brief hour II
the woodland lane at Sablon.
She could not fail to see the! deel
emotion in his eyes as at last She turned
to break the silence.
| "Shall we go?" she said simnlv:.