People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-04-04

gathered might, wishing that she
would come. The minutes passed, but
the will remained.
How shall l tell what followed? The
door Of the closet opened-siOwly, gen.
tly-and in walked Lady Alice, pale as
death, her eyes closed, her whole per-
son asleep. With gliding motion as in
a dream, where the voltiOn that pro-
duceS motion is unfelt. she seemed to
me to dream herself across the floor to
my couch, on which she laid herself
down as gracefully. as simply, as in
the old beautiful time. Her appear
ance did not startle me, for my whole
condition was in harmony with the
phenomenon. | rose nOiseleSSly, COW
cred her lightly from head to foot, and
sat down as of old to watch. How
beautiful she was! | thought she had
grown taller; but, perhaps. it was only
that she had gained in form without
losing anything in grace. Her face
was, as it always had been, cOlOrleSS;
but neither it nor her figure showed
any signs Of suffering. The holy sleep
had fed her physical as well as
shielded her mental nature.
She was waking. My love with the
unknown face was ut hand. The re-
viving flush came, grew, deepened.
She opened her eyes. God be praised.
They were lOvelier than ever. And the
smile that broke over her face was the
very sunlight Of the soul.
Come again, you see!" she said,
gently, AZ she stretched her beautiful
arms toward me.
| could not speak | could only sub
nit to her embrace, and hold myself
with all my might, lest / should burst
into helpless weeping. But sob or
two broke their prison, and she felt
the emotion she had not seen. Relax
ing her hold, she pushed me gently
from her, and looked at me with con-
Germ that grew as she looked.
you are dreadfully changed, my
Duncan! What is the matter Has
Lord Hilton been rude to you? You
look so much older, somehow. What
can it be-
| understood at once how it was. The
whole of those dreary twelve years
was gone. The thread of her con.
SciOusneSs had been cut, those years
dropped out, and the ends united. She
thought this was one of the old visits
to me, when, as now, she had walked
in her sleep. | answered:
Il will tell you all another time. ]
don't want to waste the moments with
you, my Alice, in speaking about it
Lord Hilton has behaved very badly
to me: but never mind"
She half rose in anger. and her eyes
looked insane for the first time.
How darcS he?' she said, and then
checked herself with a sigh at her OWL
helplcSSneSS.
But it will all come right. Alice"
went or in terror lest should disturb
her present conception of her circum
stances. l felt as if the very face ]
wore with the changes of those twelve
forgotten years, which had passed
over her like the breath of a spring
wind, were a mask of which | had t
be ashamed before her. Her con
seriousness was my involuntary stan
dard of fact. Hope Of my life as SHIT
was there was thus mingled with my
delight in her presence a restless feal
that made me wish feryently that shC
would go. | wanted time to quiet my
thoughts and resolve how | should be
have to her.
alice" | said. ''it is nearly morn
ing. You were late tonight. Dom
you think you had better gO-fOr feal
you know
"Ahr she said. with a smile, il
which there was no doubt or fear, 'yOI
are tired of me already! But | will g
at Once-tO dream about you"
She rose.
80, my darling" I said, "and mine
you get some right sleep. Shall l e
with you?
Much to my relief, she answered:
mo. no; please not. l can go alone
as usual. When a ghost meets me,
just walk through him, and then he,
nowhere; and laugh"
One kiss. one backward lingerias
look, and the door closed behind her
| heard the echo of the great hall.
Yves alone. But what a lOneliness!-i
loneliness crowded with presence.
paced up and down the room, threw
myself on the couch she had left, start
ed up, and paced again. 1t was Ion:
before | could think. But the cOnyic
ton grew upon me that she would b
mine yet. Mine yet? Mine she was
beyond all the power of madness Of
demons: and mine trusted sh,
would be beyond the dispute of thu
world. But what should | do! TIL,
only chance of her recovery lay in see
ing me; but could resolve on nOthin.
till | knew whether Mrs. Blakesle,
had discovered her absence from hel
room; because, if | drew her, and sh,
were watched and prevented from
coming. it would kill her. or worse.
must take tomorrow to think.
Yet, at the moment, by a sudden i'm
pulse, | opened the window gently
stepped into the little grassy court
where the last of the storm was still
moaning. and withdrew the bolts of
door which led into an alley of tree.
running along one side of the kitchen
garden. l felt like a breaker
but | said: 1T is for her right"
pushed the bolts forward again. so a
just to touch the sockets and look as i
they went in. and then retreated int,
my own room. where | paced abOu
till the household was aStir.
CHAPTER XVI.
PRISON-BREAKING.
1t was with considerable anxiet,
that l repaired to Mrs. Blakesley'
| room There I found the old ladv n