The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-01-02
BY MAUEitE MoNTLGUr

The darkening twilight immerses the hori
zon in purple, making it seem more distant
glazes the surface of the ponds, doubling
their depth; and the night comes with the
cold.
At the foot of a hill is road. A little
girl barefoot and very poor, is leading 8
flock, another's flock, along this road. She
is the living image-though for her there be
so little of livng-of misery and abandon
ment. in her u short years her hands have
grown feebler, more weary, even than are
those of the very aged But in her deep
eyes the ideal sequences have prolonged
themselves through days of silence, doubt
less. she has dreamed; and through the
nights too, under the pale light of the stars.
The understanding OF the lowly is some
times divine.
Suddenly. in the middle of the road, her
dog stops. as if translixed, and stands trem-
bling and awe-stricken. Marie, advancing,
perceives. in the shadow of the thcket, a
form half obscured, yet radiantly white, and
eDcircled with an aureole.
The child has presci=nce of a miracle, and
is not astonished. She mutely considers the
mysterious Being. Yes, it is an Angel
with flowing robe with abundant locks, with
frescoes on the walls of the churches. But
this Angel has only one wing, and his mien
is ineffably sad. Putting her hands together,
palm TO palm, she speaks to him softly, and
in tones of prayer:
"0h, beautiful Prince Of Heaven, [ salute
youi | would serve you. Since yon are
come hither, it must be 10 bring JOY on the
earth, and thank you !"
But the Immortal answers with a great
sob, and then quickly exclaims:
Where am /? On earth, in exilei Ban
ished! Stricken! Chastised! 1t is JOY
that / bring hast thou sa d, o daughter of
men? Alasi behold me. What am [?
"In the fall ordained to me, have lost a
wingl No more of Heaven, nor yet am / Of
earthl Suspense and fear hold horrible
menace for me OF things unknown. On high,
it seems, yesterday declared too hard a
Judgment upon mankind, their passions
their vileness. as it is called-upon crimes
whereof knew not. So, as punishment for
judgment temerarious, the King Of Kings,
the Power Supreme, hath sentenced me to
test the terreslr al life, prey 10 those
temptations ] erstwhile regarded as beneath
contempt. Should i resist, and prove the
victor in these successive trials, then VIII the
azure and the gold, the unchangeable firma-
ment and its eternal glories, be restoed TO
me- But, should i once fail, must d dwell
in this, thy world, until The final judgment
OF men. / am airaid-of all things. And
tbou-who art thou 2"
4" / am only poor. kinless child, received
of charity, who a farmers sheep must guard
that / may live-sOmetimes hardly, some
times well, according 10 the weatheT-and
who, an Angel seeing, kneel to him in prayer,
ihat be will bear me hence to Heaven -
Then the Angel vert yet harder.
Alas Heaven is closed 10 me, and this
one wing, that i must drag so painfully, but
deepens my aflliction, reminding me of my
origin, and nothing serving NE upon this
earth where j must walk. Ii is the last
warning that remains 10 me. AT my first fault,
this, too. will fall, and shall be bound to this
neither sphere, inexorably delivered over to
vileness. far from yonder sublimity Of space
i, Cyriam the Magnificent, Bearer OF
Light Oh, these temptations of men
How dread them, child, even as before /
scorned them! What is that dreadful
nose?"
Student songs disturbed the stiffness OF
the night, and the Iurid glare of torches,
tossed by tie wind, drew nearer, and dyed
with bloody hue the desolate countryside,
wakened 10 horror.
Amid a troop on horseback Regina, the
courtesan, WAS returning TO her dwelling
from forest chase. The noisy cortege
stopped in front of Cyriam and Marie.
Whats there? SUme vagabonds? Make
way! Make way"
The Angel, circied by The scarlet torches,
looked whittier even than before. At sight
OF him there were bursts Of laughter.
What kind Of crippled fowl is here. .
Loose ye the dogs, the chase is not yet done! /!