Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-05-14
A MIDNIGHT MIRAGE.

the table in snowy piles still hot from
the iron. Ann Quinn drew chair up to
the little kitchen window that over
looked the river and sat down with a
sigh Of pain, for her back achcd. She
rested her chin in her hand and stared
through the faint tra"cry of familiar OBJ
jects OH the glass to the water beyond,
lying dark and glossy under the stars.
81 wonder if Mis- Niles wants that
Clipped beef for breakfast" thought
Aun Quinn for she WAS both cook and
a laundress. Guess I'll fry them cold
potatoes left from dinner, too, " she con-
tinued, her eyes resting on n PARKWAY
cluster of electric lights that trembled
like diamond pendant
Presently, us she sat there, the red
rim of the mQap pushed itself up behind
some trees oHthe opposite shore. Ann
Quinn watched it rising, with a modita-
tive look. Its terrible red. Them lit
tie branches looks like they was drawn
on it with pen. wonder what that
black thing i'll the water isl" she broke
off rs fccler of moonlight slipped
across the river to whore something
rent. She shaded her eyes from the lamp
and pressed her face close to the glass.
"Looks like man., she mutterCd As
she spoke the thing wheeled about and
began drifting i'll toward the stone
breakwater beneath the window. Slow
~ it drew near, the little moon sparks
dancing in its wake. 1t floated into the
shadow, and she strained her eyes in
vain to follow it.
Guess III go to bed" she said, Civ
ing one more look into the darkness
She did not 60, though, for suddenly
she saw a lean hand thrust over the
breakwater, then another, and the next
moment the figure of a man crawled out
on tho stone below her.
Ann Quinn started back, her heart
pumping like steam dredger, for she
heard the thick splash of wet feet com
ing up the steps, and she saw face
pressed against the window that she had
just quittcd-a drawn face, yellow, pale
rs the handkerchief znotted about it's
throat.
Let me III, Ann QUINN" said the
lips, though she heard 10 voice. Let
me III.
She stood staring, her broad cheeks
whittier than the plates on the dresser be-
hind her, but she did not move The
man waited moment; then he pushed
up the sash and swung himself into the
room.
The lamp bliukcd and guttered in the
draft, and door slammed. Ann Quinn
quivered from head to foot The man
stood looking at hor with furnished eyes
"A lifetime, a whole lifetime" he
whispered at last, and his voice sound
ed cold and empty rs the echo in a
vault.
$50 awayr cried Ann Quinn. And
take your Wet hand off my ironing"
The man moved and stared at the
piles Of clothes on the table.
did you do that?" he asked in low
voice. And are You tired?"
YES, 1 did it, and am tired" she
replied, stealing her way stealthily to-
ward the door.
AS she moved, her terror lent new,
catliko grace to her awkward body. She
looked almost like another woman in
the swnying ight--a woman with mar
row, wicked eyes and 1.-the motions.
The man stepped quickly before the door
and stood there, his clothes flooding the
black river water on her clean floor.
And all this time you have worked,
while l have had more, a thousand
times more, than l could use. And we
have lived near each other here in the
same city and never knew it," He COW
cred his face with his hands and groan-
cd. Our sin-what was it that we
should reap such lonely years in punish
ment?" Then he moved toward her, his
arms outstretchel: My love, my lost
love Give me one kiss, my first since
that other grave closed over us. -
Ann Quinn gulped, and her hair rose
softly. IF you touch me, I'll kill you p
she said hoarsely, catching knife up
from the shelf behind her The man
seemed not TO hear her; he grasped her
In his arms and crushed his mouth on
hers, and his lips were wet and cold.
Ann Quinn lcaped away from him and
buried the great knife in his heart He
looked into her terrified eyes, and a
shadow fell on his face
See" he said mournfully, "you
have stabbed mc-aSain but this time
it is to late. -"
She looked, and there was no blood
gushing from that great slaSh-only the
drip, drip of the thick water Then she
covered her face and prayed, for she saw
that the man was dead.
There was a long silence, broken by
the chino Of clock in the house behind
them. The man shivcred. IAN hour
more, dear God, only an hour more -
he pleaded, and he wrung his hands,
crying hurriedly: How can say it all {!
How can make her understand !" He
seized Ann Quinn's arm and shook her
fiercely.
'Remcmbcr, woman Try to remem-
Der Have | forgotten: Have not lived
alone-waiting-an you never Gamer"
She brushed her rough hand over her
eyes, something stirred in her torpid
brain. As tho SIMMER lightning, thread
ing the sky, viii show a sudden pearly
perspective If unseen cloud mass, then
fash out, leaving the same blind night il
found, so the soul Of Ann Quinn opened
for an instant beyond her wretched, work
ridden world only to close again as
quickly. The man caught her look and
asked, his voice tense and quivering:
"Those faded lilies of the valley,
there in that cup, why did you keep
them only from the flowers you threw
away this morning."
"Thcy-thoy--smelled good" an
swered the woman, troubled, bewildered.
"Only that"
Eyes, only that"
"Have you never dreamed Of some
one you loved, some one apart from this
miserable squalor find you INF"
The blood flooded her sallow face.
What business is that Of yours? Go