The herald., 1896-04-26

death. This was a grown woman he was
approaching, endowed with her mysterious
potencies and attractions, the treasury OF
the continued race, and he was neither
better nor worse than the average OF bis
sex and age. He had a certain deilcacy
which had preserved him hitherto unspot-
ted and which chad either of them guess
ed iD made him a more dangerous COM
panion when his heart should be really
stirred. His throat was dry as he came
near; but the appealing sweetness OF her
smile stood between them like guardian
angel.
For she turned to him and smiled,
though without rising. There was a shade
in this cavalier greeting that neither Of
them perceived: neither ne, who simply
thought it gracious and charming as her
self, nor vet She who did not observe
(quick as she was) the difference between
rising to meet the laird and remaining
seated to receive the expected admirer.
care ye stepping west, Hermiston?
said she giving him his territorial name
after the fashion of the countryside.
II was said he little hoarsely, "but
| think | will be about the end OF my stroll
now. Are you like me, Miss Christina?
the house would not hold me. 1 came here
seeking air.
He took his seat at the other end of the
tombstone and studied her, wondering
what was she. There was infinite import
in the question alike for her and him.
SAY she said ~ coudnae bear the
roof either. It's a habit of mines to come
up here about the cleaning when It's
quaiet and caller
ut was a habit of my mothers also" he
said gravely. The recollection half star
tied him as he expressed it. He looked
around. "I have scarce been here since.
It's peaceful" he said, with a long breath.
"It's no like Glasgow" she replied. "a
weary place. yon Glasgow! But what
day have 1 had for my Homecoming, and
what bonny evening""
'Indeed, it was a wonderful day." said
| Archie. 81 think ! will remember it years
and years until l come to die. On days
| like this--I do not know if you feel as l
do--but everything appears so brief, and
! fragile, and exquisite that / am afraid to
| touch life. We are here for so short a
| time; and all the old people before us
Rutherfords of Hermiston, Elliotts of the
Cauldstaneslap-that were here but a
while since riding about and keeping up
| great noise in this quiet concentrating
| love too, and marrying-why. where are
| they now? It's deadly commonplace. but
after ALL the commonplaces are the great
poetic truths
He was sounding her. semi-consciously,
to see IL she could understand him; to
| learn if she were only an animal the color
of flowers, or had a soul in her to keep
her sweet. She, on her part, her means
we'll in hand, watched, womanlike, for any
opportunity to shine to abound in his hu-
NOR, whatever that might be. The dram
attic artist, that lies dormant or only half
awake in most human beings, had in her
sprung to his feet in divine fury, and
chance had served her we'll. She looked
upon him with a subdued twilight look
that became the hour of the day and the
train of thought; earnestness shone
through her like stars in the purple west;
and from the great but controlled upheav-
al Of her whole nature there passed into
her voice, and rang in her lightest words,
a thrill of emotion. t ~
"Have you mind of Dand's song?" she
answered. 81 think he'll have been try
ing to say what you have been thinking. }"