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

listen, ne suu. ''IOnlgnt III lar
land my soul will be born anew. Until
then the veil is lifted. But wo viii
cheat God and love and law-yUu aud
together. Soon my eyes Will be blind
ed, and | shall not know you except by
this. Take il and keep ii always over
your heart, and though You hc old and
bent, and though you be "a little child,
still | shall know y0u.
He thrust his hand into his breast and
drew out leather case. He opened il
and pushed something toward her She
luohrd. II WHs Il faded SpIay of lily Of
the valley. THvn he reached into his
pnrkvt aud threw ii canvas bag down OH
the table Take these" he said
"Thrrc Is enough here - keep you from
TIN, drud&cry. He pointed to the iron
ing. And now | must br gone. The
river calls to me. "
They stood locking at each other III
silence. 7 n" huhi swan before Ann
Quinn eyes, and everything blurred but
that white face stating into hers. Near
er it came, ever nearer, and she felt her
muscles culver III resistance, then grow
luN; there was Il pause, Il gusping breath,
and She had thrown herself into his
arms. The cold uoZe from his wet hair
trMlrd Oh her neck. Closer and closer
they swayod together locked in each
others arms; then, with ~ strange, thin
cry, like the wall OF newborn child,
the man too himself away and lrnpcd
from tho window into the might beyond
There was Il heavy splash and Silunce.
The wind had blown out the lamp
Ann Quinn CROPPED her way to the table,
dazed and stupid. She struck match.
1t sputtCred and went out. Then she
crawlcd away into IA corner, her wide
eyes fixed on the open window. The
moon swan high, and the river ran
molten silver beneath it. The little stars
set, and the gray scroll Of morning I'M
rolled across the night. Still she sat
there, her eyes fixed on the empty win
dow space.
Suddenly she stood up, and she felt
old and dizzy and lame. She reached
out and picked up the canvas bag the
man had given her. She shook it, and
there rolled out on tho table great
handful Of unset rubiCs. Ann Quinn
stood staring at them until the first sun.
beam came sitting through tho darkness,
lighting thom into a thousand crimson
spUklrS.
There was rap at the door, and she
thrust the jewels from sight. II was
only the milkmun, and he looked at the
woman's face in disappointment. $50
you've heard the news already" he
asked.
"What newS?"
"Why, didn't you know they've found
the body of Ellis Price, the millionaire,
drowned not n hundred yards from this
very spot?"
NO" said Ann Quinn.
"Yes, and they think he must have
been murdered. He left home to 40 to
the bank with some rubies he had for
his niece's wedding, and they weren t
on the body anywhere. "
Observation-Disclosures What would
they do if they found--some one with
them rubies?" Ann Quinn asked thickly.
"Why, hang him high as he'd
swing" answered the milkman.
Ten minutes later Ann Quinn stole
down to the riverside. She reached over
and dropped handful of stones into the
water-a handful of stones that shone
like blood drops. Down they sank into
the gray river slime. But on the ripples
above them hung something too light to
sink, for it was only dried stem of
lilies Of the valley.
Ann Quinn watched it drift out of
sight. Then she turned back to the house
to get breakfast. Julie Closson Kenly
in San Francisco Argonaut.