Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-06-26
A MIDNIGHT MIRAGE,

WIS AknCt anu INV kA9NAN ~ hDAkGA -
the table in snowy piles still hot from
the iron. Ann Quinn drew . chair mp to
the little kitchen window that over
looked the river and sat down with q
high Of pain. for her back ached. She
,rested nor chin n her hand and stared
through the faint tracSry Of familiar Oh
jects on the glass to the water beyond,
lying dark and glossy under the stars
"INeonder II Mis- Niles wants that
Clipped beef for breakfast" thought
Ann Quinn, for she was both a cook and
q laundresA Guess I'll fry them cold
potatoes left from dinHer. too" she con-
.iinued, her eyes resting ON a PARKWAY
cluster Of electric lights that tTemblcd
like > diamond pendant.
Presently, - she - there, the red
rim " The moon pushea itself up behind
somo trees ON the opposite shore. Ann
Quinn watched it rising, with q medita-
tive look. ITS terrible red. Them lit
tie branches looks like they was drawn
pn It with a pen. wonder what that
black thing in the water isl" she broke
on rs q feeler Of moonlight slipped
across the river to whore something
black and long bodied stifiy in the our
rent. She shaded her eyes from the lamp
and pressed her face close 10 the Rlasa
Looks like q man, " she muttsred. Az
she spoke the thing wheeled about and
began drifting in toward the stone
'breakwateE beneath the window. Slow
~ il drew near, the little moon sparks
dAncing In its wake. 1t hoated into the
shadow, and she strained her eyes in
vain to follow it.
"Guess I'll go to bed, a" she said. Civ
ing one more look into the darkness.
Che did not 60, though, for suddenly
she saw q 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 q steam dredger, for she
heard the thick splash of wet feet com
ing up the steps, and she saw "a face
pressed against the window that sho had
Just quitted-a drawn face, yellow, pale
ns the handkerchief knotted about its
throat.
LET me in. Ann Quinn" said the
lips, though she heard nc voice. Let
me in"
Sho stood staring. her broad cheeks
whittier than the plates ON the dresser be-
hind her, but she did not move. The
man waited q moment; then he pushed
up the sash and swung himself into the
room.
The lamp blinked and guttered in the
draft, and n door slammed. Ann Quinn
quivered from head TO foot. The man
stood looking at her with famished eyes.
"a lifetime, a whole lifetime, " he
whispered ut last, and his voice sound.
ed cold and empty as tho echo in
vault.
go awayi' cried Ann Quinn. land
take your wet hand off my ironing"
The man moved and stared ut the
piles Of clothes on the table.
did you do thatf" he asked in a low
voice. And are you tiredY"
"Yes, / did it, and I am tired, " she
replied. stealing her way stealthily 90
ward the door.
As she moved, her terror lent a new
catlike grace to her awkward body. Sh'
looked almost like another woman II
the swAying light-A woman with mar
row, wicked eyes and 1.-THE motions
The man stepped quickly before the dool
and stood there, his clothes flooding thI
black river water ON her clean floor.
And all this time you have worked
while I have had more, q Thousand
times more, than I could use. And W,
have lived near each other here in tn
same city and never knew H." He GOV
cred his face with his hands and gToan
ed ''OuT ain-what was IL that ",
should reap such lonely years In punish
menti' Then he moved toward her, hi
arms Outstretched: my love, my los
Lowell Give me N kiss, my first sine
that other grave closed over us"
Ann Quinn gulped. and her hair ros
softly. III you touch me, I"nkill youl
she said hoarsely, catching q knife NJ
from The shelf behind her. The mar
seemed not 70 hear her he grasped he
In his arms and crushed his mouth o.
hers. and his lips were wet and cold.
Ann Quinn leaped away from him an,
buried the great knife In his heart. a.
looked into her terrified eyes, and
shadow fell on his face.
&c.," ne said mournfully, ''yoV
have stabbed me- again but this tim
n is 70 late"
She looked. and there WA no bloc
gushing from that great slash only tb
drip, drip Of the thick water. Then Sh
covered her face and prayed. for she say
that the man was dead.
There was . long silence. broken b
Ehs chime Of aclock in the house behinI
them. The man Shivered. IAN hon
more. dear God, only an hour morel'
he pleaded. and he wrung HIS hands
crying huTriedly "How can l say II all
How can / make her understand I" H
soined Ann QuiDn'H arm and shook he
Asroely.
Remember, womanl Try to remem
berl have / forgottenl Have not live
Aloae-waitng-aDd you never camel
Nhs bEushed her rough hand over he
eyes. Somsthing stirred IA her torpi'
brain. AZ the summer lightning, thread
ing the sky, will show a sudden pearl
e~1nrHu~cffVa Of uuaaau clmd mtana fhel