The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-04-24


one after one with nervous fingers, and
then proceeded with her work in silence
kinvig was beginning an elaborate en-
ginecring diSquisition for Christians bene-
ht-Christian head certainly did hang
rather too low for Kinvigs satisfaction
when girl comes in from the outer fac
tory 10 say that man at the gate would
like to see the master
" Botherationp" shouted Kinvig. "But
wait here, Christian, and I'll be back"
Then, turning to the young weaver
:" Show this gentleman the action of the
loom, my girl"
When the door had closed behind Mr.
Kinvig, Christian raised his eyes to the
young womans face. There was silence
between them for moment. The window
OF the room was open, and the salt breath
Of the ocean tloated in The seas deep
murmur was all that could be heard be-
tween the clicks of the levers. Then Chris
tian said softly:
Mona have you decided? Will you go
backY"
The girl lifted her eyes to his. mo,
she answered quietly.
Think again, Mona; think of me. 1t
Isn't that couldn't wish to have you here
always hcre-always with me-
The girl gave little hard laugh.
But think of the risk!' continued
Christian, more eagerly lis it nothing
that am tortured with suspense already,
but that you should follow meY"
And do suffer nothing?" said she.
There was no laughter on Christians
lips now The transformation to earnest
pallor was startling.
Think of my father" he said evading
the girls question Il have all but i'm
poverished him already with my cursed
follies, and little does he dream, poor old
dad, Of the utter ruin that yet hangs over
his head
There was pause Then, in tender
tone
Mona, don't add to my eternal worries
Go back to Derby Haven, like the dear girl
that you are. And when this storm blows
over, and it will soon be past, then all
shall be made right Yes, it shall, believe
me- F."
There was no answer Christian con-
tinucd:
go at once, my girl Here" diving
into his pockets I've precious little mon
ey left, God help me, but here's enough to
pay your way and something to spare.
He offered u purse in his palm The
girl tossed up his hand with disdainful
gesture
It's not money want from you, " she
said
Christian looked at her with blank
| 81
and answered it with a naughty curl of
the lip The snecr died off her face on the
instant, and the tears began to gather in
her eyes
Its not love girl wants then?" she
said struggling to curl her lip again.
It's not love- then, that a girl like me
can want, she said
She had stopped the loom and covered
up her face in her hands
mo, no." she added, with a stifled sob,
love is for ladies-1ine ladies in silks and
satins-pure, virtuous. Christian" she
exclaimed, dropping her hands and look
ing into his face with indignant eyes, -
suppose there's sort of woman that wants
nothing of man but money-is there?"
Christians lips were livid That's not
L L,
The loom was still The sweet serenity
of the air left hardly sense of motion.
you talk of your father, too, the cir
continued, lifting her voice What o
my mother You don't think of her. No
but do, and it goes nigh to making III!
heart bleed "
Hush Mona whispered Christian
but, Needless of the warming, she contin
ucd:
ITO be torn away from the place wher
she was born and bred, where kith an,
kin still live, where kith and kin lie dea'
that was hard. But it would have bee
harder far harder, to remain, with sham
cast at her from every face as it has bee
every day for these five years.
She paused. A soft boom came up t
them from the sea, where the unruffle
waters rested under the morning sun.
Eyes, we have both suffered" sal
Christian. "What l have suffered Go
knows Yes, yes The man who lives tw
lives knows what it is to suffer. Talk {
crime! No need of that, as the good
3 goody, charitable world counts crime LIE
it be only hidden thing-that's enough
Only secret, and yet how it kills the sur
, shine off the green feldsW Christia
) laughed-a hollow, hard, cynical laugh.
"To find the thing creep up behind ever
thought, lie in ambush behind every smile
break out in mockery behind every innC
= cent laugh To have the dark thing wit
. you in the dark night. No sleep so sweC
but that it is haunted by this nightmare
No dream so fair but that an ugly memor
steals up at first awakening-that, ye
that is to suffer-"
: just then flight of sea gulls disportin
u on rock in the bay sent up wild jal
bering noise.
, "To know that you are not the ma
= men take you for; that dear souls tn;
u cling to you would shudder at your touc
o if the scales could fall from their eyes,
if for an instant, as by a flash of lightning
9 the mask fell from your face. :"
l. Christians voice deepened, and he adde'
l, "Yet to know that, bad as one act
q your life may have been, that life has nj
e been all bad that if men could but see yc
!, as heaven sees you perhaps-perhaps yc
IL would have acquittal"-
y His voice trembled, and he stoppe
Mona was gazing out over the sea wit
$ blurred eyes that saw nothing.
i Christian had been resting one foot {
% the loom. Lifting himself he stamped {
l. the floor threw back his head with SUI
3 den movement and laughed again slight
a Something too much of this, " he sal
u Thnn coboripu once moro. eco hac