Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-06-03
III.

A whole fortnight of broiling summer
days slipped by; and he waited, al
ways too weary to make the smallest
effort to induce Frank to quit the
place. 1t might, perhaps, have cost
him no more than Il single word. But
he never spoke the word-waiting. and
gradually falling under n spell of wait
ing, as though he were looking for the
mysterious outcome of an interesting
denoument. Had they already me-
anywhere? And IL they should,
would anything come OF it? One thing
inevitably follows another through the
nothing can be done toS check their
course.
Westhove was in the habit Of remain
ing a good deal indoors, leading a quiz
ct life between his gloomy thoughts
and his favorite gymnastics, not troub-
ling himself about the summer crowd
outside on the terrace and the shore.
Thus the fortnight passed without his
becoming aware of the vicinity of the
woman whom Van Maeren dreaded.
Not a suspicion of premonition thrilled
through Franks mild melancholy; he
had gone on breathing the fresh sea
dir without perceiving any fragrance
In the atmosphere that could suggest
her presence. He did not discern the
prints of her little shoes ON the level
strand below the villa, nor the tilt OF
her parasol passing under hig eyes, as
he sat calmly smoking with his feet on
the ratings. And they must often
have gaZed at the self-same packet
Steaming into the narrow harbor, like
a cOlared silhouette cut out Of a print,
wit its little sails and flag of smoke;
but their eyes were unconscious how
nearly they must be crossing each 9th
er, u there over the sea.
. After these two scorching weeks
there came a dull, gray. sunless day,
with heavy rain stored in the driving.
black clouds, like swollen watersheds.
Frank had gone for a walk on the
shore, by the edge Of the wailing, fret
ting sea; the basket-chairs had been
carried higher up, and were closely
packed and almost ~unOccupied. There
was scarcely anyone out. A dismal,
signing wind swept the waters; it was
an autumn day, full of the desolation
OF departed summer joys. And rs he
walked on. his ears filled with the
moaning breeze, he saw her coming
toward him with waving skirts and
huttering ribbons, and-Great Heaven!
1t was she!
Ii was as though q mass Of rock had
been suddenly cast at his breast with
a giants throw, and he lay crushed
and breathless beneath. A surge Of
mingled Joy and anguish struggled
through his pulses. thrilled his nerves
mounted TO his brain. He involuntari-
ly stood still. and, almost unconscious
~, exclaimed. in a tone inaudible. in
deed. al any distance, and drowned in
the wind:
Eva My God! Eva.'
But the distance was ~lessening: she
was now close to him. and apparently.
quite calm; because she had already
seen him that very morning, though he
had not seen her; Because she had gone
through the first emotion: because she
had walked that way, in the wind, close
by the villa into which she had seen
him vanish, in the hope of meeting him
again. The question flashed through
his mind whether he should greet her
with q bow. as Il stra~nger-doing II
with affected Indifference, as though
unmoved by this accidental meeting
and forgetful of the past. And. I'm
spite OF his tremulous excitement. he
could still be amazed at seeing her
come straight toward him. without any
hesitation, as II to her goal. In an in
slant she stood before him. with her
pale. earnest face, and dark eyes
beaming with vitality; he saw her
whole form and figure. absorbed them
into himself, as though his soul would
devour the vision.
"ErUUk " che Suid coftlv
He made no reply, shiyering with
emotion, and scarcely able to see
through the mist OF tears thai dimmed
his eyes. She smiled sadly.
"Will you not hear meg' she said. in
her low. silyery voice.
He bowed. awkwardly, muttering
something, awkwardly putting out his
hand. She gently grasped 1t, and went
on. still In that subdued tone. like mn
echo:
do not be yexed with me for nd
dressing you. There is something I
should like to say to you. l am glad
to have met you here In S~cheveningen
by mere cbance--or, perhaps, not by
mere chance. There was some misun.
Outstanding, Frank. between YOU and
me, and unpleasant words were spoken
on both sides. We parted, and VET. I
should like to ask your forgiveness for
what I then said"
Tears choked her; she could scarcely
control herself; but she concealed her
emotion and stood calmly before him:
brave sAs woman can be brave. and
with that sad smile full of hopeless
submission, without affectation, candid
and simple.
do not take Il amiss: onls LET ma