Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-05-22

y
myself. I knew something was to hap
pen as I heard the sound of the coming
engine, and as l watched the train sweep
around the curve of the line wanted
badly to run away, but couldn't OF
course there are seldom many passen-
gers for Chelmsford. This time there was
but one. I caught glimpse of his face
at the window of carriage where he
sat alone, and my heart seemed to stop
beating A moment later he stood be-
fore me. 1t was Harberton. He was ex-
actly as remembered him. There was
nothing in his appearance or manner to
account for the dread in me. We ex-
changed greetings, but no word passed
between US. We traversed the leafy lanes
as in a dream, but they and myself were
visionary-he alone was real. And all
the time the memory of the telegram I
had omitted to send kept recurring to
my half paralyzed brain.
81 knew it could not be Harberton,
yet felt convinced it was none other.
Dull wonder whether or not mother
would see as | did ran through my mind,
but was i'll reality too stupefied to be
capable Of anything like consecutive
thought.
1.-The path we trod led through the
orchard into the rose garden, whereon
the low windows of my mothers sum-
mer parlor opened. AS we entered the
garden she saw us-saw him-and
waved her thin hand in welcome. And
Harberton, or what l took to be Har-
berton, who till then had done nothing
but make me dread his presence, waved
in return courteously, almost gayly.
81 can tell you how that day passed.
1t seemed like a long drawn out night
mare. l kept saying to myself: 1 am
asleep. shall awake soon.' Harberton
sat in my mothers cool, darkened room,
talking of me, as l gathered while pac-
ing restlessly within and without, or
smoking in chair outside the window.
She seemed to speak anxiously about
my future-I suppose, like most only
sons reared by mothers, I had been
rather wild-and he appeared to reas-
sure her. She was quite soothed and
happy in his company. moved about.
l would 60 to the stables to speak to the
men or wander aimlessly about, but
there was ever that awful sense of all
being an illusion. I fancied l must be
mad, and feared the sound of my own
voice.
''It was aperfect day, still and balmy,
the air being heavy with the fragrance
of the roses, but to me it seemed end
less. Still, it came to close at last In
the cleaning Harberton bade mother
farewell. She blessed him as they part
ed, standing dumbly by, and he, hold
ing her hand, said gently, with his old,
soft drawl, L shall return soon.
"Harberton went as he came, through
the byways carpeted with moss and
overhung with brier roses, still holding
no speech with me, who followed dog
like. Midway down the lane the even
ing haze caught radiance from a shaft
of the sunset, and into the glory of it he
passed alone. For moment dared not
enter. When did, he was gone.
well, in short time was able to
laugh at the occurrence as absurd.
Mother seemed to feel happy in some
sort of delusion. I didn't care to ridi-
Cule. one never asked ul6 10 Seuu 1Or
Harberton again. She always said,
When it is time, he will come
''She got more fragile daily. One
night she looked so ethereal that, fear
ing to leave her, sent the nurse to bed
and staid i'll her room. All was hushed,
and must have dozed off, to be reused
by mothers voice saying gladly: oh,
you have come for mel That is SO good
of you'll
1.-The light of the harvest moon filled
the room, eclipsing the feeble glow Of
the night light.
''Mother had raised herself to sit
ting position and was looking up eager
ly, joyfully, her thin hands extended.
Bending over her, I saw distinctly the
figure of Harberton. Starting forward,
rushed toward her, but before could
reach her side she sank bakk inert. Har-
berton had vanished, and the moonlight
revealed only her dead face lying peace
fully smiling OH the pillows.
''That's lot of years ago now, but
I've never been able to reduce it to COM
mon sense. Can you, Old chap?''-Black
and White.