Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-06-11
CHAPTER
IKE STRANGER on THE SANDS.

oNeI lie Scl; the crimson ana golden llbnt
seemed to be reflected in each drop of water
until the waves were one mass of heavlng
roscate gold; a sweet western wind laden
with rich, aromatic odors from the pine
woods seemed TO kiss the waves as they
touched the shore and broke into sheets of
beautiful white foam. 1t was such a sunset
and such q sea-such q calm and holy still
ness. The golden waters stretched out as
far and wide as the eye could reach. The
yellow sands were clear and smooth; the
cliffs that bounded the coast were steep and
covered with luXuriant green foliage. Pau
line Darrell had gone 10 the beach, leaving
Miss Hastings, who already felt much bet
ter, TO the enjoyment of an hours solitude.
There was a small niche i'm one Of the
rocks, and the young girl sat down in il, with
the broad, beautiful eXpanse of water spread
out before her, and the shining waves break
Ing at her feet. She had brought a book
with her, but she read little; the story did
not please her. The hero of it was too per-
feet. With her eyes fixed on the golden,
heaying eXpansc Of water, she was thinking
Of the difference between men in books and
men in real life. In books they were all
either brave or viciOuS-either very noble or
very base.
She passed in review all the men SHE had
ever known, beginning with her kind-heart-
ed, genial father, the clever humorist artist,
who could define a mans character in an
epigram so skillfully. He was no hero Of
romance; he liked his cigar, his glass" and
his jest. She thought of all his rugged, pict-
ureSque missionaries, blunt of speech,
honest of heart, ~open-handed, generous, self
sacrificing men, who never envied a COM
rade'S prosperity, nor did even their greatest
enemy an evil turn; yet they were not heroes
OF romance. She thought of Sir Oswald
the stately gentleman of the old school, who
had held his name and race so dear, yet had
made so fatal IN error in his marriage and
will. She thought of the captain, handsome
and polished in manner, and her face grew
pale as she remembered HIM. She thought of
Lord Aynsley, for whom she had a friendly
liking, not unmiXed with wonder that he
could so deeply love the fair, sOft-voiced, inane
Lady Darrell.
Then she began TO reflect how strange it
was that she had lived until now, yet had
never seen a man whom she could love. Her
beautiful lips curlcd in scOrm as she thought
of it.
IF ever | love any one at all" she said TO
herself, sit must be some one whom | feel to
be my master. | could not love n man who
was weak in body, soul, heart, or mind. l
must feel that he is my master; that my soul
yields to his; that | can look up to him as
the real guiding star Of my life, rs the guide
OF my actions. If ever / meet such a man,
and VOW to love him, what will my love do
for me? | do not think / could fall in love
with a book-hero either; they are too coldly
perfect. | should like a hero with somre hui
man faults, with a touch of pride capable of
being reused into passion"
Suddenly, as the thought shaped itself in
her mind, she saw a tall figure crossing the
sandS-the figure of a a walking quickly.
lie stopped at some little distance from
the cliff, and then threw himself on the sand.
His eyes were fixed on the restless, beautiful
sea; and she, attracted by his striking mascu-
line beauty, the statuesque attitude, the
grand, free grace Of tho strong limbs, tho
royal carriage of the kingIy head, watched
him. In the Louvre she had seer some mar.
velous statues, and he reminded her of them.
There was one Of Antinous, with a grand,
noble face, a royal head, covered with clus,
tiers of hair, and the stranger reminded her
of il.
She looked at him in wonder. She had
seen pictureSque-looking m%en-dandies, fOps
but this was the first time she had ever seen
a noble and magnificent-looking man.
IF his soul is like his face" she thought
to herself, 'he is a hero"
She watched him quite unconsciously, adj
nliration gradually entering her heart.
u should like to hear him speak," she
thought. II know just what kind of voice
ought to go with that face"
1t was a dreamy spot, a dreamy hour, and
he was all unconscious of her presence. The
face she was watching was like some grand,
harmonious poem to her; and as she so
watched there came to her the memory of
the story OF Lancelot and Elaine. The rest,
less golden waters, the yellow sands, the
cliffs, all faded from her view, and she, with
her vivid imagination, saw before her the
castle court where Elaine first saw him, lifted
her eyes and read his lineaments, and then
loved him with a love that was her doom.
The face on which she gazed was marked by
no great and guilty lOye-it was the face OF
LancelOt before his fall, when he shOne no.
blest, purest, and grandest OF all King Ar.
thurs knights.
1t was for his face Elaine loved him.
thought the girl-''grand and noble as is the
face OH which the sun shines now"
Then she went through the whole of that
marvellous story; she thought of the purity,
the delicate grace, the fair loneliness OF
Elaine, as contrasted with the passionate
love which, flung back upon Itself, led her tC
prefer death to life-Of that strange, keen,
passionate love that so suddenly changed lhe
whole world for the maid of Astolat.
And L would rather be like her." said the
girl to herself; II would rather die loving the
highest and the best than live loving one less
worthy"
1t had seized her Imagination, this beauti
full story of a deathless love.
" too could love as Elaine did" she
thought; for love cannot come to me wear.
ing the guise it wears to others. l could read
thet true nobility of a mans soul in his face,
l could love him, asking no love in return. ]
could die so loving him, and believing him
greatest and best"
Then, as she unused, the sunlight deepened
on the sea, the rose became purple, the wa.
tiers one beaming mass of bright color, and
he who so unconsciously aroused her sleep.
ing soul to life rose and walked away over
the sands. She watched him as he passed
out of.sight.
II may never see him again." she thought;
but | shall remember his face until / die
A great calm seemed to fall over her; the
very depths of her heart had been stirred.
She had been wondering so short a time be-
fore If she should ever meet any one at all
approaching the ideal standard of excellence
she had set up in her mind. 1t seemed like
an answer to her thoughts when he crossed
the sands.
Il may never see him again" she said;
"but ] shall always remember that ] have
met ono whom ] could have loved"