The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-02-15

meet me there. Inside the church It
was very still, and the crimson light
from the western window fell full upon
the great white altar cross. It re.
minded me OF the white cross [ had
given Arthur. Should l be the one
TO put q stain on our cross, and make
my arm unworthy to be Joined to the
other Where was Arthur; was his
cross still unsullied and waiting for
mine Was Arthur dead, or had he
forgotten me 1t was growing very
dark; only the white cross stood out
boldly in the dim light. | heard some
one coming. Arthur may be dead |
whispered, but he Is not u%nfaithful,
and If he is alive he will come back TO
me- My heart was beating wildly, for
knew thai Antoine was in the church.
looked toward the altar, the last
crlmson ray fingered on the cross it
seemed to reach higher and higher,
and to stand out stronger and clearer
In the darkness. | rushed blindly
toward 1t, past the altar, through an
other door, and SO out into the fading
light.
That night l left Venice, and went
TO JON The family at Paris"
We had spent four years in travel.
When we returned to America | learn
ed that Arthur had been there to find
me, and hearing that | had gone to
England, he had started right away to
follow me. Our ships had passed each
other.
Something like dark despair came
over me. Fate seemed cruel. The
one faint hope hat anchored me to life
was gone. now was | eve to find him,
or 10 let him know where | was A.
though my friends helped me, ell our
efforts were in vain,
Il took up my life again, and tried
to go on ~bravely. Years passed. My
pupils were grown now, and needed
me no longer; SO | came to IL to
live, and teach school. | was past
forty my youth was gone; my hair
was turning very gray, but | thought
of Arthur still, and kept on saying
If he is alive he will find me OUT ]
still thought of him as my young lover
| could not bear to think Of his brown
curls as turned to grey, or those big
blue eyes with a haggard look of age
and sadness.
Fay, my story is drawing to a close
One evening | was sitting at the win
dow watching the setting sun, when
saw an old man coming toward me
out Of the gold and crimson light o
the sunset he seemed to come. As h,
dhiS oh NSly olo"iy i Cd" GuuU Out
:. sleeve OF his coat hung loose and limp
and that he leaned upon a stick. II,
, come very near and stopped, and as h'
raised his eyes, o, my God, L saw tina
it was Arthur Grayson.
'"A little later when | smoothet
back the grey locks from his whit,
, brow, n looked at the empty Goa
5 sleeve, | burst into a flood OF bite
tears. 1T reminded me OF our whit
cross and the missing arm. Could W
i be the same two who had parted S
$ young and hopeful. But when W
looked into each others eyes, we kne,
( that we had passed our rough places
and temptations. We had stood tb
t storm, and loved each other still, wit
t a love that had suffered and grow
stronger and deeper, and now in tn
Q sunset OF u lives there had sprun
g up in us the glowing embers of on
a youthful love. Like the setting SUI
t gathers all its many scattered beam
D together into one last great crimso
1 ray that deepens and colors all aroun
: it in mellow light, and lasts long int
Y the calm, cool twilight.
e I'VE were married that night. Bu
Arthur was failing fast. His wound
: had been severe. nursed him tenC
@ erly, until at last there came q da
i: when | was left alone.
S Zone more long, lonely waiting, br
4 there is a sure meeting for US. Now
Is Arthur who is waiting for me, an
in heaven our love will be unchangc
and everlasting"
q Aunt Eleanor closed the little trun
e that held her earthly treasures. Felici
was crying gently, but there was a loo
in her dark eyes that showed thf
y there was no use to ask her what sh
q thought OF love now, so Aunt Elaanc
:. stole quietly away.
5 Fellcla gazed long into the dyin
c embers. a cricket began to chirl
and reused her from her reverie. Sh
r rose and went over to the window, an
n as she looked across the garden, sh
n sighed and whispered, 81 wonder if
d could love like that" for she saw Aur
Eleanor kneeiing al Arthur's grave.