Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-07-01
OUT OF THE MIST.


and much is forgiven. Charles Ma
rome had at the age of 40 wealth and
health. good looks, a considerable repu.
tation as novelist and some basis for
that reputation. He was not always
popular with men, but in reoompense
he had been adored by many women.
Having much. much was permitted to
him-to be oaprioious. to be fantastical
to have ecoentricities, to carry ael& in
diligence to the utmost limit, even TO
be cruel.
1t was caprice which drove him from
London in the middle Of the season and
made him take little tumbled down
cottage near the village Of Lowatead
and live there alone, to the anger Of his
servants and the mystiflcation of his
personal friends. 1t was not all caprice
vanity came into 1t. His vanity was
fiattered when he mystified people.
That IL easy to explain--their mystifloa-
ton implied interest. There WAS yet y
third reason. He was strangely praoti-
oal for one 80 idealistioi no had made
contract with publisher to finish GER
tain work IN u certain time. In tho
country he would DO able to work with
out interruption.
It had rained all tho morning, the
drops pattering on the loaded window
In which he sat- with his writing pad
on his knee. In tho afternoon tho rain
had ceased. The sky was still gray.
The empty moorland, the water drip
ping from the trees, the cry Of the cur
lews--all gave the scene certain mel.
anoholy. Toward evening the mist lay
thick and gray over everything He was
sensitive to this melancholy Of the
world outside his windows Late in the
evening. tired Of his work, tired of the
French novel he had been attempting
to read. he went out A laboring man
passed him In the road and said "Good
night" Marone asked him the way to
the next village, Arnmore. The man
pointed to the track across tho moor
and warned him to be careful not to get
off It, People had been lost In the mist.
Marone laughed. lit "a cigarette, and,
leaving the road. walked quickly along
the track.
There was not breath Of wind and
there was no sound in the air. Tho
mist hung motionless. Tho things that
he passed seemed to jump up suddenly
out Of IT, A g0rso bush or II stunted
tree would take almost human move
ment in tho tricky light. Two or three
sheep came close up to him out of the
gray veil and AZ suddenly turned and
sGampered away again. He walked on.
He had lift the track for some time be-
fore he noticed that he had done NO.
He lit another cigarette and stood
perfectly still. Ie had quick ears and
was ready to catch the least sound Of a
football or OF wheels on tho cart track
and to give the call which would bring
him home agnin. II he heard nothing,
no would still, no told himself, be- pa
tient enough to stand there and go on
smoking while the cigarettes lasted. BY
that time the mist would probably have
lifted-it would be new experience.
Suddenly, though no did not hear the
least sound Of any footstep. he was CON-
soious that somebody was coming to-
ward him. At little distance the fig
ure looked like II tall column, vague
and shapeless. As it drew nearer the
mist illusion passed. II was woman,
yelled and dressed in gray. Aa II came
close up to him he saw 1t was a very
young woman, and that the lines Of her
figure were beautiful. She stopped when
she was close to him, but did not speak.
The silence seemed almost uncanny. He
took Off his hat.
"Do not let me brighten you, he
said. 81 am merely harmless traveller
lost ~ the mist, and, presume. you
are in u similar casei'
She laughed. 1t was pretty, music
al laugh
"Oh, no" she said, II know the
moor we'll. and often walk here when
the mist Is thick like this. Perhaps /
can guide you"
1T IL exceedingly kind Of you, he
said. 81 AM sorry 10 give you 30 much
trouble, but II you could put me on the
track which leads to ArDmOre should
be infinitely Obliged 10 you"
"ArnmoreY' she said. II am going
there myself. "
He smiled, embarrassed "a little.
MAY l., he said exchange my es-
cort for your guidancef"
Eyes" she said. "OOme with me.
We may as we'll keep each other COM
paDy this lonely night"
And now Hn idea which had been
growing In his mind, vague idea Of
recognition, became more clear and pre-
cise. He had heard the voice before; he
was sure Of 1t. II seemed to him Ia
come from some time Of the long ago
some time Of which no had kept nc
souvenir.
1T seems Il strange thing TO say" b
said, "but | cannot help thinking WI
must have met before. am sure REQ
pgnize your voice"
Yes" she said, tive have met. 70,
would have recognized my face, too
even In this mist, II were not yelled
knew you ut once. You arc Charlie
Marone."
"Will you not" he went on, "a
least put back your veil? am sure
| ahouId raooout1a you than auh Lnn,