Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1900-05-17
THURM0NT, Frederick County, Maryland Thursday, May H. 1900

listen now, Reuben. Won't you
hold my hands while / go on? I've SO
longed for your touch, Reuben, and
have been-more than true
>Go on he said quietly without NOV.
ing.
Then you will understand Then you
will reach down aud gather me to your
heart, for you will know that body and
soul am all your own.' She clasped
the little hands that she had held up to
him, and went patiently on:
u thought it all out. It was raining
heavily that night but there was no wind
and the door stood ajar. Now and then
the rain battered in on the floor. David
sat quietly reading in the candelight;
and the thought came to me. was not
sorry then. not even while I looked at
David's kind, patient face, and now my
soul shouts for joy. for when tell you,
you will know that l was more than
true.
v got up and went into my bedroom,
and from that to the other. Somehow
my fingers easily found the little pistol
and with it l went out and stood in the
bar of light that fell through the door
way. saw David lay down his book
and place my chair nearer to the fire,
and put the slippers he had given me
near it so they would be warm if l came
back. 1t was his way when I went out.
When he sat down again l raised the
pistol. Once, twice, three times, the
clear, sharp report sounded in my ears.
then l went across to the narrow Grey
ice in the boulder and listened as the
pistol clicked down-ard down. For
| had grown wise. If they knew they
would put this thing that had done
between us, not understand ding. Then
| went down to the house and found
David fallen to the floor with great
pool Of blood about him.
>'Call somebody, Margery. Don't
be frightened-you are not to blame.
That was all he said. 1t is three
months since that night when sold my
soul for you, counting it nothing lost,
since l should belong to You. Reuben,
what have done to you2 Your face is
like Dayid's when he had died. Take
me--let me kiss away that frozen look
Reuben. Hold Inc close, close to your
heart, for | was more than true.
But with low, agonlzed groan the
man turned away and walked slowly
down the mountain path.
Reuben Reubenp The heart broken
wall followed him, but he went on and
the green border of the path shut him
away.
'ReubenH The wind tossed the echo
along the valleys and across the hills,
but no returning footsteps sounded on
the mountain path, until at last, as the
moon rose, man, tall and dark, stood
beside the shimmering lake and with
fascinated eyes watched the moonbeams
catching at something that CLEANED
white and still at the edge of the water.
He bent down and touched the tang Z
Of wet, yellow hair.
Margery, little darling, why have
you taken yourself from me? | could
have forgotten the-stain on your dear
little hand, and you are lost to me! Lost,
did I say? Nay, I will find you. l will
find yov wherever you have golev
The quiet of the lake was broken and
the moon ahone down upon the two
cold faces side by side in the woter.
And even yet the people who love
the lonely mountains hear strange, avail
ing cries when the March winds sweep
down the hills, and a weird heart. brok.
en- voice calling name that sounds
like Reuben, but there is never any
answer and nobody understands the
whisper of the young leaves; and who
can interpret the murmur of the blue
waters of the mountain lake?