The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-21

i, With a groan he leaned over the rail- ing of the bridge and gazed down upon the peaceful water. His fingers fondled the gold in his pockets, and as it's jing. ling reached his ears, frown covered 'oh. God! he cried; "oh, God. I am not worthy of her; l am not worthy to touch the hem of her garment" Long he stood upon the bridge. watch, ing the trees the hills. the meadows and the stream at his feet grow dim and in' distinct, then disappear in the darkness; And when he turned, at last. and glanced again towards the little cottage Ii the the streamed brightly from a side window.
 Slowly and with hesitating step and heavy heart he climbed the hill. Noise lessly he passed through the gate amd, like a thief in the night crawled through
 the clover and the grasses until ne | reached the wirdow through which the | light streamed. Carefully he raised him. self from the ground, and. standing in the shadow of a tree, looked through the window.
 A lamp burned brightly on a table, but no one was in the room: But as ne watched door was opened ana young woman entered.
 From head to foot she was attired in loose-fitting robe of immaculate white, and her long hair. unbound ana unfast- ened by pin or ribbon, fel, about her neck and shoulders In golden shower. Upcn her face shone the bright glimmer of spirituality and in her eyes was the soft light of that great peace that pass, eth all understanding. As she glided across the room she did not seem to walk. but rather to be borne upon the aie' with invisible wings.
 Straight to the window she came, and there she stood. her face turned towards the man. her eyes, raised toward Heaven, shining with the kisses of the starlight. and around her head the soft halo of the lamplight.
 1,t-- fot . knees in the clover, and covered his eyes with his hands. It was as though he had looked upon an angel and had been blinded by the dazzling beauty of her garments.
 ImmovabIe. thus for many moments they remained-the woman at the window gazing into Gods kind eyes, her face flashing back the brightness of His light and purity: the man groveling in the darkness, grooming under the burden of his sin, prostrate before the one he worshiped, but was not worthy or wrestIed with with his anguish. There is no hope" he sobbed over and over; mo hope! I cannot climb up to her; she is beyond-beyond me-
 jingled in his pockets. chill ran through him at the sound. For thirty pieces of silver, he groaned; flor thirty pieces of silver"
 
 at the window. The woman was still there, a psalm personified. Her large. blue eyes were gazing directly toward him, and in their depths he seemed to see a deep compassion, a great pity.
 In mute entrea.y he reached out his hands to her. forgetful of the darkness that surrounded him-the darkness that hid him from her sight. Then he low cred his face into his hands and trem- bled.
 Suddenly some one touched his shoul- der, and he raised his head and saw a man standing beside him-a man upon whose breast there gleamed the silver badge of a sheriff.
 "In the name of the commonwealth" the officer said. And 7he other bowed his head in silence for moment, then raised his mournful eyes and smiled grimly.
 "Pll go. sheriff." he answered softly I'm black-hearted William. and I'll take my punishment Only,' his voice quay cred, please dont-don't let her know"
 Silently he followed the officer through the darkness. and as he went he heard again the womans voice raised in a song of praise. He glacned back and saw her kneelng by the window, her hands clasped before her and her head bowed in SunDlicatior.
 So the shadows deepened between them.
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