New-York tribune., 1903-03-29

bone with long ride through mountain HL3t9
in the heart of winter. There was winter III ms
heart too, for his sept was broken one, anu
his name prescribed, and, where MS latheI
might have held together the breaking fortunes
of name and clan by the sheer power of voice
and face. Hugh the younger had been borne by
his mother in a time Of temIes ana Terror anu anu
his face was wan and uncOnely ana MS Eyes
wild and sad.
He held his hands to the fire, but there was
little warmth in it, and there was no comfort
elsewhere in all the great house where he divert,
:; little kernel in a great she'll made TOT one
fairer and stronger far than he IL,
He took up his sword and Iald IL across MS
knees looking at it with weary eyes for ms was
not the soldiers nature, and many time htq
his heart sickened at the thought of battle ana
blood though he was a pretty fighter when the
red time came, and men were cheering anu
graphing together for the Red Hand ana the
But &c Hugh now In this chill time Of doubt
and danger the old lights seemed dim and there
was no new star rising, and he fell TO Wishing
that h., had died in the birthing. or ever his
mother set her cold kiss upon his unWelcohe
face. ~ -,
force he said aloud to the sinking fire tnat
was all his company. BLACK eyes ana yelloM
hair pleased him well, belize, but he pleased
not my mother, and she revenged her upon me
who was innocent and unborn. giving me an
April mind and craving heart toT her gIes as
on the day that she conceived me That was
little and ugly hurt me not, nor that l was
sckly for my father loved me as we'll as he
loved handsome Anthony, who Is dead-ano
God rest him: But that was born of anger
and fear hurts me sore, and shall aoye II 20
the end Who enters there In the name OF
God" He sprang up sword in hand, ana
then laughed at his outcry, for 1t was a CIR!
child who stood in the doorway. little maid OF
eleven years fair to see. white as a snowdrop
with pale yellow hair streaming from unoer ner
put back hood ,, 5,
Hugh O'Rourke said. but you are "eIcone'
You do not come alone"'
Il come alone, Aodh." she said, answering his
English with the Irish tongue. Il shau not III
your house"
Hugh stood still beside the fire while she
came slowly down the room toward him. shak-
ing the randrops from her flowing hair as she
came 4 little way from the fire she stood.
looking at him with large eyes. go.
Why do you meet me with bare steel?' she
said. L looked for other greeting from your
fathers son, Hugh ORourke."
Hugh cast down his sword upon the bench
he had risen from and took step forward TO
meet her. Then he stopped, amazed, for it was
not a child she was, but a grown woman 1t
was that cast off hood and cloak and came 10
him with eager face and eager hands.
Hugh O'Rourke," she said, again in the kind
iy Irish tongue, "have you forgotten he so
soon?"
sHave I ever seen you before. fair one?"
Hugh said. Then because her fingers were
warm his and her eyes dwelt on his. he
ceased questioning and had more wonder
or fear at the fairy change that had passed upon
her in a moment. making woman out OF
"child
Il am she you have desired so long she said,
with tears and laughter in her voice. II am she
looked not kind on you whose breast you have
desired to lie many times, whose soul
your soul has sought and never found. And
never would you have found me in this life be-
loved if had not sought you out. Your name
means light. Hugh. but there was thick dark
your eyes till tonight NoW"-she ttted
the deed to the word-"now have kissed them,
they see?"
And she laid her mouth to his mouth. and the
beating heart of her f1uttered like a bird against
his breast, and the fairy eyes of her darkened
and laughed and lightened into his and set all
his blood fire
A little while they clung together so; then
he put her from him and held her at arms
length, looking at her with eyes that were an
hungered.
rs there a spell of silence upon you Hugh?"
cried the woman. Speak to me- beloved. and
look the whie"'
Might l die looking Hugh said II should
not then think-and grow cold to thinh-of
nothing on the other side"
Nothing? Where is your faith, O'Rourke?'
NV mother taught faith, fair one. My
father taught only swordplay and myself
has taught myself to distrust myself, and no
more"
Learn faith in yourself, then, of me,
O'Rourke. Shall not be on that other side you
SPEAK of? For l came thence tonight
IF l dared only think of it, beloved Hugh
said Yet you have mortal beauty upon your
face and body"
What do you know of mortality, Hugh
O'Rourka? Ard beauty is that core of our little
covers it turn rotten after growing ripe Kiss
me-nay, but only with your eyes. beloTed-and
ell me how mortal am
He kneeled down beside her now and cast his
arms about her fair body she sat in his seat
looking up at her with eyes that changed slowly
their wonder for worship. Then he lOOSed a
hand and drew down a thick curl Of yellow hair
Oy,Fl,- JioIf fnlJ lad hic