The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-14

yield to the quickening touch of
spring?
oh. to wake from this long night
mare of pain! To lay her weary head
upon his breast and weep out her
heart in the loving embodiment of his
arms! To feel his warm kisses upon
her lips quivering under the rapture
of his caress To see his dear eyes
smiling upon her with that tenderness
which of old brought the glad tears
yelling into her own!
She started to her feet, both hands
pressed to her temples, her face grown
suddenly haggard and wild.
'Ain't that what I've been hoping,
waiting, praying for? What is it that
and don't want nothing of the kind? :?
Oh, God, take this devil out of my
heart! What we l got to live for but
Jim If l cry to You against i'm
don't listen, dear Lord. It's the wicked
fury that old woman's put into my
heart-not me. When | stop loving
Jim I'll go mad. Before that day
comes, oh, let me die!"
Her cheeks were wet her voice
broken, her breast heaving with bitter
sobs. A TEMPEST of outraged love and
pride was shaking her to the very core
of her being.
In a few moments, however, she
controlled herself and once more took
up her sewing. Little remained to be
done, and this was soon accomplished.
Half an hour later, with a small bun
die in her hand. she left the house
She had changed her torn calico
dress for one of some inexpensive
dark stuff, which though old and
faded, fitted well. and so borrowed a
certain sculptural grace from the
wearer. Her hat was broad black
straw, tied beneath her chin by black
ribbons. In the bit of old lace at her
throat she had pinned a single violet
that had unfolded it's purple petals in
the shelter of a drift of rafting oak
leaves heaped beside the path near the
door.
Jim may be home when 1 get
back" she was thinking when she
plucked the flower, "and it'll please
him, maybe, to see me looking sorter
nice"
Her way lay down a sharply curv-
ing road, on either side of which zig
Jagged rail fences enclosing broad,
rolling fields suffused with the mist
like green of newly springing oats. In
the angles of the fences were feathery
little mounds of snow, glistening in the
sun and fast vanishing in the warmth
of the late afternoon.
Down here a short distance before
her the road Strengthened to cross a
bridge spanning a shallow creek
that fringed with birch and black
gum trees came winding down
through the holiows of the low red
hills. Just this side of the bridge, on
the right, reared a mighty oak, lifting
against the February sky its vast fan
of leafless branches like a dark lace
work on the blue background of the
heavens.
AS Sara neared this tree her temples
began throbbing with acute pain. Her
head reeled. The trees, the earth, the
sky, the low-hanging sun spun into
one great dazzling blurr. With a faint
cry, she threw out her arms, and
caught at the oak to keep herself from
falling.
The creak of wheels and a scolding
falsetto voice raining objurgations
upon slowly moving team of oxen
pierced her ebbing consciousness and
served to rouse her. With painting
bosom she looked up vaguely
log-cart was approaching over the
bridge. Swinging low in chains be-
tween the wheels was a single huge
cut from the body of a pine-tree. In
front numbered two great steers. their