The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-12-21

rebellious beating of her heart
After dinner the Bauerin opened huge
chest from which she took her Sunday
jacket with its costly silver lacers
Randel still sat behind the stove where
she usually took nap after her frugal
but substantial meal, but on this occa-
sion she felt no desire to sleep. She kept
watching the Bauerin out of the corner
of her eye.
What if it should be Resi- after all ?"
she crooned.
The Bauerin opened her mouth to utter
an uncivil retort, but remained silent
Il mean that you are taking great
responsibility. Resi- is your child-and
to think that it might be-"
Don't bother mel" almost yelled the
Bauerin. 81 mean to do as like, ard
will not be dictated to. don't want to
hear anything about her or him. didn't
drive them off, now let them lie on the
bed they made for themselves"
Randel muttered timidly: 81 was only
thinking of the consequence; the awful
remorse and reproaches in case you were
too late. Wastl is fine fellow, and l
can't see what you have against him."
All this talk only irritated the Bauerin
land if live to be an hundred"
mo, no, DON'T" interrupted Randel,
raising her hands in depreciation and
ed
which you may have to repent for the
rest of your life"
The Bauerin stared at Randel, then,
nodding her head, she said: You're
right. one should not say such things"
The day seemed endless. The Bauerin
wandered aimlessly through the house
unable to settle down to any work She
tried to persuade herselfthat dreams and
dream books might after all be liable to
mistakes, but at heart she felt that icy
fear which nothing but certainty can
a1lay. Would night never come? Resi-
and Wastl would surely be at midnight
mass, and then she would see with her
own eyes that all her fears had been
groundless. At last it grew dark, but
the evening passed slowly. Just before
midnight the sound of distant church
bells came floating through the clear,
starry night. The Bauerin hastily donned
her coat and preceded by two hands
carrying pine torches in spite of the clear
light of the crescent moon-this being an
old time custom-they started down the
cracked and crunched under their hob
nailed shoes. On reaching the church
she entered hurriedly. At every step she
met familiar faces which she had not
seen for many day, but she was ner-
vous, and did not stop to talk to any
one. She scanned closely every pew, but
neither Resi- nor Wastl was to be seen. 1t
was still early, and she hoped they might
only be late. Yet her heart beat tumul-
tuously. The sound of bell announced
the beginning of the service. The priest,
clad in his golden yestments, came out
the sacristy and mass began-and Resi-
still not there Once more her eyes
searched each pew and bench. Her
heart was in her throat, and great fear
came over her that, after all, the dream
book might have spoken the truth. This
sensible woman suddenly became trans
formed.
GLORIA in excelsis Dec ct in terra pax
hominibus bonae voluntatis," chanted |
the priest. "Gloria in excelsis Deo," re-
sponded the choir. The Bauerin smote
her breast and repeated: eyes, and on
earth peace, good will towards men,
She knew the words by heart; she had
sung them often; she and the other young |
girls Of the village-oh, so many, many |
years ago! So many changes had taken
place in all that time. Only one being |
Time seemed to have passed unnoticed,
and that was the old schoolmaster sit
ting on the organ bench up there in the
choir loft, just as he had looked when
she was a young girl. A faintness came
over her and she closed her eyes. eyes,
yes will" she groaned; 81 will, fit is
not to late"
From the altar came the words Ute |
missa est" She rose, and before the |
organ had given out its closing chords
she had passed through the devoutly
kneeling crowd and reached the door;
here she hurriedly spoke to one of the
servants George, come with me-"
Onward she sped in such haste that the
lad had hard work to keeppace with her.
From out clear winter sky myriads of
stars and a crescent moon shed their
silvery light over valley and snow. covered |
mountains. She had not very far to go |
She could see the light of the little holy
shrine which shown under a low win
dow-and she followed its reckoning
light as eagerly as did those humble
shepherds, eighteen hundred years ago,
that other star of Bethlehem. On near
ing the cabin she found that it was also
lighted within. The house door was I'M
locked and she entered. There in the
low hallway was Wastl with gun in
his hands. On hearing the door creak he
turned; he looked at the Bauerin darkly |
and asked sul1enly: What brings you
here?" "Where is Resi-" she faltered |
breathlessly, her knees trembling. Point
ing over his shoulders with his thumb, he |
said: SIN there, in bed"