The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-08-24
Beverly of !.
GrduStdrki
Ccontinued.)

The fire In the open had died down
until naugbt remained but few glow
ing embers. These were blown into
brIlliancy by the wind. casting a steady
red light over the scene. There was
but one human figure In sight. Beside
the fire stood the tall wanderer. He
was hatless and coatless, and his arms
were folded across his chest. Seeming
" oblivious to the approach of the
storm he stood staring in4D the heap OF
ashes at his feet His face was toward
her, every feature plainly distinguish
able In the faint glow from the fire. To
her amazement the black patch was
missing from his eye, and, what sur
prised her almost to the point Of ex-
Claiming aloud. there appeared to be
absolutely no reason for Its presence
there at any time. There was no marx
or blemish upon or nbout the eye. II
was as clear and penetrating as Its
fellow, darkly cleaning In the red glow
from below. Moreover, Beverly saw
that he was strikingly handsome--a
strong, manly face. The highly Inn
aginatiye southern girls mind reverted
to the first portraits Of Napoleon she
had seen.
Suddenly he started. threw up his
head and, looking up to the sky, utter
ed some strange words. Then he strobe
abruptly tOwnrd her doorway. She
fell back GREATNESS. He stopped just
outside, and she knew that he was
listening for sounds from within. Aft
er many minutes she stealthily looked
forth again. He was standing near the
fire. his back toward her, looking off
| Into the night.
| The wind was growing stronger. The
breezes famed the night into rush OF
shiyery coolness Constant chickering's
| of lightning illuminated the forest,
| transforming the treetops into great
black waves. Tall reeds along the riv-
er bank began to bend their tops, to
swing themselves gently to and from
the wind. In the lowlands down from
| the cave will-o'-the-wisps played tag
| with jack-o' Lanterns, merrily scamper-
| ing about In the blackness, remind
| ing her of the jewellers in famous
Broken scene Low means grew out
Of the havoc, and voices seemed to
speak in nnintelllgible whispers to the
agitated twigs and leaves. The Sc
rrets of the wind were being spread
upon the records of the night. Tales
/ Of many cllmes passed through the
ears of Nature.
From gentle undulatlons the marsh
land reeds swept into lower dips,
danced wilder minuets, lashed each
| other with Infatuated glee, knocking
the whistle Of the wind with an angry
swish of their tail bodies. Around the
.ornices of the Inn of the Hawk and
Raven scurried the singing breezes, re-
luctant to leave playground SO pleas
Ing to the fancy. Soon the night be-
came caldron, surging, kissing,
. roaring receptacle in which We're mix
ing the ingredients Of disaster Night
birds tapped through the moaning
treetops hi search of shelter, reeds
were dattened to the earth, bowling to
/; She sac aim Lsl0tb aio ..,Hts dlott
) the sovereignty of the wind; clouds
: roared with the rumble of million
chariots, and then the sky and the
earth met in one. of those savage con
flicts that make all other warfare seem
as play.
l AS Beverly sank back from the cras
!. she saw him throw his arms aloft as
t though inviting the elements to mass
!, themselves and their energy upon his
. head. She shrieked involuntarily. and
: be heard the cry above the carnage
Instantly his face was turned In hei
direction.
aHelpl HeIpr' she cried. He bound
ed toward the swishing robes and
:. blankets, but his impulse had found
: uyai In the blast. Like fash the walls
n Of the guest chamber were whisket
e away, scuttling OF into the night OF
;. back into the depths of the cavern,
! Witli~the deluge came the man. From
lamong the stifiing robes he snatchet
her up and bore her away. she knew
not whittier.