Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-03-14

SnOulu lall at ner feet from the Sky
was more than Miss Middleton's mind
could grasp at that moment Madam
Geraty smiled, for she could see that
her patron had reached a point that
tried her faith severely.
This reading is wonderful reve
lation to lie as well as to YOU" she
said, nor is it given to me to tell Won
or to explain how this phenomenon is
to come about; but never vet have
had reason to doubt any of the read
ings chat appear to me. however in
eXpiicable they at first may seem"
Miss Middleton found Madam Ger
aty's words repeating themselves over
and over in her mind. as from dav 70
day she pOndered the strange read
ing. She even looked up a current al
manac and inquired into the position
of Venus and when she found that
within week, or ten DAYS at the
most, she would be able to see this
beautiful planet while a part of the
suns rays still remained above the
horizon, she became strangely OK.
cited. She debated with herself as to
whether she should even carry ont
the tormality which had been en-
Joined; although the peculiarly gifted
little French woman had described
accurately just such a love-vine tan
gle, surrounding an old fountain as
did actually exist in Miss Middleton's
garden, which was a seductive. dense
ly shaded. flowery and fragrant nIot
of ground entirely enclosed by . high
moss-grown stone wall. which effectu.
ally cut off from all chance observa-
ton from the street
AS the days passed by. Miss Middle
ton found herself watching the eve
ming sky with a minute directness
that told her she was slowly yielding
to the necromancy of the soothsaver's
words. And at last the day came
when the evening star, pale and trem-
bling, came into view while the SIMS
rays still gilded the sky above the
western hills. When she saw the
star Miss Middleton's heart began To
tbump like a huge hammer inside of
her, sending wave after wave Of burn
ing crimson to her cheeks. as she
hesitated between her inclination to
20 to the garden and her fear of the
fooiishness Of it all
Finally the romance of her nature
conquered, and she stole her way in
among the dense shadows of the OLE
garden. She crept to the love-vine
tangle There were no trees quite
near, and this was now the brightest
spot in the place. Miss Margery
glanced at the clear sky overhead a
moment, then she bowed her head.
while one la t appeal of her material
sense yielded place to the intoxication
OF mysticism and the hope of love.
Slowly she sank to her knees and
cried out, with a profound longing
from the depths of her soul:
"Bertram! Bertrand! Bertram!!!"
AT the same moment she lifted her
eyes toward the heavens.
A sudden crashing and tearing
sound fell upon her ears and she saw.
descending out of the clear sky. a
mans form. Down It came, like a
meteor, with fearful crash among
the love vines at Miss Middleton's
feet. There was a thud. too. and the
man lay still.
One wild screech escaped Miss
Margery's lips, and she remained on
her knees, motionless as a prayerful
nun, for more than two minutes.
staring into the face of the man be-
fore her. Then she sprang up and,
putting her arms about the form, she
dragged it out from among the vines.
oh, Bertram! 1t is indeed you!
and, oh, must I lose you now?"
She hurried to a running fountain
not far away and wet her handker-
chief Returning she bathed the
mans face gently. caressingly, and at
last his eyes opened and looked into
her face. For a moment his gaze
seemed to lack intelligence, then a
wonderful smile of happiness passed
over his features, and he reached up
and took Miss Middleton's cheeks be-
tween his palms
Margery, Margery!" he said, "Once
more | am going to ask you to be
mine VIII you? For l have waited
long"
With a subtle sense of awe and a
heart full of joy she bent over and
kissed him. Then Bertram sat up
and moment later was standing by
Miss Middletons side.
"Oh, am all right yeti" he ex-
claimed, only little bruised. And
how near to death would l not go
could l come back to such happiness
as l now enjoy"
But the wonder of it all was still
large to Miss Middleton, and she
could only accept Bertram's caresses
in silence.
Presently they turned toward the
house, walking arm in arm. Half way
to the gate, Bertram stopped and
gazed toward the sky.
Il wonder what went wrong with
the old machine?" he said. Il had
nearly such Jolt once before. But
now | shall never try it again" He
looked into Margerys eyes tenderly.
"Xou know. dearest" he continued.
Il had built it on entirely new princi.
pies and was congratulating myself