Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-12-31

nad known at the last and had Tor
given Hugh. OF this she could assure
him when he returned, for she could
not really b~elieve-so deep is the heart
of a ~woman-that he would not return.
In the days of vigil she had found re-
lief in the rough, hard work Of the NAL
let. None had intruded in that out of
the way spot, save that II day Mrs.
Halloran, led by curiosity to see the
grave of the rich man whose within it
had been to be buried on the mountain
side, had found her at her work, and
her Jessica had pledged to silence. She
was no fool, was Mrs. Halloran, and
to learn the name of the dead man was
to put two and two together. Her
motherly heart overfowed to the girl
who worked each day at that self ap-
pointed task. Only the afternoon be-
fore Jessica had finished carving the
words on the base of the statue on
which the look of the startled man
was now resting: 81 will arise and go
unto my father"
The gaZer turned from the words,
with quick question, to the mound.
He came close and in the fading light
looked at the name on the low head
he could only have learned the truth
earlier! If he might only put back
the hands of the clock!
Hours went by. At length he rose
to his feet, his limbs. cramped and stiff
ened. and made his way back to the
lonely cabin ON the hillside. There
he found fuel, kindled a blaze in the
fireplace and cooked his frugal supper.
He thought of the losing battle he
had fought there once before, when
tempest shrieked without-the battle
which had ended in defeat. He
thought of the will he had seen, now
sealed with the great seal of death.
He was the shorn beggar, she the ben
eticiary. What duty she had owed his
father was ended now. Desolate she
might be-in need of a hand to guide
and guard-but she was beyond the
reach of penury. This gave him a
sense Of satisfaction. Was she there
on the mountain at that moment?
At last he took Old Despair's batter
ed violin from the wall and, seating
himself in the open doorway, looking
across the mysterious purple of the
gulches to the skyline sown with
pale stars, drew the bow softly across
the strings. Through manifold varia-
lions the music wandered till at
length there came from the followed
wood an air that was an unconscious
echo of a forgotten wedding day-"O
perfect love. all human thought tran
%scending..'
The light breeze that shook the pine
needles bore the sound far to an ear
that had grown tense With listening
to one Oh the ridge above to whom it
had sounded the supreme call of youth
and life. He did not feel her nearer
presence as she stole breathless across
the dark path and stood behind him.
The music died, the violin slipped
from beneath his chin, the bow drop
ped and his head fell on his arms.
Then he felt a touch on his shoulder
and heard the whisper: Hugh!
Hugh
"Jessica!" he cried and sprang to
his feet.
81 have watched every day and lis
tened every night" she said. 81 knew
that you would come-that you must
come back"
eff l had never gone, Jessica!' he
exclaimed. Then l might have seen
my father. But l didn't know
She clasped her hands together.
You know now? You remember it
ALP
He shook his head. 81 have been
there"-he pointed to the hillside-'and