Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-06
HALLE ERMINIE RlVES,

tudC uuu sTOWu teuSe Wltu iiotcuiuS- to one on the ridge above to whom 1t 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 heaA fell on his arms. Then he felt touch on his shoulder and heard the whisper: Hugh! Hugh"
 "Jessica!" he cried and sprang to his feet.
 q have watched every day and lis tened every night" she said. T knew that you would come-that you must come back.
 If had never gone, Jessica" he exclaimed. Then might have seen my father. But didn't know"-- She clasped her hands together. You know now? You remember 1t allY'
 He shook his head "I have been there"-he pointed to the hillside-"and l have guessed who it is that lies there. I know I sinned against him and against myself and left him to die un- forgiving. That is what the statue said to me, as he must have said, I am no more worthy to be called thy son."
 "Ah," she cried, The knew and he forgave you, Hugh! His last thought was of your coming. That is why carved the figure there" , "You carved it?" he exclaimed She bent her forehead to his hands as they clasped her own.
 "The prodigal is yourself" she said. T modelled it once before when you came back to him, in the time you have ] forgotten. But I destroyed it'-the words were very low now-''on my wedding day"
 His hands released hers, and, looking up, she saw, even in the moonlight, that with the last word his face had gone ghastly white. At the sight timid- l ity, maidenly reserve, fell, and all the woman in her rushed uppermost. She lifted her arms and clasped his face. 1 Hugh" she cried, "can't you remem- Der? Don't you understand? Think! I was blind, dear, blind. A white bandage was across my eyes, and you came to me in shaded room. Why l did you come to mel"
 A spark seemed to dart through his brain like the prickling discharge from a Leyden jar He saw himself stand ing, facing figure with bandaged eyes. He saw the bandage torn of, felt that yielding body in his arms, heard voice e- her voice ' crying: Hugh. Hugh! My husband" and felt l those lips pressed to his own in the ! tense air of q darkened room. A cry broke from his lips: ''Yes, yes, I remember! Jessica, my wife!" His arms went round her, and, with little sob, she nestled close to him on the doorstep. }r
 That hour on the mountain side un- der the stars had left Harry possessed of a melee of perplexing emotions. Dreaming and waking Jessica's face | hung before his eyes, her voice sound ed in his ear. The future held no long CT any doubt; 1t held only her. Where was that future to be? Back in the city to which his painful curiosity had so lately driven him? This lay no longer in his own choice. It was for her to decide now-Jessica, his wife.
 He looked up transfixed, for she stood there before him ankle deep in a brown whirlwind of leaves from a frost stung oak, her hand to her cheek in an adorable gesture that he knew, her lips parted and eager.
 'I wanted so to find you" she said T have so many, many things to say"
 Tt is all wonderfully strange and new" he said. Tt is as though I had rubbed Aladdin's lamp and suddenly had my hearts desire. How could ] have thrown my pearl awayT
 "We are not to think of that" she protested, never. never any more"
 You are right" he rejoined cheer fully. Tt is what is to come that we ! must think of" He paused an instant then he said:
 Hast night when you told me of the white house in the aspens did not tell you that had just come from there from Aniston."
 She made an exclamation of wonder ''Teil me-" she said
 i Sitting with her hand in his, he told of that nights experiences, the fear that had held him as be gazed at her portrait in the library, the secret of the Korean desk that had solaced his misery and sent him back to the fa- ther he was not to see.
 At mention of the will she threw out her hand with passionate gesture. "The money. is not miner' she cried. i Tt is yours. He intended to change it. He told me so the day he diedl Oh, if you think I''-
 'No, mo-" he said gently. There is no resentment. no false pride, in my love, Jessica. I am thinking of you and of Aniston. You would have me go back, would you not?"
 She looked up, smiling, and slowly shook her head. You are a blind guesser," she said. Don't you think know what Is in your mind? Not Aniston. Hugh. Some time, but not now-not yet It is nearer than that"
 His eyes flowed into hers. You un- derstand. Yes, it is here. This Is u-hnro | r,n..nf Rninh unr Arht a-a3