The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-12-11


With heaving shoulders and restlve
ewes. in whose depths great shadows
lay, Milady paced to and fro before
the open CRATE, gazing, anon, into the
glowing embers as if to question of
them the why of it all. All day long
there had waged a fierce conflict in
her soul! All day long she had been
striving to rend away the veil, which
separates the Visible from the lnvlsl-
bic. in the vague hope that some JUS
tifiable reason for that which had
come to her might be revealed, but,
alas, in the narrow limitations Of
finite comprehension, Of justifioa-
ton there was none! And the
soul of Milady, wearily foiled and
lbaffled and wholly inadequate to
cope with the mysteries Of the lnfln-
lite, cried out in hot rebellion, and
momentarily became the more emblt-
ktered: recking not that IN the
great drama Of life the Playwright
of Human Destiny had exacted OF
(others similar roles; and they, with
|erstwhile breaking hearts, had follow
led the lines unfalteringly and play
ed before the footlights with smiling
Emien and masterful self possession,
while she covered and shrank and
|wrestled feebly against the inevitable
A child Of .xury and ever shield
led from that which would hurt or
|cause the sensitive soul to recoli, the
span Of Milady's years had thus far
been, a strain Of unbroken and ex-
quisite harmony, singularly free from
the iangling diseords Of sorrow, prl-
yation or the bitterness of renuncla-
lion, but today an alien hand had
bouehed and rudely snapped the cords,
and the music of .Milady's life was
ershed, at least, so thought she, as
Iefishly absorbed in her own grief,
kc the exclusion Of all things else, she
!paced back and forth, wearily uncon-
Ecious of the flight Of time, the proud
batrician head bowed piteously, the
long dark lashes yelling eyes that
cad not Alright the message OF the
blessed Christ child, which, heralded
down the ages, brought tonight to
|orrowing humanity, as it did so many
fears ago, the same sweet promise OF
tPeace on earth; good will to men,"
or tonight was Christmas eve, but,
iilady, in the selfish absorption OF
er grief, was rearing barriers
orouoh which the Christmas spirit
build not enter. All unmindful OF
er many blessings: all unml' iful OF
le comfort and luxury Of her Sur
Dundings-the costly paintings, the
|ch tapestries. the rare bits Of scuip-
Ire and antiques. which bespoke
be prodigality Of wealth and
Effected the culture and aesthetic
Rste of the owner; alike unmindful
the loving thought Of friends. de-
Illustrated in the lavish profusion OF
|stly gifts, that lay unopened
ound her. Only the clements
rangely ont of harmony with the
ason, seemed to respond and re-eeho
. he tumult in her soul. From the
Ecove of her drawing room. over
oking the lake. she had watched, IN
lent irony. at intervals all day long,
le eret waves. (held in savage lash
the breakwater), lash each other in
potent fury. as if in sheer venge-
ee Of the freedom denied them,
hist. with each aquatic convulslo>
oud after cloud Of white spray shot
ward, to a splendid height. only to
II again. with the belpleSsneSS OF
ather, against the grim wall OF rock
at year after year, in mute def15
ce withstood the onslaught Of
waves. How grandly spectacu-
The angry petulance Of the
res in their futile dash for liber-
The magnificent sweep Of the
gathering force on the lake 70
4 in wanton recklessness in its
areer through the streets OF
=, carrying in its wake and
in the face Of the unwary
in great falls Of beady parti-
eet and snow crystals sting