Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-06-27
Cbe falling
Of Lucy.
By CLARISSA MACKIE.
Copyrighted, 1903. by Associated
Literary Press.

ElwoOd craned his neck as the train
drew In at the little station. Yes, here
was the low, red brick structure, from
either end of which the road wound
away between the young oaks, now
showing a faint misty brown In the
late April sunshine.
With a sudden impulse he arose and
grasped his hat and grip. In another
instant he stood before the station
house, while the train screamed away
through the wooded tunnel Of oaks.
He looked around at the familiar
scene, slightly bewldered at the result
of his impulslve action. lie had left
New York with the intention of spend
ing the week end with friends at
Shrimp Cove, but the familiar scenes
through which the train had sped and
which marked mllestones in his men,
ory had reused within him depths Of
feeling that he thought could not now
exist
Eyading the puzzled glance Of the
station agent, he turned down the
right hand road. Ultimately 1t would
take him to the village hostelry. Incl
dentally 1t would lead him over old
paths and permit his fancy to reyel in
banlshed dreams.
He plodded through the thick yell
low sand with eager eyes on the bud
ding hedges. Gratefully he inhaled the
delicate spring odors that seemed TO
emanate from the golden afternoon
sunshine.
He paused, once beside a foaming
! spring where sweetflag was shootlhg
green blades from the black, oozy
mud. and again in the uoneyspot road'
where arbutus clung to the steep
banks and the pink pouch of the moe
casin flower sprahg from the lichened
tree stumps. Each time he removed
his hat and stood with painfully knit
ted brow and reflective eyes. Then ne
moved or.
The village hotel was under new
management, and he passed unchai-
leneedi by old acquaintances. lie
strolIed down the irregular street atter
the efening meal was over and in the
spring twilight revisited old haunts
| ord revived old memories until his
minl was a chaos Of rage with him
self and grief for the unattainable'
The next morning when clamorlne
beIls rang out from the white painteo
| chu.>nes and the quiet streets were
CAV h.ith the Easter fnery Of the VII
| lage bellies Elwood made his way TO
| ouai:lt old edlflce tucked away on tn'
shord road. so that when he was seate'
in a lfaniIiar place he could see tn
J vhkx,sagss IN the harbor and the tnn
drift If smoke from passing steamer
on tile sound.
THY gathering congregation looKe'
curiously at the dignified, midule age'
stranger who sat in the old Elwoo'
new but he maintained an attitude o
motionless rlgidity, with eyes hxe'
steadily on the ripping water beyon'
the window. He was listening VIII
nainful eagerness for light step.
II came. He heard the swish OF Sill
and the soft slip Of her feet as sh
ascended the steps Of the chancei an
took her place among the assemble
choir. In his eyes mind he could sc
her cool and pale, with haxen hair an
dark blue eyes. !.
There would be little change IN ne
annenrance after fifteen years. lie
fair skin might have faded a iittl'
and her slimness might have becom
ang,ilarity, but there would be no OH
or visible alteration. Still, he coul
not look.
Two women rustled into the seat p'
hind him and cOnversed In hlssin
whispers that reached his ear WIN al
noylng distinctness.
"IIucy Clifford's got on her blue 1o'
lard silk, amt she"
eyes! 1 wonder if she's going TO SID
today?"
T suppose so. Mr.. Larkin said
would be the last year she could SIT
in the choir" -,
TIer voice is getting terrible Uni
and once in awhile it gives out 81
ainat sung for two or three weeks nov
guess she was saving 1t SOS 81
could sing today"
"1ucy's getting to be regular 0
maid. Now that she's left alone doN
- to the old place, l guess she WISH
shield taken up with young Ei"o'
after ALL"
81 hope her voice don't fail today
remarked one Of the women as the 10
tonAs of the organ rumbled throui
the church. H.
Flwood turned his head Yes; the
she sat- her pale, pure profile outlin
against the red and purple of the cha
eel window.
she looked as his memory had linn
beB save that she was not angulf
sbd still retained her youthful sh
T ness. There was pathetic droop
her once proudly lifted head ana
wistfulness in the full lidded eyes
she turned toward the congregation,
The organ ceased, the white rop
minister entered and knelt In pray
an Il then with a triumphant burst
music the choir arose and the notes
the anthem rang through the III
- ch nrch. Elwood pressed hand acre
his stinging eyes as the familiar me
DIV proceeded. 1t seemed but yestero
.hAt he had stood beside Lucy Ciln'
IN the choir and lifted his strong you
vo ice in that same strain.
He heard the high notes OF ner u
soprano above the reedy tenor and
rumble of alto and bass, and there v
an uncertain quality in 1t that cau'
his heart to beat little faster IN
lar that her voice might fail altoge