The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-05-28

@~AAA ANh Win ram the lAAul0Lu1 ~
people passing and repassing. siward's
straight figure swinging past. silhou-
cited against the glare OF light from the
billiard room. And here she made an
effort TO efface the vision. shutting her
eyes as she rode there IN the rain. but
clearly against the closed lids she saw
the phantoms passing = specters OF
dead hours. the wrath Of an old hap
piness masked with youth and wear
ing Siward's features.
She saw herself beside him among
the cushions; tasted again the rose
petals that her lips had stripped from
the blossoms; saw once more the
dawn Of something in bis steady eyes;
felt his arm about her. his breath
Her horse. suddenly spurred. bound
ed forward through the rain. and she
rode breathless, with her lips half part
ed. as if afraid turning her head to
look behind-as though she could out
ride the phantom clinging to her stir
rup. masked like youth. wearing the
Bhadowy eyes Of love!
An hour later, fresh from her bath,
luxurious In loose and filmy lace her
small white feet shoe with silk, she
lunched alone, Graded among the cush-
ions of her couch.
Twice she strolled through the rooms
leisurely, summoned by her maid to
the telephone, the first time to chat
with Grace Ferrall, who, It appeared,
was a victim of dissipation, being still
abed, and out of humor with the rainy
world; the second time to answer in
the negative Marion's suggestion th9t
she motor TO Lakewood with her for
the weeks end before they closed their
house.
6auntering back again, she slipped
her milk and vhhy. tasted the straw
berries, tasted big black grape, dis
carded both ana lay back among the
cushions, her naked arms clasped be-
hind her head, and. dropping one knee
over the other, stared at the ceiling.
The room was very still and dim, but
the clamOr in her brain unnerved her.
and she sat up among the cushions,
looking vacantly about her with the
blue, confused eyes, the direct, unsee-
ing gaze OF a child reused by a half
heard call.
rne CARLOW, imperative, sustained
continued softly persistent against
her windows, the summons of the
young year. rain.
She went to the window and stood
oV4 hn toi
into the mist. A springlike aroma pen
etrated the room. She opened the
window a little way, and the sweet,
virile odor enveloped her.
A thousand longings rose within her.
Unnumbered wistful questions stirred
her, signing. unanswered. Every breath
was drawing her backward, nearer.
nearer to the source Of memory All,
the cliff chapel in the rain! The words
of text mumbled deafy-the yearly
service for those who died at sea- And |
she, seated there in the chapel dusk |
of him who sat beside her !
and how ho feared a heavier, stealth |
Ter, more secret tide crawling, purring'
about his feet!
Always, Always at the end Of every |
thing he! Always, reckoning step by |
step, backward through time, he, the
source, the inception, the meaning Of
ami
Unmoored at last, her spirit swaying,
IN memories Of him, she
gave herself to the food. overwhelmed
As tide on tide rose, rushing over her,
body. mind and soul.
She closed her eyes, leaning there
heavily amid the cloudy curtains. She
moved back into the room and stood
staring at space through wet lashes.
The hard, dry pulse In her throat hurt
Ter till her under lip, freed from the
tyranny of her small teeth, slipped
rec, quivering rebellion.
She had been walking her room to
Ind fro, to and fro, for a long time
,efore she realized that she had moved
It all. {
And now impulse held the helm. A
hind, unreasoning desire for relief bur
fed into action on the wings Of i'm
,ulse.