The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-18

instdnliy feSpohdeui duiVefing. Agaln and again we uttered that cry of aston ished and joyous recognition: What, you too, have felt that!' And then. all eager ness. I tried to go still deeper in the sea of emotion I suddenly felt heaving within me, and spoke of the sacred thing of my heart, unashamed under the while light of the stars. Once about midnight we went and sat down near Sister Ruth and were quiet for long time. I felt dimly the strangeness of our talk-like miracle in my closely sheltered, reserved, English life-but my head was whirling, and it seemed like a beautiful and bewildering dream.
 "All at once monsieur started and point ed to the horizon line. A faint silver simmer shone there, and in a moment the full moon rose into sight ascending from the water with a magnificent surge. The young man took off his hat and rose to his feet in an involuntary tribute to the stirring flood of light that now lay so suddenly white about us. It was all most like the far-off but silvery clear note of bugle Everything shone with soft radiance wide path of silver fickered from our feet to the moon and the sleeping channel exhaled a sigh as though half stirred from rest by the glorious light.
 'I looked at monsieur, no longer shadowy and indistinct shape, formulating my inmost thoughts and answering them, even unspoken; a spirit speaking with inspired divination out of a mysterious obscurity. He was a warm and living human being whom l felt near me with an inexpressible sense of security and pleasure. It was though a great and lofty strain of music had changed in key and become vibrant with humanity.
 'The young man looked at me and smiled. touching his hair with his usual gesture I felt the little gust of unrea- soning delight we have at the familiarity of a trivial action in one We love.
 we began again to walk up and down, only here was no mystery somewhat daunting, even though exquisitely sweet. Here was lovely human companionship, such as one dreams of and knows is unat- tainable-a frank and painless unfolding of ones heart sure of sympathy Mon sieur told me of his mother and of his plans to give her all she wished, If only he could realize in stone and mortar the dreams in his head. I spoke of the hate ful burden of wealth, of my meaningless and vacant life, And of what now meant to do with it. I spoke of my solitude and listlessness in the busy world, and loved what before I had hated, for it gave me his sympathy. I reveled in telling of the useless, lonely existence I led surround ed as I was for the moment by his sure companionship All that had gone be- fore seemed far and faint, like an unreal thing, leagues away and years ago-the faded recollection of an unhappy hour.
 ''I knew vaguely, as time went on, that the night must be nearly gone and I half dreaded the coming of day, although so absorbed was l in the present that all thought of the future was as dim as con- sciousness of the past. Still noted with a glad surprise that when the first faint streaks of dawn began to show and the moon paled, the cool light came like a grateful proof of the reality of the wei come fact. My spirits rose; it seemed to me I could never be unhappy again. We were chattering like children when the first clear beam of sunlight struck full on monsieurs face looked at it in wonder so great an exaltation, so lofty a delight shone in the strong. dark countenance. .Mademoisellel he cried do you know what has happened since the sun went down? The world has turned completely around! Yes, the world has turned com pletely aroundi
 q said nothing, but it is my joy and pride now to remember that I looked at him with my eyes unveiled for his gaze Wfln all that l was IeellnB SnlnllB III them. One generous moment at least had
 ''Then suddenly Sister Ruth woke up with start, amazed to find herself there and stiff with the long cramped position. Monsieur and I went to help her and made her walk up and down the pier between us. Saints above! Have we waited all tse night in this exposed placer she cried as soon as she realized where she was. Whatever has become of the boat?'
 The boat? I thought to myself blank ly, and suddenly knew that I had forgot ten about the boat.
 "'What does she say? asked Mon sieur.
 She asks where is the boat? I trans lated and burst into peals of laughter to see reproduced on his face the momentary vacant look of my own. He laughed, too, with the joyous abandon of a child, and under the fresh light of the early sun we made merry as I never did before or snce All the world laughed around us and a lark, springing up, sent down roulades of mirth to join withours.
 Sister Ruth lost patience. What are you laughing at?' she said fretfully Where is the boat?'
 ''It was Polly who answered the ques ton, pointing with a black forefinger to the horizon, 'Dah she is, Miss Mahgret Well, to think of dat ting being late one plumb night!
 Sure enough, the belated vessel came puffing her way toward us and by the time we had the baggage arranged and strapped up she was slipping alongside the wharf and the English friends who ware to meet me were waving their hands and shouting unintelligible explanations of their delay to me.
 fba foht of thair aOrrnrtIV draSSad English blondness all my years of conven- tional life came back to me with a rush and the chains of tradition fell heavily about my limbs. l shook in terrified as- tonishment at my wild flight away from my usual bonds. My friends came run ming out on the dock, exclaiming over my hardships and surrounding Sister Ruth with solicitous attention. Monsieur stood afar off with his eyes fixed on the ex peotantly. A word, a look, thought would have brought him to my side but I failed him and myself. l was confused, overborne; all the careful training, all the years of repression lay with a crush ing weight In a numb misery 1 felt myself moving toward the boat without looking toward the slender figure standing dark and silent in the sunlight.
 Tt was Sister Ruth who came puffing back to thank him for the chair and rug. Come Margaret, he was very polite, she called. As we started toward him he came at once to Us but very soberly, with hurt and surprised eyes. l half laugh now, even as l weep when I think how young we both were, fatally tongue tied with the inexperience of youth. He said gravely: No need for thanks. It Is always a pleasure to do service to d holy sister. And to me, hanging his head, he said with an adorable confusion .MademOiselle--I wish you-' And then.