River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-12-14

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soft dusk, the peace, the faint sug-
gestion of incense, the lighted candles
lin honor of the Christmas season
on the altar, and dotted about among
the quaint little oriental figures of
the crib" or ''prescipio," all seemed
unreal mirage of peace in the pres
ence of great danger. The rushing
noise, like an advancing tidal wave,
grew louder. From the doorway
through which he had just come Belle
yer could see what was happening.
He saw huge flying boulder strike
the roof of the hotel, crush it in, and
break away the wall beneath, as IL
the solid. ancient structure, which had
weathered the storms of 500 years.
had been house of cards, set up by
the hands of child.
For moment he believed that the
whole building would go, and the girl
he loved with it. But he heard the
thunder of the landslide as it swept
down to the sea, engulfing the Santa
Caterina as it went and throwing
towering wall of water that rushed
in upon the beach. Then a great ST.
lence fell, broken only by the far
away shouting Of human voices
sounding strangely small and feeble
after natures savage uproar. Moth
ing more happened. They were saved.
Lesley had chung to him speechless,
almost breathless, and Believer had
clasped her tightly, hardly knowing
how tightly. But now he gently re-
leased her. AS he did So she fell
away from him, half fainting, and he
caught her again, with his arm
round her waist.
Fly heavens sake, tell me that
you're not hurt--that no stone struck
you as we came" he stammered.
NO." she whispered. for all
strength was gone from her, and she
could not speak aloud. "No-but you
there's a streak of blood on your
forehead. oh, how can / ever forgive
myself? You might have been killed.
1t was all-all my fault | was
wretch. You ought to have gone and
left me-"
I'D rather have been killed than do
that" said Believer. He had forgot
ten to let her go. She had forgotten
to draw herself away, and SO they
still stood together, these two enc
mics, she leaning slightly against
him, he with his arm round her waist.
"Oh, why do you say that?" she
faltered. II was so obstinate-so
wicked. l deserved anything. won
der you cared
But, you see, i loved you" said
Believer, quite simply. IF the end
had to come ] wanted it to come for
me, too" 1t did not seem in the least
strange that he should be telling her
this, though she had never seen him
until yesterday and had refused to
speak to him this morning. They had
known each other always, now, and
they could never go back to being
strangers again.
She did not answer, or even appear
surprised; but, when her eyes left his
they wandered all about the chapel,
thinking how beautiful 1T looked and
how sacred it seemed and how good
it was to be there.
81 hope" she began; but what she
hoped Believer was not to know, for
a pale woman appeared at the door
leading into the chapel from the hol
tel opposite the entrance from the
cloisters, and, at the sight OF the two
figures standing together in the jew
eled twilight broke into sobs.
'Tesley-thank heaven!" she e1acu-
lated. .T've searched everywhere for
YOU. They tried to keep me from COM
ing back to the house, but | would"
Lesley ran to her mother. he
saved my life," she said.
The elder woman held out both he~
hands to him.
GLOW can / thank your" she cried.
by forgiving me-if you will" He
smoke to her, but he looked at Lesley.
eve start newly from this mo-
ment,s said the girl. Her eyes Ters
wonderfully soft and sweet IA the
chapeps dusk, jeweled by the candle
lights.
Come away quickly" implored her
mother. who knows yet if it is safe
even hers? It has all been SO sud
den. so horrible. / saw everything
from the terrace-the peasants fall
ing over the cliff from above, the fish
ing boats crushed-oh, l shall dream
IF it always. Signore Vozzi says,
even if all is well after this, every
one must leave the hotel as soon as
we can get our things together. Do
comet"
She turned toward the door again,
drawing Lesley with her. Believer fol-
lowed and at the door Lesley turned
back. He hardly dared to believe
that he had read Alright what her eyes
said.