The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-23

breathing hard, as man weak from
fatigue. loss Of blood. he sought to
recover his strength. 1t returned only
too slowly; the passing lassitude an
noyed him; for the moment he forgot
he had but recently come from the
dungeon and the hardships that sap
elasticity and vigo-. He was impa.
tient to move on; looked at my lady
and a sudden fear smote him! How
white she appeared! Had she His
hand trembled at her heart; a blank
dismay overcame him; then Joy At
that instant he thought not OF the gulf
between hem: was conscious only he
held her-slender, beautiful-in his
arms; that she seemed all his own,
with her breath on his cheek, her soft
lips 30 close. Above sounded the mad.
ness Of the night; the cracking of
flames; the Incorporate voices! In
the angle Of the will, with darkness a
blanket around them. he pushed back
the hair from her clear brow, bent
over. closer-suddenly Strengthened.
"Pardi!" he muttered. a flush on
his face. "Am I. then. like the others,
pillagers. thieves?"
Several moments he yet stood.
breathing deep; then. starting away,
set himself to the task Of crossing
the vast stretch Of beach between the
Mount and the distant lights Of ship.
The sandy plain had never seemed
80 interminable; before him. his shad.
ow and that Of my lady danced ever
illusively away; behind. the great rock
gave forth a hundred shooting flames,
while. as emblematic Of the demolition
OF so much that was beautiful. higher
than saint with helpless sword on Ca
thedral top, cloud of smoke belched
up; waved sidewise like q monstrous
funeral plume. A symbol. il seemed
to NIL the sky; to move and nod and
Haunt Its ominous blackness from this
majestic outpost Of the land. Walk.
Ing In vivid crimson glow. the Black
Seigneur gazed only ahead. where now,
on that monotonous desert. the rim
OF the sea on sudden obtruded. As
he advanced, sparkles red as rubies-
laughing lights-leaped In the air; at
the same time a seething murmur
broke upon the stiffness.
Toward those leaping bright points
and the source Of that deep-sounding
cadence, the young man stumbled for.
ward more rapidly, less cautiously,
also. 1t may be; for while he was yet
some distance from the waters rim,
his feet fell on sand that gave way
beneath them. He would have sprung
back. but felt himself sinking; strove
to get out, only to settle the deeper!
The edge Of the lise. with safety be-
yond. well he could see, where the
satin-like smoothness of the treacher.
Gus slough merged into a welcome
silk-like shimmering OF the trustwor.
thy sands. That verge. however, was
remote; out Of reach OF effort of his
to attain; his very endeavors caused
him to become the more fiymly imbed-
ded. Had he cast my lady aside, pos
sibly could he have extricated him.
self; but with her. an additional
weight, weighing him down
Loudly he called out; only the sea
answered. Now were the clinging par
ticles at his waist; he lifted my lady
higher; clear Of them! Once more
raised his voice--this time not in vain!
Mon capitaine! Where are your"
"Here!"
I'VE don't see YOU"
You won't soon, unless"
The end OF line struck the sand.
The night had almost passed: it's
last black hour. like a pail, lay over
the sea. where, far from the Mount, a
ship swayed and tossed. In the mar.
row confines Of her masters cabin. the
faint glimmering OF lamp revealed
a man bending over a paper, yellow
and worn; the lines so fair and deli.
cate. they seemed almost to escape
him!
How strange. after all these years. the
sight OF your handwriting,-and now, to
be writing you! Yet Is It meet-to sa...
FAREWELL. For that which you have heard
mon ami. Is true. am going to die. You
say. you heard was not we'll: answer
what really you heard the question. mon
ani' beneath your words And
dying. II is well with me. I have wronged
no soul on earth-except you, my friend,
and you forgive me. had hoped
the years would efface that old memory
You say they have not. 1t Is wise
you arc going away.
The reader paused: listened to the
sea; the moaning and signing, like
voices on the wings Of the storm.
You speak In your letter about "trck-
ery'-used to estrange US! Think no more
OF II. i beg YOU What Ia past. Is gone
M j. part or that past. when we were
boy and girl together-soon shall be. And
come not near the Mount. There can be
no meeting for US on earth. ] send you
my ac:eo from arar. 1t II on.y o