Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-06-21

for q moonlight walk. looked quick.
~ over my shoulder for her compan-
ions. but saw no one. There were only
the rocks here and there covered with.
verdure. the trees standing back. the
path winding Oh eastward, the girl be-.
side me. all bathed In the soft light OF
the moon | was embarrassed at this
being standing 80 near me at such an
hour without the slightest appearance
Of reserve. | was trying 10 think Of
some remark. some question that would
not sound brusquc. when she broke the
silence;
Isn't II beautiful"
beautiful. but somehow just now
there seems something awful about II.
What Is that red thing floating below;
In certain lights 1t looks like blood
ut il blood. Come away. II affects
You unpleasautly"
She turned aud walked back a short
distance from the verge of the clin.
what could do but follow herr She
sat down on a rock surface that form
cd "A convenient seat and such position
MS to make room for me beside her
Wonderingly asked:
Are you from the hotel where am
stayingf"
NO" she said but offered no word
as 10 where she came from.
Il cannot imagine" ! continued
"any Of those young ladies coming
here alone and at this hour
"Thcre is not sufficient to tempt them
to break through the conventional
forms that bind them. Perhaps IL Is
well that they do not ] stayed AZ one
of the hotels hereabout one season and
was bound BY the same code as they
are bound pincd for freedom. |
came here alone. ! have been coming
ever since"
why"
II cannot keep away"
There WAS silence between us for n
few moments while wondered. Pres
entity asked:
And why can you not keep away
Something happened If We're to
tell you what IL Is II would shock you
II would have shocked me had | known
that II was 10 happen For n brief
space 1t filled me with horror. Then
She paused
NO she continued 81 am not here
TO increase your burden OF life.
know that you have been looking for
ward for months TO your outing and
now that IL has come you are disap-
pointed You see about You that com.
partnership which would enable you 10
enjoy every moment of II. but between
you and me IL Is that hedge of conven-
tionality which YOU find impossible. |
know what II Is. for | was once fet
tered by II myself Now ii is nothing
TO me- can 20 where | like. express
what feel am disenthralled. And
TO prove II will tell you that tonight
come here 10 meet you"
ITO meet me-"
Yes. You do not know me, but !
know you. Often have seen you
! leaning over the rail looking down into
the chasm Every thought that passed
through your brain vibrated In my be
ing. You are nearer the line that Ill.
vides the finite from the infinite than
one mortal In millions. and when you
look over the clin down upon that
scene. the sluggish waves following ONE
another In never ending succession.
you feel within you that which is akin
10 the iniinitc'
She paused while | looked NJ her In
wonder. then added
And why have come to You IA.
night who have seen you SO often
here: Why have made myself known
TO you: will tell you. and am not
ashamed To tell you. for / am abso
lutcly pure 1t Is because love you
have dim remembrance Of hcf
rising ana going TO the cliff. % my
following her ana leaning on the rail
beside her and looking down into the
chasm. Then | was alone The scene
below was beautiful as before. and the
red spot was gone
stood gazing on the water where
II had been. now limpid. like the rest
while an awe crept over me. Then
cast chances about mo for my com
panion and shuddered nj the vacancy
she had left Then | was seized with
a desire 10 get away from the place rs
quickly rs possible.
walked back 10 the hotel filed with
emotions of which II would be imnos
sible TO afford the slightest inkling
All can say Is that they were such rs
! had never experienced before.
At the hotel found no one TO tell
me anything about the elf. but on one
OF my walks. stopping at house for a
cup of water an old man told me
there had been a special reason for
placing the rail at the verge of the
abyss. Years ago. when the region
first became a summer resort. farmer
saw girl standing there. lie turned
away his glance. and when he looked
again she had disappeared Going 10
the cliff. he looked down and saw what
he az first supposed 10 he Il red shawl
floating on the water. Upon investi
CATION twas discovered that the girl