The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-12-03

The lonely little depot fianked a
siding beside\a dismal stretch OF yell
low clay-bank gouged by rains. It's
windows were dark and the weather.
beaten plank platform was illuminat-
ed by a single lantern that hung on
a nail beside the locked door. Its
sickly flame showing bruise-like
through smoky streaking Of lamp
black. AT one side. In the shadow,
was his bag. and beside II the teth-
cred bulldog-sole spot OF white
against the melancholy forlornness--
lying with one splinted leg, like
swaddled ramrod, sticking straight
out before him.
In the saddle, Valiant struck his
hand hard against his knee. Surely
II vas dream. 1t could not be that
he was leaving Virginia. leaving sDa.
mory Court, leaving her! But he
knew that II was not dream.
Far away. rounding Powhattan
mountain. he heard the long-drawn
boot of the coming train. fiinging It's
sky-warning In q host of scampering
echoes. Among them mixed another
sound far up the desOlated road, CON-
Ing nearer-the sound of horse, gal.
Looping fast and hard.
| His own fdgeted, flung up wide
nostrils and neighed shrilly. Who
was coming along that runnelled high
way at such an hour In such break
neck fashion?
The train was nearer now! he
could hear its low rumbling hum, ris-
ing to a roar, and. the click and spring
hn lie hn a
foot from the stirrup. he did not dis
mount. Something In the whirlwind
speed Of that coming caught and held
him motionless. He had a sudden
curious feeling that all the world be-
side did not exist: there were only
the sweeping rush OF the nearing
unhuman--he. sit
ting on his horse In the gloom, and
that unknown rider whose anguish OF
speed outstripped the steam, riding
to whom?
The road skirted the track as 1t
neared the station, and all at once a
white glare from the opened fire-box
flung itself blindingly across the dark,
| Illuminating like a flare OF summer
| lightning the patch of highway and
the rider Valiant, staring, had an In
stant's vision of streaming cloak.
OF girls face, set In tawny swirl
OF loosened hair. With cry that
was lost in the shrek OF escaping
steam, he dragged his plugging horse
around and the white blaze swept him
also, as the rider pulled down at his
side.
YOU" he cried He leaned and
caught the slim hands gripped on
the bride. shaking now. "You!"
The dazzling brightness had gone
by, and the air was full OF the groan-
ing OF the brakes as the long line OF
darkened sleepers shuddered to its
enforced stop. "John.'- He heard
the sweet wild cry pierce through the
tumble of noises. and something in
Il set his blood running molten
through his veins. 1t held an agony
Of relief, of shame and of appeal.
John john"
And knowing suddenly, though not
how or why, that all barriers were
swept away, his arms went out and
around her, and In the shadow OF the
lonely little station, they two, In their
saddles. chung and swayed together
with clasping hands and broken
words. while the train. breathing
heavily for resentful second,
shrieked itself away into the night,
and left only the fragrance from the
misty fields, the crowding silence and
the sprinkling stars.
The breeze had risen and was blow
ing the mist away as they went back
along the road. A faint light was
lifting. forerunner OF the moon They
rode side by side, and to the slow
gait OF the horses. touching noses in
low whinnyings of equine comrade-
ship. by the faint glamour they gazed
into each others faces. The ador-
able tweedy roughness OF his shoul-
der thrilled her cheek.
g. And you were going away.
Yes. yes, know. 1t was my fault.
-. misunderstood. Forgive mel"
He kissed her hand "As II there
were anything to forgive! Do you
remember In the woods. sweetheart,
the day 1t rained? What brute
was-to fight SO! And all the time
wanted to take you In my arms like
little hurt child. :"
She turned toward him. "Oh,
WdutcO yOu u Even
1t was no use. I had given up, but
your strength comforted me. To
have you surrender, too"
1T was your face In the church
yard" he told her. How pale and
worn you looked 1t came to me
then for the first time how horribly
selfish 1t would be to stay--how much
easier going would make 1t for YOU"
%. And to think that 1t was Mad
Anthony-Did the clock really strike
thirteen. do you think? Or did
fancy it,
"Why question it?' he said. II be-
llieve In mysteries. The greatest mys-
terry of all IL that you should love me.
| I doubt no miracle hereafter. Dear
est. DEAREST"
At the entrance of the cherry lane,
he fastened his horsg to the hedge.
and noiselessly let down the pasture-
bars for her golden chestnut When
he came back to where she stood
waiting on the edge of the lawn, the
late moon. golden-vestured. was just
showing above the rim of the hills.
painting the deep soft blueness of the
| Virginian night with a translucence
as pure as prayer. Above the fallen
hood of her cloak her hair shone like
nimbus, and the loneliness OF her
face made him catch his breath for
the wonderfulness Of II.
A.. ~ L., ~,