The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-08-13


at such an hour in such breakneck
fashion?
The train was nearer now; he could
hear its low rumbling hum, rising
to roar, and the click and spring of
the rails. But though he lifted foot
from the stirrup, he did not dismount.
Something in the whirlwind speed of
coming caught and held him motion
less. He had q sudden curious feeling
that all the world beside did not ex-
list; there were only the sweeping
rush of the nearing trairr-impersonal,
unhuman-he, sitting 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 fare 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 plunging horse around
and the white blaze swept him also, as
the rider pulled down at his side.
"Youi" 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, joint He heard
the sweet wild cry pierce through the
tumble OF noises, and something in 1t
set his blood running molten through
his veins. It held an agony OF relief,
of shame and Of appeal John .
joint"
And knowing suddenly, though not
how or why, that all barriers we're
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
a 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 aud was
blowing 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 gazcd
into each others faces The adorable
tweedy roughness of his shoulder
thrilled her cheek.
@. And you were going away
Yes, yes, know 1t was my fault
L misunderstood. Forgive
mel"
He kissed her hand. "As II there
we're anything to forgive! Do you
remember in the woods, sweetheart,
the day 1t rained? What a brute
waste fight SO! And all the time
wanted to take you in my arms like a
little hurt child. :"
She turned toward him. "Oh,
wanted you to fight! Even though
it was no use. / had given up, but
your strength comforted me. To have
you surrender, too"
ut 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 it for you
e. And to think that 1t was
Mad Anthony-Did the clock really
strike thirteen, do you think? Or did
l fancy .t?"
why question it," he said. II be-
lieve in mysteries. The greatest mys-
terry of all is that you should love
me. l doubt no miracle hereafter,
Dearest, dearest!"
At the entrance of the cherry lane,
he fastened his horse to the hedge,
and noiselessly let down the pasture
bars for her golden chestnut When
he came back to where she stood wait
ing on the edge of the lawn, the late
moon, golden-vestured, was just show
ing above the rim of the hills, paint
ing the deep soft blueness Of the Vir-
ginian night with translucence as
pure as prayer. Above the fallen hood
OF her cloak her hair shone like nim-
bus, and the loneliness of her face
made him catch his breath for the
wonderfulness of 1t.
AS they stood heavened in each
others arms, heart beating against
heart, and the whole world throbbing
to joy, the nightingale beyond the ar
bors began to bubble and thrill its
unimaginable melody. 1t came to
them like the voice of the magical
rose-scented night itself, set to the
wordless music of the silver leaves
ADO ANTI TIE IMrENNEcnENT