The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-07-07

~ 4 y Wsfa,s-
Once on the Red Road, She Let Him
Have His viii.
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 a streaming cloak, of
a girls face, set in a 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. File 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 it
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, clung 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 and 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 gazed
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
misunderstood. Forgive
/ mel"
He kissed her hand. "As IL there
were anything to forgive! Do you
remember in the woods, sweetheart
the day it rained? What brute
was-to fight SO! And all the time
wanted to take you in my arms like e
little hurt child. ="
She turned toward him. ooh,
wanted you to fight! Even though
it was no use. l had given up, bu
your strength comforted me. To havt
you surrender, too"
ct was your face in the church
yard he told her. "How pale anC
worn you looked! 1t came to me
then for the first time how horribly
selfish it would be to stay-how mucf
easier going would make it for you.
And to think that it wa.
Mad Anthony-Did the clock reall,
strike thirteen, do you think? Or dic
1 fancy it?"
why question it?'' he said. 81 be
lieve in mysteries. The greatest mys
terry of all is that you should Low,
me. I 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 Whel
he came back to where she stood wait
ing on the edge of the lawn, the lat
moon, golden-vestured, was just show
ing above the rim of the hills, paint
ing the deep soft blueness of the VII
ginian night with translucence a
pure as prayer. Above the fallen hoo,
of her cloak her hair shone like MIN
bus, and the loneliness of her fac
made him catch his breath for tn
wonderfulness of it.
AS they stood heavened in eacl
others arms, heart beating agains
heart, and the whole world throbbin
| to joy, the nightingale beyond the al
bors began to bubble and thrill it
, unimaginable melody. 1t came t
them like the voice of the magica
rose-scented night itself, set to tn
wordless music of the silver leaves
1t rose and swelled exultant to brea-
: and die in cascade of golden notes
, But in their hearts was the son
that is fadeless, immortal.
THE END.