The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-06-21
b. ALAN HINSDALL


olemish-a small red birthmark, snap
ID ike a rose leaf. on her neck IL
was rather an imperfeetion than .
biemish
"Wbere are wef' ! asked.
~ don't know" she replied.
81 hear the sound OF waves.
.aThcn we must be on the seashore,
"And birds singing
THAT would indicate that the beach
n lined by woods
wherever we are, we were eVideh''
.ly sent FOR each other :,
ut would seem So She Lowered
her eyes. 80
.You were certainly sent 10 be with
me- What would become OF me alone
In this dense mist without the power
TO find my way out OF 1t? with you
I shall be happy even here You are
very lovely"
You do not say beautiful
But you are beautiful
"No; | can't be that
"Whyf"
because of this" She put finger
on the birthmark. /.
"Do you know" I said after brlef
cause. that | like you so well as you
are that | would not have even that
,cbangedl"
Suddenly the mist was gone. IL did
not melt away; 1t vanished. We were
hna
miles on either hand the beach curved
in n semicircle. Back of us the shore
rose tin il mingled with mountains.
The waters Of the bay were or different
.colors. Near us. where 1t was shallow,
Il was pale green, beyond deep
blue and beyond that silver On this
silver an island rested, rising from Its
base TO height on which the sun
shone golden We stood looking out at
the view. was entranced, and, turn
ing my eyes upon my companion, ! saw
that she was equally wrapt.
II feel" | said, that must go out
on the bosom Of that sea"
There is boat she replied, chain
ed to stake"
Lowering my eyes to the verge,
saw a skin rising and falling with the
ianguid swells,
The next scene OF which l was cog
infant or at least remember now was
pulling along under great cliffs that
formed the island.
There Is cave" said my companion
with a waterway for an entrance"
Turning the boat, pulled for the
cave. The rocky roof over the water
way Just grazed our heads as We made
the entrance. Inside we found our
selves within cavern, Its roof huns
with stalactites The light coming
from the entrance tinged the vaultet
roof with ever changing colors. Now
II was a blood red, now pale blue
now sea green, now white.
1T Is from the changing Of the wa
tiers outside" | said. "A changing SIX.
changes the bay, and the changing bay
changes the hues In here"
ut is all change" she said sadly
III wish something in the world were
Axed"
dropped my oars and, seating my
self beside her, took her In my arms.
II wish this would never change"
said, "for | have found my love"
Kissed her. She put her arms abou
me, and IL seemed to me that | hat
thrown OF something that had trou
blcd me. some great evil that had over
hung me. and had passed to con
valescence OF perfect happiness.
Alas, while supremely happy In thil
.companionship, felt my love slippini
through my arms and saw her float
ing over the surface OF the waite
toward the mouth OF the cavern. A
that moment both the water and II
rocky dome were a pale blue. The!
finged her garments with the SAM
hue. She looked back at me with al
expression OF indescribable melancholy
I called 10 her not to leave me. bu
she fioated on. passed out through th
mouth OF the cavern and was gone.
| seized the oars 10 follow and, dash
ing under the low arch that separates
me from the outside. In another mo
ment was under the greater vault o
the heavens.
All was serene as when we cntere'
the cavern. but my love had vanished
Then came a sensation OF being toss
I'd 10 and fro up and down. as thoug
Iwere on a stormy sea II was mere
~ Consciousness OF feeling Their
was no communication with the out
aide world. There were voices In tb
air. What they said did not know
There werc also sounds OF invisibl
people passing and the occasionsl open
ing and closing Of Q door.