Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-20

In those strange old times. when
fantastic dreams and madmens revcrics
we're realized among the actual circum-
stances OF life. two persons me- To-
gether at an appointed hour and place.
One was a lady. graceful in form and
fair of feature. though pale and trou-
blcd, and sm!tten with an untimely
blight In what should have been the
fullest bloom of her years; the other
was an ancient and meanly-dressed
woman OF il-favored aspect and so
withered. shrunken and decrcpit that
even the space since she began TO decay
must have exceeded the ordinary term
of human existence.
In the spot where they met no morta!
could observe them. Three LITTLE hills
stood by each other and down IN the
midst of them sunk hollow basin.
almost fundamentally circular. 200 or
800 feet in breadth and of such depth
that a stately cedar might Just be visi-
BILE above the sides. Dwarf pines we're
numerous upon the hills and partly
fringed the outer verge Of the inter-
mediate hollow. within which there was
nothing but the brown grass OF October
and here and there a tree trunk that
had fallen long ago and lay Wondering.
with no green successor from It's roots.
One of these masses OF decaying
wood formerly A majestic oak. rested
close beside a pool OF green and sluggish
water at the bottom of the basin. SUCH
scenes as this were once the resort OF
a power of evil and his plighted sub
n SOL mr.
dim verge of evening they were said
to stand round the pool. disturbing its
rutrid waters in the performance Of an
impious baptismal rite.
Here is our pleasant meeting come
to pass" said the aged crone. accord
ing as thou hast desired. Say quickly
what thou wouldst have OF me. for there
is but a short hour that We may tsrry
here"
AS the old. withered woman spoge a
smile glimmered on her face like lamp
light on the wall of tomb. The lady
trembied and cast her eyes upward to
the edge Of the basin. as II thinking
to return with her purpose unaccom-
plished But it was not so ordained
Il am a stranger in this land. as you
know" she said. Whence come mat
tiers not; But have left those behind
me with whom my fate vas intimately
bound and from whom l am cut OF
forever There is a weight in my bosom
cannot lose and have come here TO
inquire of their welfare.
And who is there by this green pool
that can bring thee news from the
ends of the earth?" crisd the old
woman. Not from my lips mayeSt :hou
hear these tidingS. but be bold and thy
wish shall be granted ere dawn"
Il will do your bidding though I die,
said the lady.
The old woman seated herself on the
trunk OF the fallen tree. threw aside
the hood that shrouded her gra~ locks
and beckoned the lady 20 draw nsarer.
"Kneei down and lay your forehead on
nv knees" she said
The lady knelt down. the border OF
her garment dipping into the pool.
She laid her forehead on the old
Woman's knees and the latter drew q
cloak about the iady'S face. Then she
heard the muttered words OF PRAYER.
II seemed as If other voices-fanilliar
in infancy and forgotten through many
wan6erinss-were mingling with the
words OF the prayer Al first the words
were faint and indistinct. resembling
the dim pages OF a book We try 10 read
by poor light. Then. at last. a cnH-
verSation between an aged man ana
an old woman could be heard ov the
lady as shs knslt. But the speakers
were not III the hollow between the
three hills They sat by melancholy
hearth and spoke OF a daughter, wan
derer they knew not where. bearing
diShonor along with her and leaving
shame and affection behind her.
This passed away. and then. in
another prayer. strange murmuIlngS
began 10 thicken. gradually increasing