The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-10-10

4 -lali pillars OF grey stone with Q
stiff stone pineapple on top Of each.
The moon shone on the posts and on
the plneapples. and on the man who
passed between them into the black
shadow which lay 1eyond.
She mustn't lose sight Of him. She
had lost the last light Of the village.
Whatever happened. she mustn't
lose Jim.
Jim Was drowned.
She stood for moment on the
edge Of the moonlight. The elms
stopped here, and the light shone
clear across the green. Something
clamored in Caroline's ear: "Jim's
droWned--it cant be Jim" And
then she was running through the
moonlight and into the shadow.
The trees that bordered the drive
had been growing together for thir-
| ty years. Old Mr.. Randall wouldn't
have anything cut. It was as dark
as the darkest tunnel. It was dark
even when he sun was shining. Now
it was like a tunnel hung with black
i velvet.
The gravel was so OvergroWn with
moss that it was like running on, q
soft carpet. Caroline's feet made no
noise at all. nor, when she checked
and listened, could she hear the
sound OF any other foot. She went
on again. not running now. and with
her hands lending out before her.
The tunnel under the trees had an
empty feeling. It went right son. TO
the corner of the house and there
ceased.
Caroline stood still and listened
again. She couldn't hear anything
at all. It wasn't dark any. longer.
but all the light came barred and
chequered through the branches of
the great cedar which stood up
against the moon.
The house seemed vague and un.
substantial. its tangled creepers dap
pied with silver. It wasn't place
where people lived any more. There
was no fire on its hearth, no light
In its chambers. It was house Of
dreams.
Until she stood In the black mouth
Of the drive and looked at the house,
Caroline had been afraid. Part of
her had been very much afraid, but
she had gone on because she had to
90 on. Now the part that was afraid
stopped being afraid any more. The
empty house drew her into its own
dream, and she stopped being afraid.
She began to run across the bars Of
moonlight and shadow. and as she
ran she called.
Jim! Jim! Wait for me!s
CAROLINE came to the corner.
~ and saw the whole front OF the
house and the gravel sweep before
It unshadowed In faint moony
light. In the middle OF the sweep
the man whom she had followed
stood looking up at the house.
Caroline had done with hesitating
and being afraid. Those were things
which she had left behind, outside
the dream. She came to him. rum
ming lightly, and as he turned at
the sound OF her running feet. she
caught him by the arm
"Jim!" It was her very wafrnest.
softest. deepest voice.
He stood there and looked at her
He had come here because HIS feet
had brought him. At every turning.
at each cross-road and bend. he had
known his way, yet he could not at
any time have said where he was
going; he could only have said that
he didn't know. Yet ell the time he
knew that his rect were following
a familiar path. In the dark this
feeling strengthened. It took him
into Hazelbury West with the sure
sense Ct q homing animal, and Il
had brought him here. 81.
As he stood staring at the house,
the strangest sense OF forgottem
things came TO him from the shape
of the three pointed gables. the half
seen chimney stacks. the blank win.
dows. the Ivy. and the falling cur
tains OF Virginia creeper.
And then feet running lightly
over the gravel. and 9 girl holding
him BY the arm and saying. "Jim!"
She said 1t again. softly, with caught
breath. she was bare-headed.
The moonlight had stolen all her
color. Her hair was shadowy and
dark. her face just a hair seen pale
ness. her eyes dark but catching the
light as water does. her hands hold
Ing his arm. small and yet strong.
her breath coming quickly. her
parted lips dark where daylight
would have shown them red.
allms"
He went on looking at her. The
hands on hts arm began to shake.
~Jim--why don't ron speak! Jim
you're not drowned"
He said. I'm not drowned"
fcopsrigAt. 1853. !. =. Lippipssff CO.
Caroline. tsWosrsw. has ssrfl.
hla ahnek f