The Arm Chair Library No. 79: The Haunted Homestead — page 48: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

I>4 a a a a a a es, but still the same; worn with many lines. rown, beareded, the hair streaked here and there with silver, the eyes full of a sorrowful remorse, ‘Grant! ” Ianswered, as if groping in a dream, He took one step toward me, : ‘‘ You do remember, then /” assionately. *¢ You have not forgotten me? Thank God for this, at least.” Something stirred in my heart faintly, then grew still, I looked at the burial shaft, at the avergreens, at that dark, remorseful face, withont seeing either. ‘‘T thought you dead,” after a long, dreary AUS, ee Dead ?” bitterly. ‘‘ I could notdie, Death does not come to the few who seek is; and—do you think I could have rested in a grave even, withoat seeing you once more, without once praying your torgiveness ? ” He kept bis face turned away from the grave, and made a quick, passionate gesture. “ | forgave you long ago, Grant,” I answered, hardly recognizing my Own quiet voice, ‘* Ruth! ” with fierce eagerness. ‘* It, was the last thing left for either; why spould [I not ? A long broken moan; the next moment he was down in the grass at my feet, the brown grass rustling mournfully, with a look in bis eyes that I shall never forget. Oh, how dim and far away the twilight and the faint autumn moon seemed—how unspeakably sad and dreary sounded the hoarse, restless sea. ‘* Ruth, wronged, deserted, bas loved better than woman was ever loved before, have pity! If Lhave sinned, I have also suffered—God ulone knows how much—these long, desolate years. See, 1am at your feet! Give me back but the tithe of the old love, but a shadow of the old tenderness, and I will be content. My ut The band he had seized in his fierce, ardent pleading, I drew gently, yes, sorrowfully away, ‘ateve, Grant? This grave is between us: it wil be b ween us for ever. ” He clenched his hands fiercely together. The white lips were tremulous, ** But you loved me once, girl?” ‘* Yes, Grant, once, 1 pity you now,” ‘** Nothing more ¢ ” ‘* Nothing more. ” The clenched hands parted, and fell loosely at his side, ; ‘* My God, I have lost all! ” he said. - I turned my face away. The tears were thick in my eyes, I think, but they did not fall. ‘ Not all, Grant. There is truth to live for, and right and duty, For the rest——” ‘* For the rest 1” he echoed, drearily, ** God will take care of it,” His wild, despairing kisses fell on my hands, imprisoned for the last time in his own; the ggard, mournful face, pale to the lips, searched mine for the moment with eager, Passionate, wistfulness; then he turned slowly, ~ [t is our last meeting, Ruth, Farewell.” ” I heard the crisp rustle of the dry grasses one last look cast backward at her grave, aud 40 opened the little gate and passe i through, ROSSITOR HOUSE. p hand, tial. fingers stealing into m kind enough, or grateful enor Miss Darrow, P membered rh : : wT aaah ey mosses, this mo L KNOW G hour ago, and he dees not like to wait, Ri away and ina Mee pag a aaa profile turned toward me, eager feet had died awa ing and deepenin The blood leaped? in one hot, mad bound, hardly worthy of your a and yet the y stlin you take it 3” saw in his aes before, words of mi ‘be bees bowed on ¥ eke with the sly faltering step as of anold man, and Gran WyvilandIbad met for the ast timeonesrt, 4 Autumn deepened into the white, cheer) winter. It was when the moby rifte the lonely shore that fires of weleome lighted on the hearths of Rossitor He frightening away their gloom Sn ' ; once more, and a feast was sp nd a ti .. ae and lonely wanderercamehome. =§ §- Dark with the sun of tropic lands, the fur — rows deeper along bis forehead, the sad ev grave now where they had once been stern, hy entered again into bis own halls, lik é and sat down in the shadows of his i held aloof, waiting, Would ne fing tall, graceful girl, who flu ing arms around him on the he had hoped for, a worthy ree fy long years in which Thad arved him! tw f a proud face that he wore, | thought, inthe § white reach of thosearms, = = > - & He came into the still green roor where Ada sat at my feet, with the winter su’ shine on her hair, it was a few weeks after | return, and there dropped into her lap, whi and shining, and the last of many costly g which he had brought ie lace of purest seed | heeks flus a little, then she ooked », balf shy, het leeding, twisting the spotl 8 found yi “ Papa, you are a good genii, but—t on’t give all your treasures to m EAR head nt at hn a at bet per “T wish, papa——” hes ae ‘ You know,” | aan “ Yes,” gravely, 8s OW, ws ?” - * Who was going down to the shore for 5 dled an et your hat,” 3 He Stood” at the window, his face transfigured, his eyes darke) with a new, strange /ustrr “Ruth,” said the grave yoice,‘‘Ihaveagifl, Vaguely wondering, I looked up face, what deep unknown, Wir ll. He took one step toward me, owed A beart, Ruth, t you through mueh wtheriaee he ove have ae) ee ad ‘ Py . r i -_ : & ; : ‘ ' # i tT . 9 See ae i : re