Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

2 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

Through Strange Wags.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

Through Strange Wags. BY THE REV. H. ELWYN THOMAS, NEWPORT MON. Author of" I Fyny," "Miss Uniquerfc., &C. CHAPTER III. I walked round that mansion at least three times during every remaining day of my short vacation, and looked at the house, its gardens and conservatories from every conceivable vantage ground, but I had to leave St. Morlans without as much as another glimpse of my strange companion in the castle ruins. I felt miserable over my failure, for after holding the girl in my arms under such exceptional circumstances, my heart had strangely gone out to her, and I kept thinking of her night and day. The image of her pale, beautiful face, as it lay on my shoulder that memorable night, would be with me for ever. No other woman had made more than a passing impression on my mind before. But though I tried with all my mind, I could not dismiss this one from my thoughts night nor day. Perhaps she was married to the man who came in his phaeton to meet her on the day I saw her first! Perhaps they lived as husband and wife in the mansion I had seen How I tortured myself by puzzling my brains over the problem, only a few of your readers can understand. Another year went by. Autumn tints adorned the landscapes. Artists and Nature were in constant communion, revealing their mutual secrets on many a lovely spot. Among a large number whose ideal holiday time is October, I left town once again for lovely Bettws-y-coed. I had been roaming about for nine or ten days in the glens and valleys and passes which surround this most enchanting corner of wild Wales, when the idea possessed me one morning of climbing to the summit of one of the neighbouring hills. The day was exceedingly clear and bright. I took nothing with me but a large field glass, a stout walking-stick, and some sandwiches. I was in no hurry so after ascending a little, I often turned back to view the country o'er. It was a grand sight, and being in a responsive mood, I couldn't help recalling some of the character-forming incidents of my past life. Among them were my two meetings with that young woman who had so deeply and myste- riously impressed me. Somehow I had been thinking of her every day since I had left London. I wondered whether she had ever thought of me. Just then I heard an ominous sound a stone set loose by the laws of nature, or by someone's touch on the heights above was making its way over the rocks towards the valley. I stood directly in its path. In my .haste to move on one side, I missed my footing and fell. In another second the huge stone rolled mercilessly over both my feet, and I became unconscious with great pain. When I came to myself I tried to get up, but I might as well have tried to pull up the tree behind me by the roots. The least effort I made to move one of my feet gave me such a shock of pain that I felt myself repeatedly in a fainting condition. Little by little I realized how extremely helpless I was. Not only was it impossible for me to return to my hotel without aid, but I could not even stand up. And here I was, far away from even the nearest sheep track, in a lonely and almost inaccessible spot, where a human being might not chance to appear for months, or even years. Remembering the direction from whence the stone came, the thought struck me that it might have been started on its journey by a living being. So I shouted help with all the strength of my lungs. To my great relief and joy a penetrating, musical voice responded from the hills above. I repeated my cry, and the owner of the other voice repeated the response, coming nearer with every repetition, until at last I saw a lady approaching, with a grave, questioning face. t She was dressed in a close-fitting tourist dress, had a portfolio under her left arm, and an alpenstock in her right hand. I knew her at once she was the young lady I had met twice before under the strange circumstances recorded in the previous chapters. She took in the situation at a glance, and her face became ashy pale when she saw at her feet the huge stone which had done the mischief. Gracious Heaven she said, in an agitated voice, I have nearly killed you You? I asked. u Yes. I fancied a wild spot to plant my easel on a few hundred yards higher up, where I was sketching a view of one of the valleys, and somehow, in adjusting my stool, that stone gave way and tumbled wildly down the hill. Of course I couldn't stop it. But I had no idea it had hurt anyone. Oh, sir, what have I done?" Her distress was so deep and sincere that I felt tempted to make a little show of my suffering in order to see how greatly she felt for me. But manlier feelings prevailed, and I said in as cheerful a tone as I could assume, You have done nothing. I am merely the victim of an accident for which no one is responsible." "Oh, it is kind of you to say so, but I feel dreadful. Can I help you ? No? Then I will run to the nearest hotel and bring help as soon as I can." And without another word she was off, skipping over the rocks with a swiftness and dexterity which made me forget my pain in witnessing. After an incredibly short period of waiting she was in sight again, leading two stalwart men with a stretcher. My injuries, though painful and severe, were not so dangerous as I feared. In a few days I was able to move about with the help of crutches. The lady artist made enquiries every morn- ing and evening about my condition, but I had not seen her until nearly a fortnight had passed, when one morning I answered her inquiries in person. She was rather confused, but evidently much pleased at my ability to move about once more. Seeing she had a volume with whose contents I was familiar, I managed to start a conversation in regard to it, wishing to make the situation less embar- rassed both for her and myself. Little by little the sense of embarrassment left us, and we talked as unrestrainedly as if we had been familiar friends. In a few days we seemed to know each other well. We went for long walks, and talked for hours about art, journalism, literature, life and religion. I was so extremely happy, that when my friend hinted one morning she had only three days more to stay, I felt like one robbed of his most cherished hope. In far less time than it will take me to ex- plain, told her how deeply and sincerely I loved her since I first saw her, how that love had deepened every time I was brought in contact with her, and how I felt convinced that the exceptionally strange ways through which we were thus brought together for the third time must have been arranged by a wise Providence for some wise purpose. When I related the experience I went through in connection with the charge given her to plunge the dagger," my misgivings in regard to the kissing incident at St. Morlans Station, and the fear which made me perspire when I took possession of her black bag in the castle ruins; sunny mischievous smiles chased each other over her lovely face like the sun- beams of a May morning over the smiles of a rose. You must be a brave man," she said, half mockingly, to propose to such a dangerous and mysterious person." I hastened to reply that I instinctively resented the misgivings which the somewhat strange incidents had tried to thrust into my mind, even after the first full glance I had of her face, and that after I had spoken to her I knew they were impossible. She then became grave and serious. I am an orphan," she said. When you saw me first I was returning from a visit to my cousin in London. It is she who has taught me to paint. I had with me at the time an unfinished picture-an attempt to depict on canvas A wronged woman's revenge.' It was this woman who was to plunge the dagger' my cousin referred to, and the scoundrel who betrayed her was to be the victim. The person who came to meet me at St. Morlans Station is my only brother. He lives in the house where you took me that night from the castle ruins. My visit to the castle had a similar purpose to your own. I wanted to sketch the place by moonlight, and was busily at it when the storm caught me. The incidents which brought us together are certainly strange and exceptional, and I hope you are right in thinking it was God's strange way of bringing us together for since I have known you I have learned to love you with all my heart." Thus through strange ways two of the happiest souls God ever created were made one. The End.

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