But such a glory was too bright to last. The sun sank swiftly, the celestial fires paled, the purples grew faint and died, and, where they had been, night trailed her sombre plumes across the sea and sky.
But still the quiet glow of evening lingered, and presently a line of light was shot athwart it, cutting a track of glory across the shadowed sea, so weird and sudden, that it might well have been the first ray of a resurrection morn breaking in upon the twilight of the dead.
He gazed almost in awe, till the majestic sight stilled the tumult of his heart, and his thoughts went up in thanks to the Creator for the pure love he had found again, and which had not betrayed him. Then he looked up, and there, stately and radiant, standing out clear against the shadows, her face illumined by that soft, yet vivid light, her trembling arms outstretched to clasp him—was his lost Angela.
He saw her questioning glances fall upon him, and the red blood waver on her cheek; he saw the love-lights gather in her eyes; and then he saw no more, for she was in his arms, murmuring sweet broken words.
Happy are those who thus shall find their Angela, whether it be here or—on the further shore of yonder solemn sea!
And Mildred? She lay there before the stone symbol of inexorable judgment, and sobbed till the darkness covered her, and her heart broke in the silence.
The Witch’s Head
CHAPTER II REGINALD CARDUS, ESQ., MISANTHROPE
CHAPTER VI JEREMY FALLS IN LOVE
CHAPTER VII ERNEST IS INDISCREET
CHAPTER IX EVA FINDS SOMETHING
CHAPTER XIII MR. CARDUS UNFOLDS HIS PLANS
CHAPTER XV ERNEST GETS INTO TROUBLE
CHAPTER III EVA TAKES A DISTRICT
CHAPTER IV JEREMY'S IDEA OF A SHAKING
CHAPTER V FLORENCE ON MARRIAGE
CHAPTER VI MR. PLOWDEN GOES A-WOOING
CHAPTER IX ERNEST'S LOVE-LETTER
CHAPTER XIII MR. PLOWDEN ASSERTS HIS RIGHTS
CHAPTER XV HANS'S CITY OF REST
CHAPTER XVI ERNEST ACCEPTS A COMMISSION
CHAPTER XVII HANS PROPHESIES EVIL
CHAPTER XVIII MR. ALSTON'S VIEWS
CHAPTER XX THE END OF ALSTON'S HORSE