A Mountain Woman by Elia W. (Elia Wilkinson) Peattie
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page 20 of 228 (08%)
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lines I repeated: --
"What heartache -- ne'er a hill! Inexorable, vapid, vague, and chill The drear sand levels drain my spirit low. With one poor word they tell me all they know; Whereat their stupid tongues, to tease my pain, Do drawl it o'er and o'er again. They hurt my heart with griefs I cannot name; Always the same -- the same." But I got no further. I felt myself moved with a sort of passion which did not seem to come from within, but to be communicated to me from her. A certain unfamiliar hap- piness pricked through with pain thrilled me, and I heard her whispering, -- "Do not go on, do not go on! I cannot stand it to-night!" "Hush," I whispered back; "come out for a moment!" We stole into the dusk without, and stood there trembling. I swayed with her emotion. There was a long silence. Then she said: "Father may be walking alone now by the black cataract. That is where he goes when he is sad. I |
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