Part 36 (1/2)
”Haste, haste, good ood woood women, all, hurry!”
[Illustration: OLD PEASANT COSTUMES]
It was night now; but the fullline of hills, and behind it appeared a black cloud, fros of thunder
The moon ascended the clear sky like a chariot, and the cloud seemed to follow her like an araze and ,” he said ”I ood maiden, where can I find food and shelter?”
”Have you a true heart?”
”I have a true heart I have always been true to myself; and he who is true to himself is never unfaithful to God or his fellow-men”
”Then you will be saved when the hour coo doith us who are untrue All true hearts have to-ht, htened the effect of the blackness of the rising cloud The lightnings became more vivid, the thunder more distinct
”You are sure that your heart is true?” said the maiden
”By the Cross, it is true”
”Then I have a duty to do Follow me”
She rose and walked towards the hill from which Lek had come Lek followed her As he passed out of the town the bell sounded: it was the hour of eleven
The people stopped in the streets as before, waving their hands, and crying,--
”Good ood woood women, all, hurry!”
[Illustration: CITY GATE]
The maiden ascended the hill to the very rock from which the student had first seen the town, and under which he had rested
”Sit you here,” she said, ”and do not leave the place until the cocks crow forA true heart never perished with the untrue
My duty is done Farewell!”
”But the tempest?” said the student ”This is no place of shelter
Let me return with you, only until to-ust The one, the black cloud swept over the er discern the town in the valley Everything around hirew dark The air seemed to turn into a thick inky darkness
Fearful flashes of lightning and terrific thunder followed The wind bent the forest before it; but not a drop of rain fell
There was a moment's silence The bell in the ht
Another hush, as though Nature had ceased to breathe Then a thunder-crash shook the hills, and seemed to cleave open the very earth
Lek crossed himself and fell upon his knees The cloud passed swiftly The e was gone_