CHAPTER XXVII
SEVERING THE TIES
The next day seemed to Winn almost like preparing for a funeral.
"I wish you would go over to the gorge with me this afternoon," he saidto Mona that morning, "I must leave here to-morrow, and I want to bidthe spot good-by."
And she, busy among the sweet williams, pinks, and marigolds that wereher daily care, felt her heart sink.
And Winn, believing it his last day on the island, went his way, firstto the quarry that had been his everyday duty for almost three months.Only four men were retained, and those were to be kept at work until hereturned, or until Jess ordered otherwise. To no one could he say hisdeparture was final. Then he wandered about among the wharves that hadso interested him the first day on the island, and spoke with the fewfishermen busy there. All knew him, and each had a pleasant word andnod. He watched them at their work, salting the fish they had split andwere packing, one upon another, in a large tank, or spreading cured oneson racks to dry, and packing up in bundles those that were dried. Hesniffed the pungent odor and looked out seaward, where the fishingcraft, with all sail set, were departing. Then he strolled inward towhere the little steamer made landing. She had left for that day and herwharf was deserted. Winn thought that on her next trip he would be apassenger leaving the island for good. Strange to say, as he passed onhe noticed with peculiar interest the sign, "Coffins and Caskets" on asmall shop just back of a house. Then he followed the sandy shore of theinner harbor past an old, dismantled fishing smack, beached high anddry, on the stern of which the name "Nancy Jane" was still legible, andthen on up to the tide mill. Here he paused again, looking into the darkinterior where only the sills remained, and below them a space throughwhich the tide ebbed. And he thought of the girl who had ended her lifethere.
Somehow, all that morning these sad reminders of life and death on theisland seemed to thrust themselves before him. The mood they engenderedwas with him when that afternoon he, with Mona for companion, startedfor the gorge. And she was almost as silent as the old mill.
"I've been bidding good-by to the island all the morning," he said, whenthey reached the top of Norse Hill, "and I hate to go away."
"But you are coming back, aren't you?" she asked, with a note of pain.
"Oh, yes," he said cheerfully, "I hope so, but I can't tell. You knowwhy I go, and my business here may be at its end. But if it is, I shallvisit the island next summer, if I live.
THE DEVIL'S OVEN.]
"Come, dear," he added, when the gorge was reached and he had assistedher down, "let's leave the violin here and hunt for sea-shells. I wantsome to carry away." And like two children they clambered over the rocksthe tide had left bare, picking up the starfish, chill to the touch,sea-urchins, snail shells, sailors' money purses, tossed above the tidelevel and dried black and hard, and watching the anemones and crabs leftprisoners in pools between the rocks. Overhead the gulls circled and farto seaward the white sails of coasters and fishermen gleamed in thesunlight, and beside Winn, following wherever he went, Mona, with herappealing eyes. They talked of nothings, as usual, and he stole covertlooks at her face, noting how the sea winds played havoc with herloosened hair.
Later they sought the cave where the ferns and flowers she had broughtthe day before lay withered.
"I am going to leave all but one each of the starfish and shells we havegathered," he said, "here in our little nook, and see if we will findthem when I come back."
"We shall," she replied, "for no one ever comes here but me, and I willwatch them."
It was a child's thought, but there are moments in our lives when to actlike children is a relief.
"I hope you will come here often," he added, "and feel this is ourplayhouse, and when I think of you I shall always see you as you are nowand in this cave. And you must keep up your practice and I shall sendyou some new music and write to you, and if you have a picture ofyourself, I should like it."
"I have only one, taken when I was a little girl," she answered, "butyou shall have it."
He could have had her heart, and soul even, had he asked it.
"Now play for me, dear," he said very gently, "some of the old songs youplay best."
And once again, as many times before, Winn visited the banks of "BonnieDoon" and the fields of heather over which the tartan-clad ranks marchedto the tune of "The Blue Bells of Scotland" and "The Campbells areComing." And he heard the pipes droning and saw "Bonnie Dundee" withwaving plume and the sweet lassie "Comin' thro' the Rye," and heard thelove plaint of "Robin Adair," "Auld Robin Grey," and the undyingheart-cry of sweet "Annie Laurie."
And into these was blended the low lullaby of the ocean.
When it was all ended and the twilight had come, without a word he heldout his hand, and slowly and in silence gently guided her footsteps outof the gorge. Along the devious way among the ledges he led her, adrooping flower, thirsting for one drop of the water of life, one wordof love, ay, one word of pity!
The purple shade of coming night had crept in from the wide ocean erethey reached the old stone tower, and here he paused. Full well he knewwhat every impulse of his own heart called upon him to utter, and yethis lips were dumb. Full well he knew how the girl who stood beside himfelt, and the heartache that was her portion.
And still he was silent!
The chill night breeze from the sea swept over the hill. Suddenly thegirl shivered.
And then, as he looked out upon the darkening sea and heard the solemnrequiem sounding below the cliff, the voice of eternity and life anddeath speaking there unsealed his lips.
The next moment Mona was clasped in his arms.
"God help me, little girl," he said, "I love you."
Later, the moon, smiling approval, rose out of the ocean, and when thetwo, now one, turned to go, once more he gathered her close to hisheart.
"You will come back now, won't you?" she said.
And looking into the tear-wet eyes upraised to his, he kissed her once,twice, thrice.
"Surely," he answered, "my heart is here now."
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