By the Waters of Paradise by F. Marion Crawford
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there were the gray walls below me and_the gray turrets flanking the huge building; there were the fountains, the marble causeways, the smooth basins, the tall box hedges, the water lilies and_the swans, just as of old . but there_was something else there, too-- something in_the air, in_the water, and in_the greenness that I_did_not recognize--a light over everything by_which everything was transfigured . the clock in_the tower struck seven, and_the strokes of_the ancient bell sounded like awedding chime . the air sang with_the thrilling treble of_the song-birds, with_the silvery music of_the plashing water and_the softer harmony of_the leaves stirred by_the fresh morning wind . there_was a smell of new-mown hay from_the distant meadows, and of blooming roses from_the beds below, wafted up together to my window .I stood in_the pure sunshine and drank the air and all the sounds and_the odors that were in_it; and I looked down at my garden and said: " it_is paradise, after all ." i_think the men of old were right when_they called heaven a garden, and Eden a garden inhabited by one man and one woman, the earthly paradise .

I turned away, wondering what had become of_the gloomy memories I had always associated with my home .I tried to recall the impression of_my nurse's horrible prophecy before_the death of_my parents-- an impression which hitherto had_been vivid enough .I tried to remember my old self, my dejection, my listlessness, my bad luck, my petty disappointments .I endeavored to force myself to_think as I used to_think, if only to satisfy myself that I had_not lost my individuality . but I succeeded in none of_these efforts . i_was a different man, a changed being, incapable of sorrow, of ill luck, or of sadness . my life had_been a dream, not evil, but infinitely gloomy and hopeless . it_was now a reality, full of hope, gladness, and all manner of good . my home had_been like a tomb; to- day it_was paradise . my heart had_been as_though it had_not existed; to- day it beat with strength and youth and_the certainty of realized happiness .I reveled in_the beauty of_the world, and called loveliness out_of_the future to enjoy it before time should bring it to_me, as a traveler in_the plains looks up_to_the mountains, and already tastes the cool air through_the dust of_the road .

here, i_thought, we_will live and live for years . there we_will sit by_the fountain toward evening and in_the deep moonlight . down those paths we_will wander together . on those benches we_will rest and talk . among those eastern hills we_will ride through_the soft twilight, and in_the old house we_will tell tales on winter nights, when_the logs burn high, and_the holly berries are red, and_the old clock tolls out the dying year . on_these old steps, in_these dark passages and stately rooms, there_will one day be the sound of little pattering feet, and laughing child voices will ring up_to_the vaults of_the ancient hall . those tiny footsteps shall_not_be slow and sad as mine were, nor shall the childish words be spoken in an awed whisper . no gloomy Welshwoman shall people the dusky corners with weird horrors, nor utter horrid prophecies of death and ghastly things . all shall be young, and fresh, and joyful, and happy, and we_will turn the old luck again, and forget that there_was ever any sadness .

so i_thought, as I looked out of_my window that morning and for many mornings after_that, and every day it all seemed more real than ever before, and much nearer . but the old nurse looked at me askance, and muttered odd sayings about_the woman of_the water .I cared little what she said, for i_was far too happy .

at last the time came near for_the wedding . lady Bluebell and all the tribe of Bluebells, as Margaret called them, were at Bluebell grange, for we had determined to_be married in_the country, and to_come straight to_the castle afterwards . we cared little for traveling, and not at all for a crowded ceremony at St . George's in Hanover square, with all the tiresome formalities afterwards .I used to ride over to_the grange every day, and very often Margaret would come with her aunt and some of her cousins to_the castle . i_was suspicious of_my own taste, and was only too glad to let her have her way about_the alterations and improvements in_our home .

we were to_be married on_the thirtieth of July, and on_the evening of_the twenty-eighth Margaret drove over with some_of_the Bluebell party . in_the long summer twilight we all went out into_the garden . naturally enough, Margaret and I were left to ourselves, and we wandered down by_the marble basins .

" it_is an odd coincidence," I_said; " it_was on_this very night last year that I first saw you ."

"Considering that_it_is the month of July," answered Margaret with a laugh, " and_that we_have_been here almost every day, I don't think the coincidence is so extraordinary, after all ."

" no, dear," said I, "I suppose not .I don't know why it struck me . we_shall very likely be here a year from today, and a year from_that . the odd thing, when i_think of it, is_that you_should_be here at all . but my luck has turned .I ought not to_think anything odd that happens now that I have_you . it_is all sure to_be good ."

"A slight change in your ideas since that remarkable performance of yours in Paris," said Margaret ." do_you_know, i_thought you were the most extraordinary man I had ever met ."

" i_thought you were the most charming woman I had ever seen .I naturally did_not want to lose any_time in frivolities . i_took you at your word, I followed your advice, I asked you to marry me, and this_is_the delightful result-- what's the matter ? "

Margaret had started suddenly, and her hand tightened on my arm . an old woman was coming up the path, and was close to_us before we saw her, for_the moon had risen, and was shining full in_our faces . the woman turned out to_be my old nurse .

" it's only Judith, dear--don't be frightened," I_said . then I spoke to_the Welshwoman: " what_are you about, Judith ? have_you been feeding the woman of_the water ? "

"Aye-- when_the clock strikes, Willie-- my lord, I mean," muttered the old creature, drawing aside to let_us pass, and fixing her strange eyes on Margaret's face .

" what does she mean ? " asked Margaret, when we had gone by .

" nothing, darling . the old thing is mildly crazy, but she_is a good soul ."

we went on in silence for a few_moments, and came to_the rustic bridge just above the artificial grotto through which the water ran out into_the park, dark and swift in its narrow channel . we stopped, and leaned on_the wooden rail . the moon was now behind us, and shone full upon_the long vista of basins and on_the huge walls and towers of_the castle above .

" how proud you ought_to_be of_such a grand old place ! " said Margaret, softly .

" it_is yours now, darling," I answered ." you_have as good a right to love it as I-- but I only love it because you_are to live in_it, dear ."

her hand stole out and lay on mine, and we were both silent . just then the clock began to strike far off in_the tower .I counted-- eight--nine--ten--eleven--I looked at my watch--twelve--thirteen--I laughed . the bell went on striking .

" the old clock has gone crazy, like Judith," I exclaimed . still it went on, note after note ringing out monotonously through_the still air . we leaned over the rail, instinctively looking in_the direction whence the sound came . on and on_it went .I counted nearly a hundred, out of sheer curiosity, for I understood that something had broken and_that the thing was running itself down .

suddenly there_was a crack as of breaking wood, a cry and a heavy splash, and i_was alone, clinging to_the broken end of_the rail of_the rustic bridge .

I_do_not_think I hesitated while my pulse beat twice .I sprang clear of_the bridge into_the black rushing water, dived to_the bottom, came up again with empty hands, turned and swam downward through_the grotto in_the thick darkness, plunging and diving at every stroke, striking my head and hands against jagged stones and sharp corners, clutching at last something in my fingers and dragging it up with all my might .I spoke, I cried aloud, but there_was no answer . i_was alone in_the pitchy darkness with my burden, and_the house was five hundred yards away .Struggling still, I_felt the ground beneath my feet, I_saw a ray of moonlight- - the grotto widened, and_the deep water became a broad and shallow brook as I stumbled over the stones and at last laid Margaret's body on_the bank in_the park beyond .

"Aye, Willie, as_the clock struck ! " said the voice of Judith, the Welsh nurse, as she bent down and looked at_the white face . the old woman must_have turned back and followed us, seen the accident, and slipped out by_the lower gate of_the garden ."Aye," she groaned, " you_have fed the woman of_the water this night, Willie, while the clock was striking ."

I scarcely heard her as I knelt beside the lifeless body of_the woman I loved, chafing the wet white temples and gazing wildly into_the wide-staring eyes .I remember only the first returning look of consciousness, the first heaving breath, the first movement of_those dear hands stretching out toward me .

that_is_not much of a story, you say . it_is_the story of_my life . that_is all . it does_not pretend to_be anything else . old Judith says my luck turned on_that summer's night when i_was struggling in_the water to save all that was worth living for .a month later there_was a stone bridge above the grotto, and Margaret and I stood on_it and looked up at_the moonlit castle, as_we had done once before, and as we_have_done many_times since . for all those things happened ten years_ago last summer, and this_is_the tenth Christmas Eve we_have spent together by_the roaring logs in_the old hall, talking of old times; and every year there_are more old times to_talk of . there_are curly- headed boys, too, with red- gold hair and dark- brown eyes like their mother's, and a little Margaret, with solemn black eyes like mine . why could_not she look like her mother, too, as_well as_the rest of_them ?

the world is very bright at_this glorious Christmas time, and perhaps there_is little use in calling up the sadness of long_ago, unless it be to make_the jolly firelight seem more cheerful, the good wife's face look gladder, and to_give the children's laughter a merrier ring, by contrast with all that_is gone . perhaps, too, some sad- faced, listless, melancholy youth, who feels that_the world is very hollow, and_that life is like a perpetual funeral service, just as I used to_feel myself, may take courage from my example, and having found the woman of_his heart, ask her to marry him after half an hour's acquaintance . but, on_the whole, i_would_not advise any man to marry, for_the simple reason that no man will ever find a wife like mine, and being obliged to_go farther, he_will necessarily fare worse . my wife has_done miracles, but i_will_not assert that any_other woman is able to_follow her example .

Margaret always said that_the old place was beautiful, and_that I ought_to_be proud of it .I dare say she_is right . she has even more imagination than I . but I_have a good answer and a plain one, which_is this,-- that all the beauty of_the castle comes from her . she has breathed upon it all, as_the children blow upon_the cold glass window panes in winter; and as their warm breath crystallizes into landscapes from fairyland, full of exquisite shapes and traceries upon_the blank surface, so her spirit has transformed every gray stone of_the old towers, every ancient tree and hedge in_the gardens, every thought in my once melancholy self . all that was old is young, and all that was sad is glad, and I_am the gladdest of all . whatever heaven may_be, there_is no earthly paradise without woman, nor is_there anywhere a place so desolate, so dreary, so unutterably miserable that a woman cannot make it seem heaven to_the man she loves and who loves her .

I hear certain cynics laugh, and cry that all that has_been said before . do_not laugh, my good cynic . you_are too small a man to laugh at such a great thing as love .Prayers have_been said before now by many, and perhaps you say yours, too . I_do_not_think they lose anything by being repeated, nor you by repeating them . you say that_the world is bitter, and full of_the Waters of bitterness . love, and so live that you_may_be loved-- the world will turn sweet for_you, and you shall rest like me by_the Waters of paradise .

from " the play- actress and_the upper berth," by F . Marion Crawford . copyright, 1896, by G .P . Putnam's Sons .

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