 | The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley |  |
435
APART
I
They stood on either side the gate—
Though fastened with the hands of fate
A touch might lift the latch's weight.
Though fastened with the hands of fate
A touch might lift the latch's weight.
The moonlight, with a faded grace,
Fell o'er the whiteness of her face
Like some soiled veil of bridal lace.
Fell o'er the whiteness of her face
Like some soiled veil of bridal lace.
The fan she held went fluttering
About her mouth on restless wing
As though it were a wounded thing.
About her mouth on restless wing
As though it were a wounded thing.
And in her breast an ache of dread
Held back the word she would have said,
And sent a weary sigh instead.
Held back the word she would have said,
And sent a weary sigh instead.
II
He waited, with his eager eyes
Half muffled in a weak disguise
Of carelessness and cold surprise.
Half muffled in a weak disguise
Of carelessness and cold surprise.
436
Within his breast he heard the moan:
“How desolate and all alone,
And pitiless my heart has grown!”
“How desolate and all alone,
And pitiless my heart has grown!”
And yet a nameless ache of dread
Held back the word he would have said,
And sent a weary sigh instead.
Held back the word he would have said,
And sent a weary sigh instead.
The long, black shadows of the trees
Whose branches wavered in the breeze,
Fell o'er them like their destinies.
Whose branches wavered in the breeze,
Fell o'er them like their destinies.
They parted. Yet the wild wind saith
That two fair ghosts with failing breath
Walk hand in hand the path of death.
That two fair ghosts with failing breath
Walk hand in hand the path of death.
| The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley | |