Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

PICTURES AND TliE PICTUREGOER 233 Week kn Dec. 25, Adapted from he Majestic Masterpiece produced by Griffith By MARGIE MACKAY. HIS bright curls glistening in the sunshine, brighter even than the cloud of dry, golden sand that rose and fell behind his tiny form. Walter hastened along by the edge of ilif red-brown rocks, on which the snowwhite gulls hovered and wheeled, rose and fell. "Let me play with you;" he cried, when, breathless and flushed. he reached a tiny cave resounding with the merry voices of the boy and girl to whom pf all the children in that quaint old fishing village he was most bound by the subtle, mysterious laws of childish comradeship, sympathy, and goodwill. But whilst Agnes welcomed the newcomer to their play, her partner in the game of "keeping house" pouted his tips and frowned at Walter. "Thisis my house!'' he said, "and this my little wife." ".Mine too ! " said Walter; ".turn and turn about." ■. . • ' But for 6nce in the annals of their idship John would not agree to the compromise that had so long barred the dbov of that little cave house against Jealousy and his attendant fiends. he shrugged his square little shoulders and stared defiance into Walter's. -. already flooded with the helpless wrath of tears. ."1 don't want you in our game.' be grumbled. "Then I'll light you for the house I" the other challenged* regardless pf John's superior sfee and strength and Aenes'-. cut real ies to be friends. For a few minutes four little pink, lists darted to and fro. in and out. glowwarmly in the bright morning light; then, flushed and bruised and defeated. Walter drop] ed down upon the relic of a ca-tle. moated and sea woed-strewii. " I hale ypu John 1 " he cried, with a little gasp for breath between each word. Bnl \mies. weeping her dismay. smiling her friendship for them both. ■.•a\ e a hand to each. " Oh, please don't quarrel' any more ! " she cried. "for ni\ sake make it up. and I w ill be little w it'e to both." With fresh impulse, as generous as i he l'n st was Belfish; John stretched the same sun-browned fisi that had precipitated Walter through the Norman castle roof. Walter took it. and they smiled, and Aunes. as she skipped about for joy. digging her hare toes into the soft . warm, yielding sand, repeated •• 1 will be little wife to both :" Ami " little w ife" to both sh,. was through all those golden years of childhood, Though other children were often admitted to their merry past! there was a bond of understanding, a secret attraction that kept the three together and apart from other companions. And slowly as the years passed by and childhood's happy days w re left behind, friendship ripened and matur d, and love was born — the love of John and Walter for the merryhearted girl, whose beauty of face and form and mind bad inspired them both with ambitions rare to inhabitants of that old-world fishing port. Which of the two straight-limbed, broad-chested young men did Agnes love — strong, weather-beaten, openhearted John, or quieter, shyer "Walter, the miller's son? . Perhaps she herself scarcely knew nintil one autumn evening, when, to :J.li,u \x GlSB as •• A. gether with all the young people ofthe village, she and John went nutting in a wooded hollow on the rugged cliffs. Atbey bowed down the hazel branches and tilled their baskets with the golden harvest, the young fisherman talked to Agnes of his life and work, and how he had purchased his own boat and meant to do big things. " And all because of yon!" he blurted out at length, and fondled unreproached the pretty, fair treses that trembled in the breeze. Wees turned to him, a little flushed, w iih open, wondering ej es. " For me? " she -aid; and then, like a creature o\' the woods suddenly alarmed. save for the roguish laughter in her eyes, she darted from his side through the trees, and was Quickly lost to view, But only for a moment John. too. wa9 swift of f< And nhen, short while later. Walter just freed from the bedside of his sick father, climbed the bill to join the nutting party, he found the pair sitting hand in hand, enrapt. enchanted with their love. He looked. and in their t read his doom, and crept silently away into the heart of the little wood, there, while the rest were loud in merrymaking! to wrestle with the pain and hunger in his heart. Such love was not for Walter, "i bis soul love triumphed over all. and his last prayer in tl at tortured Becku was that he might justify his regard in serving her -and John: * * • * For seven happy years things prospered with the pair. Two children blessed their union a girl and then a boy— happy, healthy little things be the children of the luckiest, boldest fisherman that could be fomid for leagues along that breakerbeaten coast. The father's heart was full his lii tie odes, and when at hmgtl spite of his vows to . to their upbringing and education, he -.hem suffering a a res of the ill-fortune that had come upon him. he was filled first time with anxiety and doubts. Whilst recovering from the eff< an accident others had snatched his trade, and there seemed all at be no room for him in the vil!ag lie had toiled so long and SO happily to give his wife and children home and comfort, happiness and health. at length, after many anxious there came an offer of a berth upon a China-bound ship. John accepted it. rejoicing at this answer to his praye "Why. your eyes are quite bright! And there are no worried lines on 3 face; " cried Agnes, hatf-qnestioningly. as he entered the cosy little pari that night. "Dear little woman.'" he replied. " our troubles an at an end ! No longer shall you and the children feel the pinch of poverty.'' He put his arm about her. " Hut 1 must go away."' he added. reluctantly, anticipating her dismay. " oh. no : " she cried, " John, 3 <a must r. Only evil could 1 come of thai. 1 f yon care for me and for our dear children you must stay. Stay! I 'car John. I could not let you s And. caressing him with he warm hand. Agues wrestled with his will, sobbing as she c ■ axed and entree him to stay. " Hut it is my duty to you and the