m drilled
In Eastern shells, with pearls are filled.

The creeping tide swells, shot with flame,
Stole up and kissed away that name
Which Fate indeed, with mocking hand,
For her had written in the sand.

Outward, upon her right did reach
A long, white, narrow line of beach,
Where careless groups now idly strayed,
Watching the flush of sunset fade.

And when across that crimson glow
Her gaze went out as long ago,
O'er colder seas, unto a ship
Which toward the setting sun did dip,

On the far point of that white sand
Standing together, hand in hand,
Like forms of sculptured bronze revealed
Against the sunset's burnished shield,

Two figures smote her 'wildered sight,
And left two blots upon the light;
Darker than iron ship afar
Or smoke that hid the evening star.

For there, between her and the sun,
Stood Graham Lee, and with him one
Whose beauty stirred to bitter strife
The chilly current of her life.

[Illustration:

"Two figures smote her 'wildered sight,
And left two blots upon the light."]

As summer sends a mighty thrill
Through clust'ring icy floes, until
Their shudd'ring breaks the ghastly sleep
Of Nova Zembla's pallid deep.

More dead he seemed to her that hour--
There, in the strength of manly power,
Bending to see those dark eyes shine--
Than cold and still beneath the brine.

Six years had marked their weary length
On her young life--whose faith and strength
A widowed heart left purified--
To live, now wishing she had died.

More lost she felt, and more alone,
Leaning against that hard, cold stone,
Than when his ship was outward bound,
Or when she thought of him as drowned.

They turned, and sauntered towards the cove;
Oh, woman's strength! oh, woman's love!
She stirred not till their eyes had met,
And knew herself remembered yet.

Down wastes of absence, grief, and gloom--
Warmed by his gaze--uprose the bloom
Of Hope's lost violets through the snow,
A purple path to long ago!