time has flown dear grace ho said since then they had been talking of that and yet it seems a long long while ago we count by changes and events within us not by years yet we have years to count by too since was with us returned grace six times dear husband counting to night as one we have sat here on her birth day and spoken together of that happy return so eagerly expected and so long deferred ah when will it be when wiu it be her husband attentively observed her as the tears collected in her eyes and drawing nearer said but told you in that farewell letter which she left for you upon your table love and which you read so often that years must pass away before it could be did she not she took a letter from her breast and kissed it and paid yes that through those intervening years however happy she might be she would look forward to the time when you would meet again and all would be made clear and prayed you and to ths battle op life do tho same the letter runs so does it not my dear yes alfred and every other letter she has written since except the last � some months ago � in which she spoke of you and what you then knew and what i was to learn to he looked towards the sun then declining and said that the appointed time was sunset alfred said grace laying her hand upon his shoulder earnestly there is something in this letter � this old letter which you say i read so often � that i have never told you but to night dear husband with that sunset drawing near and all our life seeming to soften and become hushed with the departing day i cannot keep it secret what is it love when went away she wrote me here that you had once left her a sacred trust to me and that now she left you alfred such a trust in my hands praying and me as i loved her and as loved you not to reject the affection she believed she knew she said you would transfer to me when the new wound was healed but to encourage and return if the battle of life d � and make me a proud and happy man again grace did she say so she meant to make myself so and in your love was his wife s answer as he held her in his arms hear me my dear ho said � no hear me so � and as he spoke he gently laid the head she had raised again upon his shoulder i know why i have never heard this passage in the letter until now i know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time i know why grace although so true a friend to me was hard to win to be my wife and knowing it my own i know the value of the heart i within my arms and thank god for the rich possession she wept but not for sorrow ea he pressed her to his heart after a brief space he looked down at the child who was sitting at their feet playing with a little basket of flowers and bade her look how golden and how red the sun was alfred said grace raising her head quickly at these words the sun is going down you not what i am to know before it sets the battle of life and the haunted man the battle of you to know the truth of s history my he ah the truth she said nothing veiled from me any more that was the promise not it was he answered before the sun went down on s birth day and you see it alfred it is sinking fast he put his arm about her waist and looking steadily into her eyes rejoined that truth is not reserved so long for me to tell dear grace it is to come from other lips from other lips she faintly echoed yes i know your constant heart i know how brave you are i know that to you a word of preparation is enough you have said truly that the time is come it is tell me that you have present fortitude to bear a trial � a surprise � a shock and the messenger is waiting at the gate what messenger she said and what intelligence does he bring i am pledged he answered her his steady look to say no more do you think you stand me the battle of i am a to think she said there waa that in his face despite its steady gaze which her again she hid her own face on his shoulder trembling and entreated him to pause � a moment courage my wife i when you have firmness to receive the messenger the messenger is waiting at the gate the sun is setting on s birth day courage courage grace she raised her head and looking at him told him she was ready as she stood and looked upon him going away her face was so like s as it had been in her later days at home that it was wonderful to see he took the child with him she called her back � she bore the lost girl s name � and pressed her to her bosom the httle creature being released again sped after him and grace was left alone she knew not what she dreaded or what hoped but remained there motionless looking at the porch by which they had disappeared ah what was that emerging from its shadow standing on its threshold that figure with its white garments rustling in the evening air its head laid down upon her father 