Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-02-28

done Had she come so far and could she not
drag herself one step further, before she Law
down, finally, to die 1t was yet possible to
madden Erie, and to make Mile miserable.
though il was TOO late to help herself Should
she spoil all now, at the last hour
No! She found strength enough to battle on
a little longer. She dressed hastily, but neatly
dashed ice-cold water into her face, and dried it
so roughly that the delcate-skin glowed again
and before that glow had time to fade, or prac-
used smile to die away from her mouth she had
joined Mile: had given her all fair good wishes
of the season, and borne the mockery of having,
them returned to her with many soft kiss aud
fond word.
"And now to breakfast" Hildred said 'for
it IS late, and Erie will be here directly to take
you to church"
| And you will come with us p Mile asked.
No! shall spend this happy Christmas morn
in alone. / am not WELL Hldred answered
And yet you had such color when you came
down. Let me stay with you. had much rather.
Certainly not; there's no occasion. Mile,
have you not fonnd ont yet, child, that love my
own company better than even yours
Hidred hurried back to her own room before
Mr.. l. neward came to fetch Mile She could
not have met him calmly. But when they were
gone, he and Mile, and the servants; when all
the country people, church ward bound, had pass
ed along the road Hildred felt that She could not
bear the quiet that fell upon the house. The ST.
lent shinlng-in OF the the way il lay still and
serene upon all 1t touched, even upon her, was
maddening She could not bear to remain there.
alone. 1t was sudden resolve, suddenly exc
cutcd A frenzied fear of being too late appear
ed TO seize her. She did not mean to go to the
village church, where Mile and Erie, and many
people who knew her were; but to little old
church the other side of the hill, to which but
very few ever went.
She reached it at last, with difficulty; for she
harS
gerness defeated itself. She made her way into a
curtained pew once long dead dust squire's.
1t was mu ity, dusty, and deserted. She crouch
ed down III a corner where no one could see her.
During the hour that H;dred passed in thai,
old faded pew, listening, hardly conscious that
she did listen, to holy words often heard before,
a new chord was struck within her. Some will
call this unnatural improbable; say it is not So;
but simply and only mysterious. 1t was solely
one of Gods providcnces (of which so many talk,
in which SO few firmly beiieve); an instance OF
his infinite mercy in providing Tor soul i'll sore
and utmost need.
Miles words came back to Hildreds mind.
She remembered Miles saying, that those do not
suffer thoroughly who do not suffer patiently
After thinking ofthis, Hildred did not know dis
tinctly what She heard. The service was over
the few worshppers gone home to happy firesides
and Christmas ntirth-yet she sat still, uncun-
scious that not another human being WAS in the
little church. and that the old door was shut up
on her.
Hldred was glad when she found that she was
alone. She came out of the corner, went up the
aisle to the communion table, knelt there, aud
opened the great Bible.
She found grand, great glorious words-words
that filled her excited mind with awful ioy-ap-
peaEng to her glowing mag nation and her pow
err of heroic seit-sacrice.
The sun descended lower in the heavens, slant
ed in at little stained west window, and threw
hues of soft amethyst and of golden glory upon
the fine dark head bent low in reverent worship.
Then it faded out altogether. Still Hidred knelt
on.
The church grew dim an1 dusky-she could
read no longer, but she prayed.
As she passed out of the then dark church, the
sexton-an old, lame man-was coming in with
lantern to put away the books and lock it up a
task neglected till then for his Christmas dinner
He drew back aghast as Iiildred gently babe him
good night, and looked with awe after the tai
figure that soon disappeared in the darkness. He
hurried over his duties and hobbed back 10 his
iireside: where, no doubt, he told grim ghos,
story; of having seen, and been spoken to, by the
long deceased lady of the long deceased squire,
i'll the church porch, after dark, to very credu-
ious listeners.
Erie and Mile had been anSiously expecting
her for a long time-sillie had even urged Erie
10 go and seek her-but lie, saying that most
likely Sic had gone for one Of her mad rambleS,
excused himself doing Sc. And they waited
and the night fell, Erie Lyneward made short
Illuminating confession of his weakness and sin
fulness. And Mile? She pited him, smiled up.
on him and torgavc him, quite content with his
assurance that now he loved her only. Erie did
not tell Mile who had been the object of his fierce
love, and she did not ask: he had spoken too bit
teriy and harshly of Hdrel. Neither ever allu
ded to that subject again; neither ever knew oil
Hidrcd's devotion
Mr.. Lyneward's manner that evening wher
he first met Hildred was full of troubled con
scicusneSs but she set him at ease. She stay
ed with them all the time, because it was tn,
evening of Christmas day, and because he
heart was at once suftened and strengthened
She was loving TO Mile, and so friendly to Erie
that Miles sweet face frightened into pure
unalloyed gladnoss.
The marriage took place few days after re
the last, Iildred was full OF rnQthery affection
atcncss to motheress Mile. She made Erie
lyncward feel that she accepted him as a broth
er torgivng him his stu against her sister, auC
asking forgiveness herself only for the harSl
way i'll which she had rejected and uphraideC
him then
1t was a very hard time, but Hildred got
through it. She filed Miles cup of 10Y as tul
rs she could-madc her sacrifice as comp iete as
she was able, for she made tchecrfuly, and sut
fered itsacost patiently. Suffered! was suffer.
ing rather. 1t is slow fire. from which women.
martyrs step forth pure and white-robcd-a fire
that oft-times burns lifelong.
When all was done, Hildred went away She
breathed more freely the further behind her she
left the scene Of her fiery ordeal. She thought
the new air would at once give her strength.
But she fell i'll among strangers: sick unto
death, but she did not die.
Her strength, and with it the consciousness oi
power, returned-as there was need they should
in the life she had chosen.
No matter what that life was. Hildred Grey
lived it out nobly. She was known good.
by many who could net recognise in her great
and gifted, woman.
The K N National Convention
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 90.
In the National Council Of X Ms to-day Mr.
Bartlett presiding, the reporters were admitted
by resolution. The subject of debate nearly the