Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1859-04-09


that had departed the crisis had come, and
God haG spared him. Looking back new, l
can still feel the rolling back through the sue
ceedng days Of that great fearthe lifting up
one by ons. of the folds OF that dark curtain.
When ] next saw him it was on oil early
summer afternoon, and he had come, for the
FIRST time into our common sitting room, and
was lying near the west window where had
grown accustomed TO sit. had not spoken
one word to him since that April evening
when he had fallen i'll.
went up to his couch, and put out my
baud 10 hm.
Cousin Noel, am glad to see you here"
. 81 am glad, too" h. answered, cheerfully.
q! thank you. Ruthw
As stood by him he looked so worn aud
wan, so changed and helpless. had meant
TO say something more 10 him, and on tho
sudden ] found could not: something rose
III my throat and choked my voice. Strange
ly affected, | went away from, him, and sat
down alone, was balf glad ! was half cry
ing. could not have thought once, even
few weeks ago, that any word or look Uf Noel
EricksUu's could ever have moved NE so.
| sat all through that AFTERNOON bUsily
bending over my work. Noel had 10 be kept
quiet, and neither he nor my g"dmother spoke
much. Once she read to him for a little
while: 1t Was from g book whose name
did not know, which spoke Of things that
had never thought of, aud pierced into places
where could not follow yet lis fervUr and
its passionate words caught my ear, aud
sometimes my heart strangely.
When the sun had set she ceased to read,
and No were Gll idle. | remember it was u
breathles,, warm.hgcd evening bnd the
church windows showed crimson Stars nf I,rht
remember, too, that within tho church. for
a long time III. organ WAS nl,yinr. w,
were all very uuiu.. Noel Iay looking from
US To the opru window. and from wh.re sat
could see his face. and looked on lhu,,
looked with vague. half NAMED half
iovuus wond,r: il seemed ia me as # was
only learning that face f1r the first iirns To-
night. He had never been beautiful in INV
ewes before Tr-uigLt | 81, and ir.caI earh
sbarpeupd feature and each clear.cu line t,Il
\ slow, rina conviction ca,ne uron mo ike
the birth Of anew sense
lie STAYED win ~ pptjl il WAS alpos, dark
when ot last ", ros.t 70 90 Ie,rir, op H..
mothers arm lie culIsd ,o me- 10 hid mo
pool njrLt. went TO him and or1.rod him
nv hurj sayinr som.ihinr--I rorr., y,Ln,
some hone nerbans that i. was r1t ,iroJ >,
which he made me no renlv. IN, r'oc,en,
nrler he Gave mo some,hi,,, b,t,.r ,L." .r
nT
"Lutle Ruth." he said as he held nv hand
IL know Won have, heep very kind nj, ,6ronuh
this time Cod bless Won iur your poolnn, 4
to my molh-r."
was left alone A minute afterwards and
sat down IN nv plnce arsis, nnd the hands
pressed acaius, my face were wptteh nv twn
preat t.urs.
From this time forward sag Nosl Frirk.
son every day; he was far too Seuk vet TO ro
into his studio or sy.n 10 Ice .bl. 20 ocr,nv
hrms,IC for NOR, tbnn a small ror,ion of suri
Jay While tins forced IoI.n.ss I,.ted tksr.,
fore, he remained with ue, and sat with Us in
our CONN On sitting room. Opco surb lonr
comnsninrsbiu would Luye been irtsono 20
me II was NOT lrkson,. now II wos not
irtssa,e do say? Cod helm me D,y after
day was learning to know That to be- in
Nocls presence-to hear the sound Of \ o,I's
yoice-,o do even tho slightest things tha, a
child might have done to serve him, were bu-
coming the very breath Of nv If, TO me.
There was one service That he needed.
, which it presently became my right-eageriy
taken possession oi--jealou.iy guarded-to
perform for him. Ouc day she went for Il fuw
huurs from hume, aud be was left with me.-
Ito was reading to himself when be went
away. but after time ths leaves of his book
found him leaning back with his haud upon
mis- eyes.
Once, e"en though J had been afraid Of
him, would, al that sight, have asked to BE-
allowed to reud 10 bin. feared him less
now, und yet could not go But the yearn.
10. to go rose in me-my heart beat fast
my hand shook 90. that could not serk
lio took the book again and again bis
sight failed him, This lime, when be ceased
10 read, he closed the volume, and put i,
from him. Coward as was, rose from my
seat then aud vent to him-the lougiug tha,
was in me grown stronger at last than the
fear Of rejection.
Noel, will you let mo read to yos!"
! asked, fearing to be denied. ] expected
at least, hesitation before be would accent
NE. Instead of hesitation or denial, there
came only this simple answer;
Thank you, Ruth" aud he gave tho book
into my hands.
took it and read to him. | read for al
hour, sitting near him-low, near his feet
with no living creature between him and me
Reader. was happy; and the happues.
of that hour made me bold. When / CAV,
him back the book, | said TINT it made N,
Glad to be allowed TO read TO him.
He looked at me as smoke.
docs il, Ruth $"