The Lincoln County herald., 1869-01-07
happy" she said. "If you are her friend,
You cannot be unhaDpy long"

happy" she said. "If you are her friend
you cannot be unhappy long"
lie had lost the right to call her his
friend, and the thought was so plain in
face that Mildred, with something of hcl
old impulsiveness, laid her hand over bis
as it claspod Elsio's saying softly,
"Always yoar friend, Maurice, always
remember that"
Away back in the ruined life since he
had heard her speak that name, speak !,
with passion 80 unlike the calm of hcr
present voice, whose tones sounded to
him like tho whisper of blessed spirit
among the dreary graves where he walked
When he had gone, Elsie said,
"Thcy all speak i'll Of him, but I feel
very sorry for him-he suffers"
"Yet this man has done great wrong in
his lite," Mildred answered. "You see
Elsie, VIC should learn to forgive"
Elsie told her Of her recollection oi
him, not bitterly, but conscious that Mil
drcd had observed the first expression o
her face when sho looked Mt him.
"And he passed you in the snow p
sho said shivering. "Ah he was full OF
suffering and bitterness, that New Years
Eve. Child, pity him all the moro from
that recollection. Just as he went by
you that night, and neglected the bless
ing to himself which good to othc:s al
ways brings, has Maurice Haion passed
every opportunity in his life which, prop
erly used, mighthavc brought him peace
Elsie understood better than ever be.
fore why Mildred had taught her to think
gently Of her fathers memory. If he
had been living, had como before her
suffering as this man did, it would have
needed all her filal love to raise him up
and the old aversion, unchecked, would
have como like an icy wind between he,
and tho fulfllment Of her duty.
Maurice lIadon seldom visited the
house, but they met him sometimes and
Elsie grew connecting link between
Mildred and him-the ono subject upon
which they could talk frecly-and tho
very sight Of her face was like CLEAN oil
the vanished sunshine to his heart.
1t was New Years Eve again, and the
trouble which had mcnaced Maurice Ha
don had fallen upon him. Bcsct by cred
itors, deserted by ficnds-with old r,
ports concerning him grown blackcr and
stronger-ho sat in the solitude Of hi.
house, and saw no glcam Of light in the
darkness.
IF there had been any human thing tc
love him, he might have raised himsel
from tho gulf where he had fallen; bu
there was nothing left-nothing in al
tho world but the pity ofthe woman WHOM
he had SO wronscd.
There were dreadful thoughts in hi
mind as he sat alono that night thought
which to you may seem unnatural.
can only say pray to God there may neve
como an hour when such reflections ma,
overtake you in the darkness.
lie was so tired of life that hc wante,
to be away. Not from any cowradl
dread Of living, but he Was so weary o
the old pains, the old monotony, that t.
rush into the suffering of world beyon,
would have been rclief-not q though
Of repentance, just theh he felt to har
and bitter to harbor it-only the longin
to rush forth, bold and defiant to the las
Whilo ho srt there, the door opcnc
and Mildred Legion passed into tho room
Tho hardness aud tho bitterness lei
his soul, her presence brought back tn
good resolves with Which her counsel
had once before nerved him.
"SIildrcd u hc exclaimed, in a sort q
wonder that anything so good and pur
could approach him still. "Mildred
have you como to mo again ?"
She went up to his chair and stoo
beside him, holding out her hand in sis
tcrly trust.
"You were in trouble and 30 I came,
shc said; II have great deal to say
you"
"Evcn yol cannot help mo now" h
returned. 81 don't mind the loss of 70,
tune, the added reproach--L deserve
all-but I am alone, utterly alone, Mi
drcd Neither hero nor hereafter
there any human creature to give the 10,
[ desccrated and trod under foot in III
old time.
I She was greatly moved, but o strang
| IpcICuiSy euohS ~ hC1 CyCS va tuo Wuti
"Would that serve to raise you up ?
sho asked. "If you had q soul to lo1
and cherish, would it enable you to con
wholly out Of the dependency Of tn
past3"
II believe it would, I do believe it.
II in the first tightening thought whie
succeeded her words there was any me
hope, it died out, in looking into Il
calmness Of her face, before it was hal
: formed.
"Then I tell you to hope" she said
II tell you to hope"
He only looked at her in despairir
wonder.
allow can I hopo Mildred? I ha,
no friend-no child-"
}, Mildred laid her hand on his arm.
"Maurice," she said, "God las bo,
very good TO you. Tho child you d
, serted did not die-she lives, within yo'