The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-08-10

"I cannot" she answered softly. "I
cannot teach you what you know SO
we'll"
Lettice," said, "my one dearest
friend, this is the last moment. Give
me some few words of help to take with
meas a sister would have given them
to me-"
Very softly, while her clear sweet eyes
looked bravely into mine, she whispered
the little verse which has been ever with
me since, and has helped me often, as
her voice could help me in those far-off
days:
"There is cross in every lot,
And an earnest need of prayer;
But lowly heart that leans on God,
Is happy everywhere"
From the gate looked back wistfully
to where she still stood under the win
ter branches, and she smiled one bright,
quick smile, and ran in.
Then 1 sat down beside Frank, and
Amy sprang up, and gave me, with tear
filled eyes, the only kiss among all my
sad good-byes.
Later on, in the frosty winter morn
ing, we two brothers, who had been to-
gether all our lives, parted on the deck
of the great waiting vessel, with only a
few broken words, and one long, close,
lingering hand-grasp.
"The ten years are passing, and you
must keep your promise, Max, and come"
l read the words over and over again.
1t was not ten yet, but over seven years
since had set my foot in Melbourne,
and in every letter Frank had sent me
through those long years, L had expected
him to tell me what he had told me at
last. Yet now that he had told me the
words seemed to swim before my eyes,
and my fingers would not write the
glad and congratulatory words I wished
to send him.
"Now that my reward is come," he
wrote, ~ claim your promise. We only
delay our marriage for your arrival.
Max, old fellow, you would have felt
happy for me indeed, if you had seen
how willingly Mr.. Oldfeld gave my
darling to me. I had been a son to him
for years, he said; 1 could hardly be
nearer when 1 was his daughters hus-
band. And now my cup of happiness
will be full when you come. How soon
can you be home Z"
l broke off once more-going back
and back; hardly brave enough even
yet to look beyond that going home.
"Why should go?" 1 thought; leaning
my head upon my hands above the un-
touched paper. "They are happy with
out me. They have all they need; a
full content at last and If go-go
only to return again alone, bearing the
old hunger in my heart. Why should
suffer that pain again--now when it
has slept so long? Must 1 see her again,
and open the old aching woundp 1
hoped that the struggle was passing
when we stood together in the frosty
sunshine, and she whispered her parting
words. Yet promised, d,-and will 60"
So upon bright spring morning,
Frank and met once more in England !;
and tired with tiredness which had
never felt before in all my life, 1 rested
that evening in my own old chair be-
side the CHEEKY home fire; striving to
look joyfully into my brothers beaming
face. 1t hardly looked older for the
seven years we had spent apart, but it
was changed wonderfully by the happi-
ness which seemed to overflow his life.
How could it have been otherwise2 1
thought. What might my own GJtless
face have been il!
"You are very tired, Max" said Frank,
in his quick, glad tones.
ga little; but was not thinking of
that. was thinking how utterly con-
tent you look, Frank"
$50 ought to, ought not !? because
1 am so utterly content. Do 1 look
changed in any other way?"
"No, none"
"You do, Max" he continued, little
thoughtfully. "You look-I can hardly
tell how--as if you had been living
much longer than 1 have, and yet l
don't mean that you look much older.
You are just as you always were, ]
think; and yet you look as if you had
lived great deal in those seven years
if you can understand. But indeed you
must have been working to some pur-
pose to have won yourself name as you
have done. What will Bent do now
without you? for you are never going
back, Max, never. l suppose he has
earned fortune by new, as he said he
would; if he has not, he ought to have
done with such partner; and he must
keep up his practice alone. Mine has
increased so greatly that it can only now
be carried on by Hamilton Brothers
Max, old fellow, does not the old name
sound more winning to you than that Of
the new firm out in exile? But 1 will
not urge this tonight" he added, almost
as if he could read what pain the thought
gave me. $50 1 look utterly content
do 1 ? yet have had trouble, too. You
ought to say you see the traces, Max"
"What trouble has it been 2" asked
"a trouble of five years ago, Max, he
answered, quietly; "a trouble 1 never
felt that I could tell you in a letter
When first asked Lettice to be my W ife
she-refused me, Max"
az feared so, Frank" said, so low
that he stopped forward to catch the
words. al feared SO from your silence
at that time. But never mind, dear fel
low, as it has ended so brightly"
"No, l don't mind now one atom. II
has ended so brightly, as you say. Yor
are too tired to go out this evening o
course, MaxP but as promised to rur
in, and tell them all of your arrival al
soon as / had brought you safely to Red
bury, / will just go across for minute
or two, if you don't mind"
81 will come with you," said, anc
rose at once. 1t would be less hard now
than it could ever be again.
L 4 H.