Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-01-11


. Clinton, and Miss Taylor, to Mr.. Gre
gory's great sorrow, returned to thei
respective homes. Edith must still con
tinue under the care of her chosen ply
sician. While riding one evening aftel
tea, she declared her plans to Mr.. Arm
} strong. ... r
Don't you think, Fred, every on,
was placed in the world for some spe
cific purpose?'
Certainly, 1 do
Il am not accomplishing anything
Yes, you are, Edie, if you will al
low me to contradict. 1t is your pres
ent business to get well, and 1 think, il
you are faithful to your good Doctor:
directions, this object will soon be OBJ
tained.'
! well, what shall do when am en-
tirely restored?'
| BE faithful to the position in which
You find yourself. If you have a home
make it happy. Ifyou are with strangers
it would not be living in vain to make
them happy also.'
But have an influence
"a very, very great influence, Edith,
dear.'
and l must use it. Wherever / have
come in contact with children, have
won their love, and have been success
full in the management of them. Your
affection for me may lead you to OBJ
ject to the plan am about to propose,
but you will respect me more if carry
it out, and your good sense will second
my determination
That remains to be seen. Tell me
quickly. have no curiosity-gentle-
men never have, you know-but am
eager to hear
4 have engaged myself as teacher in
the Orphans Institute, which we have
passed so often in our rides. will have
forty. scholars, boys and girls, all small.
/ can give them almost their first posi-
tive impressions of truth. 1 can still
be under Doctor Watson's care, and 1
will be living for purpose
EAnd you never told me of all this?'
would it not have been as l stated p
But, Edith. who ever heard of an in
valid teaching? Why, can think of
nothing requiring more physical
strength, of nothing so destructive of
nervous energy
Doctor Watson has promised to watch
very closely, and, as soon as he per-
ceives any signs of increased illness, to
warn me. L know experimentally of
the difficulties you mention. My sister
will oppose me, but shall try it at any
rate. Don't discourage me, please. l
need all the encouragement you can
give
you are noble, Edith. May God
prosper you!'
Thank you! You'll come and see me
often?'
with pleasure, if you'll let me. In
the meantime, you must write, as any
good sister would do
Il leave tomorrow, and will send you
a note as soon as l get settled
The morrow came; the parting came.
She passed to her work, and he to his
but many a time during that season, the
type of all things earthly, they wander
ed together through the beautiful
groves in the neighborhood of the in
stitute. Many time they admired to-
gether the changing, dying, fallen leaves
of the forest, and the deepening twi-
light watched the glowing sunset, bril-
liant at first, but passing, changing into
the cold fgray and darkness of night.
Edith was older than Fred, and she saw
the steady expansion of his intellectual
power, and,the constant development of
his innate manliness. With a woman's
intuition, she perceived the auspicious
rays, the heralds of bright future.
Were she man, with a mans privileges,
there is no doubt that the great con-
ceptions that made the sympathetic pull
sations of her heart almost painful
would have found expression to the
good of mankind.
Another summer came, but each
passed this vacation at home. They
frequently corresponded; Mr.. Arm
strong always recognizing the relation
assumed at the commencement of their
acquaintance, Edith seemed to have for
gotten it. This was cause of much
anxiety to Fred, and he sincerely hoped
his suspicion was incorrect. In the fall
both returned to Dalton. At the first
opportunity, Mr.. Armstrong found his
way to the institute, and early enough
to see the closing exercises of Edith's
school. They pleased him. The per-
feet system, manifest throughout; the
visible love and respect of the scholars
for their teachers; the simple hymn,
sung by forty childish voices; and
above all, their sincere devotion and
earnest countenances, as Edith repeated
a child's prayer, told that her influence
was, indeed, very, very great. Imme-
diately after the dismissal of the chill
dren, they started on their usual walk,
and, of course, both had much to tell of
their summers experience, The shad-
ows of night were extending when the
brother and sister returned. After an
interval of silence, with trembling
heart, but in tones of assured joyful
ness, Fred said:
Edith, is declaration of love equiv
alent to an engagement
Her cheek flushed slightly, and her
bright eyes frightened, as she replied:
State the circumstances of the case,
and can better give you an opinion
well, am telling you as brother.
1t is very great confidence. cannot
remember when l did not love Annie
-; but l never declared it, until
short time ago, when l wrote letter
expressing my feelings, and very bold
ly asking her if she loved me. Her re-
ply contained the happy affirmative.
Thus the matter stands
The flush faded, the brightness died
out. Externally that was all; but the
light that had arisen in her heart, more
than year before, and had been stead
lily increasing in power, was suddenly
withdrawn, and, for second time, all
was dark within. There was no tu-