Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-05-21

with what fcree power she wrestled With
her growing doubts. and prayer fos sitesgtli
to help her bear this cross whose shadow
fell even darker and deeper on her young
life.
Had her lore, then. been q sacrifice il
vain?
But one day The answer came
Returning one afternoon from . lonf
walk. Rsbert Field stopped in the hst..
spell-bouad BY the triumphant strains Sf
some new and beautiful melody foatiuR
through the rooms. His worn face flashed
with the old light Of inspired thought; his
eyes dilated; his whole form shook With
. mysterious emotion. i
"What il il Z what Is it 7" he asked ,>f
his wife, who came to meet him. y.
"Bersrand's music! answered prosd
mother Hester. "He has been engaged
with it long time. He meant it 70 Bee
surprise to you"
Robert Field threw up his arms with
joyful cry.
.:lt is mine mine! My lost music!
the music I PLAYED for you that long
forgotten day! Hark. Hester do you
not recognize it now? Oh! to think that
it has slept so long and now comes back
to me so fresh and faif. This is what I
have missed out Of my life This is my
treasure whick was lost to me aud now Is
returned to me after many years. Brought
back by little child! Our child, Hes
ter Oh. thank God for that -
Rushing into the parlor he swept Ber-
trand from the stool, aud seating himself
at the organ, with one powerful sweep Of
his hands over the keys. he summoned hts
God given genius from the tomb Of h!s
youth and badc it stand resu-rcctioni.ed
in new life before him. On and on the
music swept; not note was lost; not ,
chord dropped ont of the splendid work,
Shoutingly, exul;an;ly the tones leaped
forth. And their name was called Won:
dcrful" On! on! Up and up!
A. last, from sheer exhaustion. the mu-
sician dropped to the floor. and lying
there at Icstcr's feet he wept tears which
were no shame TO him.
at is the very same! ~ be cried. Ber.
trand has written it out note for note,
counterpart of my own work. Is it not an
awful thing to think Of! My own wcrs,
and ye, his! Who bat God can explain
it. And oh, Hester! The darkness is
all gone now Let me thank God for
that"
Then. wrapping his arms about her.
Robert Field kissed his wife's pale face
and kissed her tender mouth. her wavy
hair. and her slim, pale. faithful hands.
"My wife my wife Oh. what If your
love had failed you. Hester? II. in those
terrible first hours Of my misfortune. your
true heart had been one whit less true:
then should have been lying in my grave
to-dry, broken and forgotten man -
So fame and success in the later days
of his life came, not unwe'comed his IA
nous piece with none the less acclaim for
its long delay. and for the strange story
which accompanied it. One truth only
concerning that fatal night Robert with
held-known alone to his faithful wife
Rut Conrad Charters had long ago dis
appeared from the town. and was seen no
more among them. So he aud Hester
buried the secret in their hearts, coptcht-,
cd that it should be so-eor God is hia
own avenger. -.
They had been taught wonderful les:
son, too. By One who. having lived on
earth, knew what the full fruition OF earthi
ly life must be. aud who gave. Gro he
passed away from among men. the crown:
ing blessing of His wisdom in last, new
commandment
Love ye one another!