The Republican journal., 1874-11-12
She trembled a little. but she answered

way your mother went Child don't
you believe him. You shan't 60 My
love will keep you alive. Hasn't it kept
you now, fourteen years Why the doc
tor said you wouldn't live the first time
he laid you on my arms. But you have
lived and here you are, and here Iii hold
you. Hasn't my love kept you SO long "
Your love and Gods love father but
what if He thinks, now, that's time for
me to 60 home ~
And then they sat on silently. for a long,
still hour, and the wood fire burned
brightly and now and then brand drop
ped on the hearth, and that and the storm
outside were the only sounds which broke
the stiffness, save when, once OF twice
great gasping sob tore up from Shutting
Dams deep chest. At last he bent over,
and turned his girls face toward him, and
looked in it with eager hungry eyes.
eth be sorry world, lamb, he said
when you're not in it-when there's no.
body waiting at the door ard no light
burning in the windern
She looked up her blue eyes full OF tears
Father said she gently. don't you
know you've told me sometimes, how the
thought that | was waltin made it easy
tor you TO get home, when the storm
drove ever so hard, and kept YOU from
wanting to turn into store or tavern ?"
~ es, lamb but whatll keep me on
my way when you're gone ~ he asked
bitterly.
II thought Of the times you'd said that
father, after Dr.. Peters went away, to-day;
and | wondered if it wasn't Gods love
that was going to take me to the heaven
ly home, 50 as to make it easier for YOU
to come. Ill wait for yoH there, father
and | won't be lame any more, and III
come to meet YOU when YOU get on that
threshold---as | never could hers-strong
and free. Won't it make it easy for YOU
III spite of storms, aud not turn aside by
the way, when, you know I'm waiting
there Just as sure as ever | waited here 2'
But the father said nothing. He only
held her hand against his aching heart,
with a grasp that almost hurt her, as if
to ease his pain--held her till bedtime
came, then carried her to her room and
LETT her there with Il long, sad, silent kiss
Once alone, the passion of his agony
clutched him in its grasp; but he suffered
no sound to escape him which should
reach her ears. Rigid as q stone he sat
before the fire, and never needed when
the room grew cold. and the last brand
burned out and fell into gray ashes,
Alter that night, he never returned
again to that subject He saw tAat She
failed every day, but tie could not talk
about it, and she understood too well to
urge him Every day he went to His
work now was not the time to tail when
she needed unwonted luxuries, and might
need them no one knew how long, Ev-
cry night he came to her his face paIlid
with apprehension. At last she grew too
weak to sit up any more, and lay patient
ly on her little bed, bearing without
moan her torturing pain, and never for
getting at night to have a lamp put IN
the WndoW-the beacon-Eght for the
father coming home.
just at the last, there was Il time when
all knew that the end was near That
week her father did not go to his work
There was money enough for all she
would need in this world, and more So,
motlonless, except When he could tlo
something tor her comfort, he sat all d;y
long by her pillow, and watched her, save
when sometimes his agony grew too
mighty to be borne and he had to rush
away from her, out under the desolate
Shrek out the madness Of his woe 10 the
pitiles5 heavens Eunicc watched him,
too in her turn with inc, anxious.
searching gaze, but She saw 40 hope in
his tace. She knew that he was harden
ing his heart There came a night, at
length when he was with Tier alone A
woman who had come to watch had fallen
asleep III the other room Dan would
not wake her--he was greedy Of every
moment in which he could have his girl
all to himself So he sat as usual, look !
ing at her silently, and she as silently !
gazed back INTO his face with her great, |
alsesing blue eyes At last she said
Then | must not wait for vow there, |.
father? You won't come ?"
lie looked at her with startled gaze
He had never thought OF the matter in |
that light before She waited q moment /.
and then went on:
Il thought you'd want to come, father.
thought you'd see how God meant to /
draw you TO him by taking me first And /
| thought l could die easy, teelin' sure OF |
your comm and then wait for you there |
a little while But you won't see Gods !
love; and you won't teel that I'm waitiu'
Something touched his heart at last
her look, perhaps, OF her words, o. her
tone Of piteous pleading, o. all these
combined He sank sobbing on has knees
beside her.
God pity me! !" he gssped; Goa for
give me. Wait for me there, lamt-lll
come. surely. III walk in His way
Does not my story fifty end here, where
Eurice's work ended? Her life Went
out alter that, painlessy and quietly
Her hand was in her fathers to the very
ast, and he murmured, IN answer to the
appeal her dying eyes, IN come, lamb,
;urely!n
He buried his girl beside her mother;
put to him she is not dead. lie belives,
simple. literal soul, that Gods love has
given him one OF the many mansions, and
hat she waits for him there at it. window,
ler face illumined by a light that will
never grow dim or fade away.