The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-02-05
She sent Clare GU. for a moment, md

She sent Clare out for moment, md
then she told me all.
Philip, she loved me with unutterable
love. Yes, knew that before. Blu. once,
once in the last spring time of our happy
home in the rectory, one holy evening when
Glare had been mo-ed By her gentle cous-
ms loneliness to speak as never bef0r- Of
her own soul, she had learned that Glare,
my noble sister Clare, loved me with more
than d sisters love. Yes, she told me all,
and she hencetorth shut up the fountain Of
/ her soul, and laid a stone on the mouth
. heavy stone-to keep back the food for
ever.
This was why she consented to so with
her father, and in this resolution she gave
herself up, toul and body, to hope that she
might make her mission on earth the reform
of her flther, and the reunion of all Of us
IN later years in some happy home that
/ she dreamed Of as distant but sure.
But now the end came, and hope was
gone, and love, human love, was triumph
ant
Sac could not die without seeing me
once more, ard spite of her fathers com
mands, spite of all her agony, spite of all
| her womaD's shame, she told me all and
in the moment Of our parting knew what
a great food Of loye-pure, holy love-Go cd
had forbidden to flow over the gardens of
my life. but had commanded into the chan.
nels that make glad the eternal city. She
va. going to heaven with all that love that
might have been mine, aud | could but hope
thst sometimes in starry nights might
move my forehead TO the sky, and feel the
farof spray,-some blessed drops out Of
that deep, strong food.
She never told Clare her love-mark that.
my friend. That glorious creature never
! told Clare one word-never tinted TO her of
what We had spoken in the hour that she
had been absent /; and she never knew that
Lily loved me.
4 The doctor came in toward morning, and
Was startled at the change be found in bis
patient He told her she was dyiry, and
she heard him calmly, and locked at ice
with one long, longing gaze, and closed her
/ eyes on us for moment, and opeLei them
again with the soft radiance of the land of
angels in their light.
/ Once, only once, she took my hand in here,
and drew me down to her, and whispered in
a low, soft whisper 4 love you, Stephen,
and light, as If of the great glory of
triumphant love, flashed on her couute-
nance; and then a little later she took my
hand, and placing Clare's in it, she said to
each of US
Kiss me, Clare. kiss me Stephen"
And Glare kissed he-, and | touched my
earthly lips to her sanity lips, and with
the last kiss the last breath of life, she
wisperod
love Clare, Stephen -
And her life, that she had laid down for
her friend, God took and made immortal
life thereof in the gardens Of His land
Philip Philips, for fourteen years after
that time, Clare laid upon my breast, my
faithful, loving, and beloved wife and :hen
laid her glorious head low in the valley
down yondcr. The snow tonight lies deep
on both graves, and | am here. What am
| that such women should have loved me ?
What are these bps that the kisses of such
affection should have been pressed upon
them? These arms that they should have
beea permitted to cpiold such forms of
beauty?
Sometimes when / ask myself these qucs-
tons begin TO doubt the past, and to
think that the old rrctory and its beloved
Inhabitants are all a dream. But at such
times come into this room and draw that
clrtain yonler, and then | know that | am
man, and that the years have not deceiy-
Cd me. No, am 20 dreamer aow."
! As he finished he drew the curtain from
a picture that hung before US Gu the wall.
/ 1t was picture OF two faces saw only
/ the faces, a! if | live thousand years /
shall not again see two so beautiful on can
vas or on earth.