The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-06-04

soft pathetic eyes. "If l dared to hope il
oh, if but might hope for it, how will
lingly would | give my life to have it so.''
The day before her wedding she re-
ceived VISIT from Conrad Charters.
alt shall not bei'' he cried out vehem-
emily. "DO you realize what YOU are
doing? Why, you had better far die al
once, for Robert Field is but little better
than an idiot"
And if he pere an idiot. "retorted Hes
ter. bravely hiding her hurt at the brutal
words, "cven then | would marry him.
love him, and if not one vestige of his
glorious intellect remained i would be
Robert FIELDS wife, and a proud one too "
"And, by God, believe you would
answered Conrad, looking with a fond
mad, longing into the small pale face,
lifted so undauntedly to his dark gaze,
''Hester, you will drive me mad. | would
to heaven that Robert Field was dead
Whv did he not die that night last winter p
and he struck his hand furiOusly on the
table in a blind frenzy of despair.
''GOd knows it was from no lack OF
purpose in you that he did not die,' re.
torted Hester spiritedly.
She spoke at random, but Conrad shrank
away with a white face. The idle words
evidently hit him hard. They cut close
and sharp as steel in their unexpected de
scent. and wheeling abruptly about he left
her and did not seek her again.
They were married quietly, and after
that, in the tender security of his modest
home, under the fond and cherishing care
of his wife, health and strength came slow,
ly back to the shattered frame of Robert
Field.
Slowly. too, Ous of the darkness he began
to wrench. one by one, the secrets of his
prisoned mind. Old melodies began tC
shape themselves under his touch, discord,
ant and fragmentary at first, but gradually
assuming symmetry and power.
''Not quite wreck" he would sigh
wistfully. "SOme day some good genjl
will unlock my prison door and set Inc
free"
In the child that was born to them. q
beautiful boy who sang sweet music in
every tone of his childish voice, his pride
was great. He talked of him, listened to
him. watched him, and dreamed of him.
predicting future of which Bertrand was
to be the perfect flower, the very golden
rose of JOY. So the years passed, and
sweet Hester FIELDS fair face grew heaven
ly beautiful to see, with its tired look OF
IDdlttlll NdlilB1. NOAl OlllN hGONS HON llCl
heart failed her now at times; or with
what fierce power she wrestled with her
growing doubts, and prayed for strength
to help her bear this cross whose shadow
fell even darker and deeper on her young
life.
Had her love, then, been a sacrifice in
vain?
But one day the answer came!
Returning one afternoon from long
walk Robert Field stopped in the hall,
spell-bound by the triumphant strains OF
some new and beautiful melody floating
through the rooms. His worn face flashed
with the old light of inspired thought
his eyes dilated; his whole form shook
with a mysterious emotion.
s'What is it what is it?'' he asked of his
wife, who came to meet him.
"Bertrand's music ~ answered proud
mother Hester. He has been engaged
with it long time. He meant it to be a
surprise for you"
Robert Field threw up his arms with a
joyful cry.
at is mine mine, Ny ylostmusic the
music played for you that lOng-forgOtten
day. Hark, Hester! do you not recog-
nize it now? Oh, to think that it has
slept so long and now comes back to me
so fresh and fair. This Is my treasure
which was lost TO me and now is returned
to me after many years. Brought back by
a little child, Our child. Hester. Oh.
thank God for thatr'
Rushing into the parlOr he swept Bert
rand from the stool and, seating himself at
the organ, with one powerful sweep of his
hands over the keys he summoned his
God-given genius from the tomb of his
or1 haIn If ston1
i'm new life before him. On and on the
music swept; not note was lost: not a
chord dropped out of the splendid work.
ShOutingly. eXultantly the tones leaped
forth, land their name was called Wonder
full" On! on! Up and up.
At last, from sheer exhaustion, the mu-
Sician dropped to the floor, and lying there
at Hester's feet he wept tears which were
no shame to him.
at is the very same!" he cried. "Ber-
trand has written it out note for note, a
counterpart of my own work. Is itnOt an
awful thing to think of! My own work,
and vet his Who but 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? If, 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-day, broken and forgotten mani"
So fame and success in the latter days OF
his life came, not unwelcomely, to Robert
Field. The world welcomed his famous
piece with none the less acclaim for its
long delay, and for the strange story which
accompanied it. One truth only concern
ing that fatal night Robert withheld
known alone TO his faithful wife. But Con-
rad Charters had long ago disappeared
from the town, and was seen no more
among them. So he and Hester buried the
secret in their hearts. cOntented that il
should be so-fOr God is his own avenger.
They had been taught a wonderful les
son, too, by One who, having lived on
earth, knew what the full fruitiOn of
earthly life must be, and who gave, ere he
passed away from among men, the crown
ing blessing of His wisdom in last, new
commandment
Love We one another !-WeekLv Grdphic.