Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-12-03

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DIM promises of future light. In
those short weeks he taught me more
zeal religion than | had learned IN all
M life before. Sometimes his quiet
shod UiH, . "He wiU not" seemed to
- presumption, but afterward |
ght, who am | that | should
ySN isit not tL1-ll..::!!d hat Lrot"~
che Fathers heart so we'll that what
II many ia but peradyenture is to him
the blissful certainty?
We had been silent some minutes,
Phil gazing in the fire and | thinking
what wonderful romances are some
times buried beneath quiet exterior,
when he took up the little prayer-book
and began turning over its leaves.
"Hov absurd this sentence is in the
otherwise beautiful marriage service:
'Those whom God hath joined together
let no man put asunder.' What God
hath joined together no man can put
asundT. Wait minute, Archie: |
know some have not patience to wait
for Gods good time, or when their
twin soul lcomcs their eyes are blinded
and they only catch Il watt from Para
disc instead OF entering at the gate.
Then some fancy rules them, and then
in after years they find that they are
only units in the mighty whole, who
so mistake and thwart Gods provi-
dence. Then there are hands drawn
out Of one another, changed lips that
speak their cold farewell. God never
joined those two together; that was
mans york. 1t is true God sometimes
parts His souls, but still the freed
spirit nay hold blessed converse with
Its morning mate, held prisoner in
It's hose of clay. God never utterly
divids what he hath joined. 1t may
be His will that | shall never see my
katmeen's face again. vet | can trust
Him and live on until upon his ever
lasting hills He shall restore her to
me.
Pills voice trembled little. and
his hce grew suddenly old and care
worn. | said nothing; this was a sor-
row with which no stranger hand
might meddle. Presently he rose with
a Sgh.
This is a thought, Archie. that
sometimes comes to tempt me. but,
and the bright, cheerful look came
backto his face, ''hope always blossoms
OUT ag'-e, and | believe that God in
His1n-- I've will, here on earth,
y NY VIE home to me.
-on the morning of the 18th of De-
cember | was sitting in my room think
ing of nv friend. The wind whistIed
without. and now and then n few flakes
of snow were whirlcd against the win
don pane. Was wondering whether
Phil would rather be alone or if
should 90 To him. when note was
handed to me. Il WAS in Pills writ
ing
"Archie, she has come. want YOU.
Bring Abby with you: she is a sensi-
ble woman and can hold her tongue. -
Seizing my hat and cloak and tell
ing Abby to follow, | hurried over.
Phil met me in the hall: he clasped
both my hands and drew me into his
Office.
"Sne came tonight in the early
darkness. She has followed her father
from city to city, the only link that
bound him to u purer life; he died a
month ago in London. She has been
cold, hungry, desolate, but she has
come at last"
Then he led me into the warmth
and brightness of the nest whose bird
had at length flown home.
\ figure was lying on the low couch
drawn up before the fire.
My wife," Philip said fondly.
Then | saw her face, beautiful with
the beauty of heaven, and frightened
now with a light like the after-glow
of the sunset: her hair was white as
silver, but the eyes and smile were
young. Beside her Philip had placed
the little cabinet; she had been ex-
its treasures-several lay in
her lap. On little table at her feet,
where her eyes could rest upon it,
stood the tea-rose, in full bloom now.
She greeted me with a smile: then
as Phil kneeled beside her she said,
with a glance at the picture above the
fire:
"You were told that was like me.
All, Philip did not know what Il poor
old woman was coming home to him
at last
''kathleen, you say nothing of the
old, old man YOU found"
The look she turned upon him was
the most beautiful | ever saw on any
face.
"If | say nothing, Philip, it is be-
cause my heart is too full for words"
Hearing Abby in the hall, | went
out and left the two together. When
| came back Phil handed me the
prayer-book open at the marriage SER
vice.
"Do you mind using that form,
Archie? Kathleen likes it,
He spoke so quietly looked dumbly
at him, with the book open in my
hand.
eyes, Archie, that is what we want.
She has been my wife these twenty
years, but | want all men to know it
now."
SO, in the presence of Abby and
Phil's old housekeeper, | married them.
How white the still face on the
pillows had become. But when the
rite was ended she turned to Philip
with a radiant smile.
"'Till death us do part Death
will not part us, Philip"
| saw Kathleen every day after that.
The storm and tempest Of her life
were past, and now her fragile boat
was anchored in the haven of Philips