The Osceola times., 1875-11-13
darkness Of soul as l shuddcr to recall.
'Did Sidney diey"

L Dlu Sldney die!
"To me. Two years frop, the day
he left, ! saw his marriage in a foreign
paper. That was the end. Hush,
God only chastens IN loyc. can see
the guiding hand in my whole life.
DO you remember these lines in Phoebe
Cary's Womar's Conclusions!'
'"I wo nd not make the path i have troti
More pleasant or even, mos straight or
orchange my course the breadth Of a hair,
This way or that way, TO either SIDE"
Sadie broke the eloquent Silence that
fell on both in that hushcd tone We in
voluntarily use when speaking Of holy
things.
Mother said your life was sacri-
fee, but ] could not understand why
But you must be lonely now, the girls
are married. What will you do when
Walter comes for me; l am almost
sorry to go.S
81 do not know. | have been think
ing'-a terrific noise startled them.
"What is ity' asked Sadie, with white
lips.
"An explosion, / fear it is Just
time for the evening train to come
down."
Ruth's surmise was too true: the
train was almost torn In pieces; how
any one escaped was miracle. Ruth's
home was close to the disaster, and it
was fast filed with the wounded. Not
until every sufferer had been made as
comfortable as possible, and provided
with careful nurse, did Ruth think of
rest. Too weary almost tc move, yet
too sympathetic to sleep, she drew an
easy chair to her own bedside and pre-
pared to watch by the lovely young
creature, who lay there white and still,
as if the little white hands were folded
forever.
Presently the great, dark eyes open
ed, and the sweetest of voices asked,
"Are You at leisure now? Will you
please write a note to my husband and
tell him where and how | am? He
will be SO anxious, should like him
to come at once.
"Yes, certainly, with pleasure what
is his address,
Did Ruth hear right? Was the floor
slipping under her feet. and the rush
and roar of Niagara filling her ears?
How sepulchral her voice sounded,
when she asked again for the number
Of his Office!
All that long night, and the longer
day that followed, as she kept her un-
firing care of his wife, Ruth was nerv-
ing herself for the coming, praying for
strength to meet this Sidney of long
ago. God help her; human will is too
weak to control human hearts. She
was standing by the window when he
came, outwardly calm-only the shad-
owy, violet eyes and sensitive mouth
telling that she was suffering.
"Miss Linton, will you please come
here, so Col. Darrell may see who has
been so kind to me?'
Ruth turned, made one step toward
them, then stopped. Was it the light
Of the setting sun that bathed the white
face with such radiant beauty?
Colonel Darrell smiled as he took
both hands in his own, and listened to
the low, murmured words of welcome.
Out of the house, away from every
body, her swift feet went. Down in the
tangled orchard grass her joyful
thanksgiving was poured out to Him
who watches the sparrow's fall. There
was mistake somewhere this blonde
haired man was not the lover of her
heart. A shadow fell before her as she
rose from her knees, but she did not
see it.
81 believe he has been true all these
sad years"
"He has, Ruth-my Ruth
"Sidney!" 1t was his very selfstand-
ing there-the old light in his eyes,
the old smile on his care-worn face
his hands holding her own, as in bygone
days.
"My darling, l never knew, until
you wrote that letter to my cousin
Sidney, that you were not married"
Explanations followed, interspersed
with smiles and tears. We have moth
ing to do with these. But Sadie was
bridesmaid soon after, and now there
are two Mrs. Sidney barrels.