The Portland daily press., 1875-11-15

become too great for you to bear, you will let
me help you;' and she stilled her sobs to say
solemnly, philip, PROMISE
Well, Archie, my story is almost done. The
next year was terrible to me. / missed Paul
daily and hourly, and life, that had once
seemed SO full and bright, grew only weary
load which yet must bear. Then I read
Mr.. Lamberts death in French journal.
Poor Kathleen was released. Then 1 knew
the great hunger of my life might yet be sat-
isfled. A love, whose mighty presence had
to her, sending the letter to Paris. 1 knew
she did not love him, so my haste was no in
suit. 4 am going to tina. village among the
hills to wait. When you are free come to
me-
ct have looked for her every day since then
Paul, in the churchyard yonder, and l in the
old house here, wait for Kathleen's coming.
Her room is always ready. Would you like
to see it %
assented eagerly. Phil took up the lamp,
and unlocking a door had not observed till
then, led me into large, handsome room,
bright with soft, warm tints, and made cheer
full by the fire which cracked and played up
on the hearth. The walls were hung with
pictures, the tables covered with books. and
in one corner stood cabinet filled with
bronzes, exquisite statuettes, and here and
there shrine Of gold and gems. On the top
lay Bible, a prayer-book, and beautifully
bound copy of Thomas Kempis. Opening
the latter, Tread: ''To my wife, December
II, 49,"
cit will take her some time to look over
her birthday presents" Phil said in answer
to my look Of inquiry. eyes, that is the
last. December lit will soon be here.'
He stood looking into the fire and musingly
stroking his long gray beard. "She will be
thirty-nine, Archie. and am an old man.
My faith sometimes waivers, but if lost it"
His face Swallowed suddenly, and he sank
into chair with weary sigh.
Seeing he for the time was unconscious of
my presence, continued my survey of the
room. In one corner were grouped several
rare ferns and tea-rose bush, covered with
buds. In one of the windows hung a bird
cage, its pretty occupant curled up into a
soft, yellow ball, How pathetic TO me were
the faded curtains, telling, as they did, of
the long, patient waiting, the bitterness of
hone deferred.
When returned to the fire Phips eyes
were fixed on picture that hung over the
mantelpiece-a woman's face beautiful and
sad, yet lighted up with the radiance of a
divine hope. Beneath the picture was
bracket on which stood vase of flowers.
spill, is that"
my wife. 1t was not meant for her, vet
the likeness is perfect. With that look on
her face, she is waiting somewhere. must
not despair now, Archie, when she may be
near"
Then we sat down and had one of our
talks, not about things "seen and temporal"
but things unseen and eternal" Phil
startled my sober theology sometimes with
bis simply expressed ideas, but when
thought while always found that thew
were pure, and true, and good, only nv
slower intellect needed time to learn their
beauty. During all these years he had dwelt
SO much in the world of feeling, that spirit
ual things seemed very near to him that to
me were only dim promises of future light.
In those short weeks he taught me more real
religion than had learned in all my life be-
fore. Sometimes his quiet "God will not::"
HE will not" seemed to me presumption,
but atterward | thought, Who am that I
should judge: Is it not the child that knows
the Fathers heart so well, that what to
many is but peradventure, is to him the
blissful certainty?
We had been silent some minutes, Phil
gazing in the fire, and thinking what Won
derful romances are sometimes buried be-
meath quiet exterior, when he took up the
little prayer-bOok and began turning over its
leaves: "How 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 to-
gether DO mon can put asunder; wait min
ute, Archie. know what you would say; I
know some have not patience to wait for
Gods good time, or when their twin soul
comes their eyes are blinded and they only
catch watt from Paradise instead of enter
ing 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 Providence. 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 work. 1t is true God sometimes
parts his souls, but still the freed spirit may
hoid blessed converse with its mourning mate,
held prisoner in its house of clay. God new
er utterly divides what he hath Joined. It
may be His will that shall never see my
Kathleen's face again, yet I can trust Him
and live on until upon His everlasting hills
He shall restore her to me-" Phirs voice
trembled little, and his face grew suddenly
old and careworn. said nothing; this was
a sorrow with which no stranger hand might
NEEDLE. Presently he rose with a sigh.
" This is thought, Archie, that sometimes
comes to tempt me, but" and the bright,
ways blossoms out again, and believe that
God in His good time will, here on earth,
bring my wife home to me.'
On the evening of the 18th of December [
was sitting in my room, thinking of my friend.
The wind whstled without, and now and
then few fakes of snow were whirled
against the window pane. 1 was wondering
whether Phil would rather be alone, or if /
should go to him, when note was handed to
me. 1t was in Phl's writing. ''Archie, she
has come. l want you. Bring Abby with
you; sht is a sensible woman, and can hold
her tongue"
Selling my hat and cloak, and telling Abby
to fellow, hurried over. Phil met me in
the hall; he clasped both my hands and drew
me into his Office. "She came tonight, in
the early darkness; she has followed her ia
Their from city to city, the only link that
bound him to 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.
A figure was lying on the low couch
drawn up before the fire. ssMy wifep'
Philip said iondly. then I saw her face
beautiful with the beauty of Heaven, and
frightened now with light like the after
glow of the sunset; her hair was white as
silver, but the eyes and smile were young.
Beside her Phillip had placed the little cabi-
net; she had been examining its treasures
several lay in lap. On little table at her
ieet, where her eyes could rest upon it, stood
the tea-rose, in full bloom now.
She greeted me with smile, then as Phil
kneeled beside her, she said, with glance
at the picture above the fire, 'You were
told that was like ne. Alb! Philip die not
know what a poor old woman was coming
home to him at last"
Kathleen, you say nothing of the old
man you found"
The look she turned upon him was The
most beautiful ever saw on any face. eff
! say nothing, Philip. it is because my heart
is too full for words.'
Hearing Abby in the hall, went out and
left the two together. When l came back,
Phi handed me the prayer-book open at the
marriage service. 'Do you mind using that
form. Archie? Kathleen likes it,
He spoke SO quietly, looked dumbly at
him. "Yes, 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 Phis old
housekeeper, I married them.
How white the still face on the pillow:
had become; but when the rite was ended
she turned to Philip with radiant smiles