Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-12-03
gelsrt Misrellang.
TWENTY YEARS.
BY ANALIE la FORGE.

"'Kathleen-Philip,' and when
laid him down the smile that had
settled on his pale young face was the
smile with which he woke in heaven
perhaps it was well for me that
had to attend to Kathleen, whose grief
really alarmed me. Leaving the dead
body of my Paul in the care of oul
kindly landlord, | took her to hel
carriage. Then, afraid 10 leave her,
accompanied her home. She was quite
silent, only every little while she
would sigh shudderingly. AS WI
neared their hotel she turned to me
with an agonized gleam in her dark
eyes.
"'Now Paul is gone; | have no one
no one
Then | said to her quietly. with the
shadow Of our great sorrow lying be.
tween us:
"'Promise me. Kathleen, that il
your burden shall become too grea,
for you To bear, you viii let me. hel!
you
"And she stilled her sobs to say
solemnly:
"Philip. promise
well. Archie, my story is almost
done. The next wear 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 | read
Mr.. Lambert's death in a French
journal. Poor Kathleen was released.
Then ! knew the great hunger of my
life might yet be satisfied, \ love
whose mighty presence | had not
guessed sprang up in my heart. |
wrote to her, sending the letter to
Paris. | knew she did not love him.
so my haste was no insult. i am 60
ing to that village among the bills to
wait. When You are free come to
me-
81 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 a
large, handsome room, bright with
soft, warm tints, and made cheerful
by the fire which cracked and played
upon the hearth. The walls were
hung with pictures, the tables cover
ed 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 a
Bible, prayer book, and beautiful
ly bound copy of Thomas Kempis
Opening the latter | read:
ITO my wife. December II, Is
at will take her some time to look
over her birthday presents" Phil said
in answer to my look of inquiry.
"Yes, that is the last. December IL
it will soon be here"
He stood looking into the fire and
musingly stroking his long gray beard.
"She will be thirty-nine, Archie,
and l am an old man. Ny faith some
times wavers, but if | lost it.
His face shadowed suddenly, and
he sank into chair with weary
sigh.
Seeing he for the time was uncon-
scious of my presence, | continued my
survey of the room. In one corner
were grouped several rare ferns and a
tea-rose bush, covered with buds. In
one of the windows hung bird cage,
it's 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 richness of hope deferred.
When | returned to the fire Phil's
eyes were fixed on a picture that hung
over the mantelpiece-a woman's face,
beautiful and sad, yet lighted with the
radiance of a divine hope. Beneath
the picture was bracket OIL which
stood a vase of flowers.
"Phil, is that
"My wife. 1t was not meant for
her, yet the likeness is perfect. With
that look on her face, she is waiting
somewhere. l 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