Litchfield enquirer., 1876-11-02

1 2 task even for your goodness. Why should you sacrifice yourself for this hardened repre- .,ite?" ~s.- ..t- He Is hardened now; but it may be that can soften him. It is great thing to bring sinner to Gods feet"
 But what suffering life for you, sis- teri You are holy, and he is vile."
 "And can yon not see, my brother, that that makes the very strength of my ap- peal? Of what use is holiness if not to rescue vileness? Shall keep my religion as garb too costly to work in-I, vowed to labor? Besides, so deeply dyed sim ner as this man is marked, set apart, as it were, for great and special pity by req son of the sore punishment surely, so surely, awaiting him. He is consecrated by his very crime. Bearing the mark of Cam upon his forehead, he must suffer the punishment of Cain; nothing we can do will alter that. But, oh, my brethren, will it not be better if he comes to his punishment humble and repentant? And in Gods mysterious providence. it seems to me that this work IS given into my hand to do. Oh, my brethren, love the red man and help him; but turn me not from saving white mans soul also, if so be that can!''
 ''But your own life, sister?''
 ''Can I do better with it?"
 The brethren stood irresolute, looking upon the woman's steadfast face. One and another they had spoken to her, and she had met their words, They turned towards the elder, hes;tating. It was no- ticeable that she had not addressed him: she had appealed directly to the lay brothers and to the Indians. The old man noted not this sight-he was above the small thoughts of self-but he, sat amazed. To leave her place, her work, forever, and go forth with this goddess man! He looked, looked fxedly upon her, and she returned his gaze. The two strong wills met :
 ''You would take this man to yourself, Miriam?'
 "Yes, father"
 ''To save his life?"
 l "Yes."
 ''But you must be his wife, then you must take him as husband. In no other way can I let you go."
 | 'I know 1t.
 He gazed at her silently; and as he gaz- ed slowly the conviction came to him that here was sacrifice greater than death; it would be barder for her to live with him than to die for him. He rose, and with outstretched arms gave her the benedie- l tion. Her prayer was granted: the doom- ed man was hers.
 Life IS sweet to us all; but Richard Herndon was. of a dogged temper, and l proud. II am not going to owe it to her." he said to himself. He turned to the men. ''Unbind me-" he said, shortly. The brethren, who still held hlm, began to un- do the cords; but the elder checked them.
 "Not yet," he said; 'this man is not yet free. At dawn, united as one, the two may go forth together. But first we must make some preparation for their journey, we must give them chance for life; the rest is in Gods hands. Let Richard Herndon remain here, bound and guarded, until morning: I will then perform the marriage ceremony over them, and they may go,"
 "Bnt look here" began Herndon: in his ear, 'Do not object, or say one word. Ipromise to leave you at the first town"
 She would not meet his eyes. He sur veyed her doubtedly. She went back quickly among the others, who were re- ceiving the old mans instructions. eff her game is to marry me because she thinks am somebody T can block it fine- ly," he thought. II do not believe the marriage will hold in law; and even if it does, once out of this trap, will never see her face again as long as live. If it is money she's after, shall have the sat- isfaction of telling her that there's prec- ious Iittle." Then he fell to thinking of his little love sobbing her heart out in the Mission-house behind, and his anger rose again fercely. Cant a man have what he wants?''he said to himself. That she had not strength enough to make one effort to save him made no difference in his estimation of her;he liked women who were timid and yielding; he hated Anna zons and martyrs. Then his thoughts yet" he said to himself, watching the group around the elder, and her averted face.
 At dawn the marriage service was spo- ken over the two. The dead had been in tered in the little battle-ground back of the Mission-house, the one service pre- ceding the other The fires had died down now; the gray light of dawn lit the sky. Miriam, in her sisterhood garb, stood by the side of Richard Herndon, before the assembled company repeated the VOWS of love and obedience which the elders voice pronounced. Herndon would not speak; he was sullen and an- gry. Yet during the long night hours he had made up his mind to take the life off, l fered to him at any cost. A man can not keep himself up to the point of insisting upon death when youth and strength are stirring within him. Still he would not speak. Miriam, however, took his hand. hanging bound behind him, and held it in both her own. 1T accept him even as he is, without spoken vows," she said. ''Go on with the service, father"
 The old man went on. He prayed for, the welfare of the two. In measured vention of Providence in the affair, and the submission they gave to the decree. He commended 'this woman, Thy hand maid," and "this Ishmaelite whom she hath taken to herself for pity's sake, to the especial mercy of God. He then pro- nounced the final benediction, and the service was ended: the two were one. Ten minutes later they had left the mission together, walking through the forest on their way to the lake, where canoe con- taining few provisions and stores await ed them. - ss Herndon had his gun, the woman small bag of clothing. The mans hands were swollen from the pressure of the cords. Without word the woman took the gun from him and carried it. He made no objection. ''She can do as much of the work as she pleases," /" he said to 1 himself. -s., 1..
 They were together eight days. Hern- don paddled tine canoe, hunted now and then, or fished, in order to help out their provisions, and smoked h1s pipe while Miriam took her turn at the oar. The autumn air was cool By day they went steadily on towards the Sault; by night they camped on the beach. the man sleep, ing by the fire, rolled in blanket, the woman in the canoe, anchored off shore. The journey was long. At first Herndon did not look at his companion; but when he found that she as studiously looked away from him. he fell to watching her now and then, wondering when she was