The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-11-22


"And II you look down in the mines 49, -.
You never see Him In the gold, 4
Though from Him all that's glory Shines
"God il 30 good. He wears fold
= OF heaven and earth across His face
Like secrets kept for love untold.
But stu I feel that His embrace D..
Slides down by thrills through oil things
Through stght ard soandof ese'y place.
THE WITNESS.
4. 1.eaA..t u he New Rss,..a
There IL deep gulf Of verdure which
runs inland between two rocky promon-
tories. The sea flowed once there, but
/ long before the memory of man., It had
finally barred itself out by throwing up
sandy barrier against the entrance of the
gulf: No doubt, even after the tide was
stopped from flowing in, some strong
eastern wind had driven the sea, roar
ing over the bar and heaped higher the
bulwarks Of sand. One could read this
~ he stood upon the rocks and looked
down upon the green spot, which, for its
contrast to the gray rocks and implanted
deep, was named Paradise. From the
sea itself, its green cool depths were very
inviting.
The coast at this point was thinly in
habited. A few fishermen's houses were
clustered near the shore just beyond the
rocks that jutted out; but the men were
away for weeks at time, and the women
were increasingly busy over their indoor
work. Only the children who played on
the beach gave the place happy, human
look. As group Of them were gathered
on the sand one morning, they saw CON-
ing toward them singular figure, moving
along the shore in the direction Of Para
disc. They stopped their play, wender-
ing whether it were man or beast, so
confused was the outline. Little by lit
tie, as it moved slowly toward them, they
discerned mans form bending beneath
some burden. They retreated few steps
and gathered upon flat stone that stood
before the doorway of one of these
houses. The man made no motion to
como toward the house and seemed not
to see the children. As he came opposite
to where they were they discovered that
he bore upon his back huge wooden
cross. He kept on his way, staggering
through the deep sand beneath his bur
den, until he was lost to sight behind the
rocks which made one of the walls of
'Parndise.~
"Let US tell Nancy" said one of the
children. And they entered the house
together.
Whatever happened IN or about this
little settlement was sure to come, sooner
or later, to the ears of Nancy Dacre. Re-
mote from town, thelpeople had no church,
minister or priest; but they were not so
very forsaken so long as they had with
them this widow, Nancy Dacre. It used
to be said that no secret was safe from her;
but every secret was safe with her. There
are some women who are borne confess
ors, and she was one. 1t was impossible
to Withhold confidence from her. Silent
herself, she was the repository of other
peoples talk, and all, whether children
or grown people, went to her with news
or with perplexities. It would be diff
cult to say in just what consisted the alb
solution she gave when faults were con-
fessed, as they often were; certainly not
in any formal words. Still certain gift
of peace belonged to her as surely as the
gift of hearing confessions.
She was ut work in the house when the
children entered, and went with them to
the door, although the man had already
disappeared.
"He carried great cross" said one.
He wore earrings"
He was very dark and very bent"
= THAT was the weight of the cross"
Some of the holder we're for following
him, to see what he was about; but Nancy
dissuaded them.
IF he did not speak to you, it was be-
cause he did not wish to be spoken to.
Leave him alone. He may come back
this way. You need not be afraid of
him." she added, as the younger ones
came closer to her.
He did come back at dusk. The chill
dren had scattered to their several homes
and ancy sat alone on the doorstep,
when she perceived a man coming to-
ward her. From his appearance she did
not doubt that it was the stranger whom
the children had seen. She rose as he
came to the door.
''Good evening"" she said.
He answered her in her own words ;but
given with certain thickness of utter
ance which showed him to be foreigner.
MAY give you some superb
'sThe man looked up at her quickly
and nodded. She entered the house,
while he took his seat on the fiat stone;
and presently she brought him bowl of
milk and some large ship-biscuit. He
made low bow to her as he took his
supper and placed it before him on his
knees. She looked at him narrowly, Is
he sat in silence eating and drinking. He
was thick-set, somewhat clumsy man,
with face bronzed deeply by exposure,
and black, curly hair. His eyes, over
hung by thick brows, did not look d.
rectly at her; but while averted, every
now and then stole look at her. Some
thing about the man, she could not say
what seemed familiar to her; and she
studied his face closely, trying to recall
1t. Perhaps the earnestness Of her look
made him uneasy. He drained the bowl
dry, placed it on the stone beside him,
and then stood silent, with his hands
moving restlessly by his side.
II have seen you before" she said, f.
nally. Her voice was kind but he step
ped hastily aside, then looked at her
$furtively. -.
II don't remember" he said, slowly.
and turned his face away. "Not to-
night" he muttered; "not tonight"
But, then, as he was about to leave, he
stopped and said, Many thanks"
but where will you sleep tonight
You may stay In my she'd"
II will sleep over there" and he point
ed toward the rocks.