The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1878-09-20

seat and fell to dreaming one of her
vague dreams of the world and the
many throbbing hearts in it, and
longing, in her tender, womanly
way, to help them.
A step on the walk aroused her.
Glancing up she saw tall, soldier.
~ figure and dark face. She
reached for her crutch to rise, when
the stranger spoke:
"No, don't rise. shall not de-
tain you but a few moments.
have only come to thank you for
Saving me from disgrace"
| Bethel blushed deeply. 1t was
Maxwell Stuart. "Indeed | would
rather you wouldn't"
"How can l help it, when they
were the first kind words spoken
of me since / was "a child. You
were right in saying | had no one
to care for me; if | did, / would
not be the GOd-forsaken fellow !
am today"
The role of comforter came ma.
turally to Bethel. There was not
one of the poor in her fathers par.
ish, that couldn't testify to her pow
ers for helping others. The pain
and despair in Stuart's dark, frank
face made her heart ache.
"We are none of us, God -forsa.
en-" she said gently, "and why
should you waste your life ~
Because, if / were to die to-
morrow, there is not one to care, or
mourn my loss"
"God would care, he does not
want any of us lost. ! had a broth.
er once, strong, noble brother, but
he is gone now. ] cannot give you
his place in my heart, bnt,' speak.
ing timidly "it you will promise
not to be reckless any more, you
can be my second brother"
"Oh, child you do not know
You cannot understand how unwor-
thy | am, but promise never to
do deed that will cause you
shame" He knelt down and took
the little soft hands in his strong
clasp.
81 know you will keep your pro.
mise, Mr.. Stuart, and when you
are away in India, remember that
there is little cripple sister at
home, who thinks of yOn each day.
81 will remember" The fierce,
dark eyes are soft and tender.
He kissed the child hands tender.
ly, reverently, then rose to his feet
and broke Oft half-open white
rose, blooming above BethePs gold
en- head.
"It | die will send it back to
you, little sister. May heaven bless
and keep your pure life to its end"
and he was gone.
Only once did Maxwell stop and |
look back, and through all the af-
ter years he remem bered the scene.
Many times, lying watching the
brilliant stars of the eastern world,
that old English garden rose before
him in its peaceful beauty, and he
could see Bethel, with her pure,
sweet face and tender eyes. The
strange child.wOman, who had spo-
ken the kindliest words that had
ever been uttered to him-the reck-
less fellow who had never cared for
God or man.
TO Estmoor the years brought no
changes. Other companions came
and went, and other balls were Civ.
Ell in their honor, but those men
on the hot plains Of India
seemed to have been forgotten, on
ly Col. Cheny wrote long letters to
Mr.. Milford, filled with the praises
of Maxwell Stuart.
Bethel Milford, who never
thought or hoped to live long,
grew stronger, aud the pale child
changed into Il self-reliant woman.
Shut in the little valley, away
from the world she lived her beau.
5iful, Christian life. Some would .
nave called it dull, and it was. OF.
zen in BethePs soul there would
Use great longing to 60 out into
,ho world, but she would look at
Ter crutch, then at her white haired
ather, and say, THY will, not mine ,
DC DONE" .'-t
No thought of marriage ever en-. t
cred her mind. She had offers, ,
,ut turned from all, thinking to {
i've her quiet life alone, to its end.
Bethel gave a great many s
houghts to her brother, her soldier
S she called Stuart, and each night
nd morning she would kneel by a
he eastern window aud pray earn
stly for him. t
SO the years slipped quietly away u
nth no event to break their change +
ass calm until one evening as the
ray twilight came down, wrapping S
he earth in a misty veil, Bethel |;
rent into her fathers study, and G
Dund him sitting in his easy chair z
18th folded hands, and peace b
rowned brOw-dead. b
1t was cruel blow to the loving e
irl, who had clung to her father b
18th an intense passionate love. Il
he was utterly alone now, and for "
time the thought was almost n
lore than she could bear.
The new rector and his wife were t,
Id and childless, and they begged a
ne sad lonely girl to stay with
lem, and Bethel, loving the old
lace better than any other on
arth, consented. 2
Bethel was twenty-five. 1t had y y