Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-27
II ED MPTION
WOMAN'S POWER.
WRITTEN FOR TIE ISTELLIGESCkR.
CHAPTER VI


er enjoyed the fruits OF his or her labor,
| think this girl appreciated the COM
pensation of her years. work, which
seemed meagre. Indeed, when she thought
of the many trials that she was compel
led to endure in order to obtain the re-
ward for which she had labored so faith
fully, SO untiringly.
Mrs. Dupont was both surprised and
disappointed when she learned, from
Lina's own lips, that she would not re-
turn for another year. She urged her in
every way that she could 10 do so, even
Offering to raise her wages another hun
dred.' but it was all to no purpose, tor
she found Lima inexorable in her deter
mination. Then, of course. this woman
made that display of her temper which
she usually did when any one refused to
obey command or grant request OF
hers. But Lima received this vulgar out
burst of the madam's feelings with that
dignity which was so characteristic OF
her. She did not tear this woman, and
feeling that it would be the last oppor-
tumty of woundlng her feelings, Lima
had no desire to part with her in anger,
and extended her hand, hoping that she
would relent, at least enough to bid her
farewell. but instead of appeasing her
anger, this act, generous and warm. in
creased her fury, and in her wrath she
eXclaimed:
"Out OF my presence, bold, migrate
ful girl. Do You think l would stoop so
far beneath ME as to touch yOu? Coz
And with an imperious wave of the hand.
she motioned the young girl to the
door. Fpr one brief moment Lima stood
as il riveted to the floor: then she turned
her eyes upon Mrs. Dupont. AID gave
her a look so full OF scorn and contempt.
the stern gaze, which spoke more than
a volume of words. Then, with proud
and independent step. Lima turned and
left the room She had yet to go through
the most severe trial. and one she dread
ed that OF bidding the children
goodbye. This task saddened her very
soul, tor she well knew how destitute
their future would be OF all that makes
the child-life blessed. as that unloving
woman whom they called mother, could
not supply, out OF her small store of al
lection and sympathy, the longlngs o.,
their tender hearts But one thought
comfortcd her: God would take care OF
them; for if He was friend of the ra-
vens, if He clothed the lily of the valley,
would He not, with ANXIOUS care, guard
these little ones? With these thoughts
in her heart, she embraced each of the
children, whose hearts had budded into
life through the light and JOY of her own,
and lett them to the care oil lin who alone
can chase away the shades OF grief, and
putsall our fears to fight. 1t was early
in the morning, and the little ones were
not up; so, after kissing each of them
tenderly, she knet by their bedside, and
out of the depths OF her soul she ut
tered prayer of incxpressible tender
ness in their behalf. Then she lett them.
and as she crossed the threshold of that
house-that house ill-fated and leagued
with guiit-she felt a deep sense of re-
liet as the doors Of this superb and ele-
CANT residence were closed after her; for
instlnctively, the thought came to her
that she was Withdrawing herself from
the presence of danger. and trials which
made life itself almost too terrible to an
ticipate hope or a wish through its ex-
istence- But now she was gong home I;
and the very thought of that sweet and
peaceful asylum that awaited her COM
ing, banished every trace Of sorrow from
her mind for the time, and anticipations,
commingling with the thoughts of hope
aud Joy, reproduced visions OF beauty
and love in her heart visions that the
trials and perplexities of the last few
months of her life crowded almost en-
tirely from her memory; but now she
was on the train, ,whirling rapidly through
the beautiful country, and with unfeign-
ed satisfaction she looked at the gorgeous
loveliness of the changing landscape,
checkered, as it were. with things rare
! and beautifully wrought. Lima could bu,
| exclaim, within her heart. How beauti.
| tul and bounteous are all Thy works
Thou great and wise Creator; yet how
| weak and impotent are the very efforts
| with which we seek to repay Thee for
| Thy too gracious indulgence" Such feel.
| ings as these we know spring only from
the fountains Of purity; therefore every
mind is not endowed with thoughts SC
noble and edifying. When Lima
reached home. she found the
dear ones waiting, with fond expectancy
her arrival. Oh, it was JOY, indeed, tc
be gathered again to the loving hearts
OF her own people. and teel their warn
kisses upon her lips and brow; to dwell
beneath the sunshine of their bright
smiles, the radiance OF which is pure as
the light of heaven.
Home again!" Once more her i'm
| prisoned spirit is free, and the happy
privilege is hers to wander at will
wherever her lnclinations lead her, with
out one thought or fear of harm. A few
days after her return, Lima told hel
mother of her prospects for the coming
year; also Of the flattering hopes thai
she entertained relative to going abroad
She also informed her what warm an,
true friend she had found in Mrs. Nor
ton; but Of her darling Clara she fell
that there was not sufficient eulogy il
the warmest expressions of her heart tc
do justice to a description OF her so sh'
simply said OF her:
t'She, too. is my friend; and next t.
my mother and sister, love her."
| Mrs. Maynard listened to Lima with
painful feeling tugging at her heart; {
feeling that she found it hard, indeed, t.
suppress; for think of 1t as she would
the possibility of this separation was
thing to which she could not reconcil
herself. For. somehow, when she re
flected that this separation would put th
treacherous waters of the great and i'm
| IL ~, 81, -.