Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-04-11

dangerous form Of idolatry. She could
not conceive Of an existence III which
his destiny was not so identified and in
tertwined with her own as to become a
subtle unity. How lamentahle in this
proneneSS of our sex TO deity the mould
Of clay, and how bitter the punitive ret.
ributiou of Il violation of that first COM
mand given to man amid the thunder.
inSs of Sinai. Evelyn's experience, like
that of Others of the suffering sister
hood, was destined to prove painful
illustration OF the poets words:
II learned to love and at that time,
Through love, learned what llic is"
Suddenly, without the slightest pre-.
monitor, those messengers that always
set the bells to ringing within her heart
ceaSed,-rhere was long, dread 81
lence, the precursor of the gathering
storm. AT last il fell-the black, fear
full weight that crushed out all the
youth, and hope, and beauty Of her on
ening life. The February evening was
darkening to close when Mrs. Beau
mont entered the library with an agon-
lied face and an open telegram. Evelyn
threw aside her favorlte Wordsworth,
and grasped the paper with palsied
hands. In that laeonicism she read the
death-sentence of all hfe'S hopes and
Joys. Dead dead Stricken down in
the full strength and pride of his glori-
Gus manhood was the noble Ernest
Beaumont. Poor EVELYN what colors
can paint, what pen can picture the
anguish-heaves of that warm, loving
heart There arc some sorrows that
turn us into stone; that CONCEAL, with
one 10y touch, the glad fountains of life
and love. But RuSkin tells Ills of such
agony when he says, LET heart-sick-
ness pass beyond a certain bitter point
and the heart loses its life forever"
Such a grief rs this had come upon her
now, killing the heart and paralyzing
the brain. 1t took days, nay weeks, for
the iull realization of loss so immeas-
urable but even then, with the Grim
son tide or young life running swift
and strong through her veins, she felt
her hands grow numb and deathly
thrill strike to the core of life. For
weeks she fingered in 1.-The valley of the
shadow" the death-angel lowering over
her with his pale wings refusing to be
propitiated. But another angel step
ped between-the angel of Life-bear-
ing the message from the Father that
her work was not yet done, and she
should take up the cross again for other
outer strivings. Slowly and reluctantly
she drifted back TO the darkness Of
broken life. The fral form was more
attenuated the pale face more ethereal
in it's refined and spiritual loneliness,
every motion, tone and expression that
seemed the incarnation Of some holy
prayer. Fairer than ever she appeared
i'll her chastened beauty, but that vir-
gin purity was consecrated to the dead.
The pure young heart which many II
man would have worn as star upon
his breast was buried in the grave of the
lost, and could not have been more ut
terly dead to the sweet amenities of
life, had it too been dust and ashes.
There are some natures, the rarest the
most sensitive and delicate, to which
love- comes but once, and such was
Evelyn Care's. Her love was given to
the dead and sanctiiied by sweet yet
torturing memories. But even in this
season of gloom and misery all that was
strong and noble in her womanhood
arose and upgiried itself Tor the con-
tlict, She would not quite despair; life
still held for her some golden promise;
her mission vas not yet fulfilled.
There had whispered n Vocc-the voice of her
God,
love thee, | love thee, pass under the rod"
She had triumphed after the severest
conflict; had achieved victory more
glorious than ever won by olden
knight or warrior. Though her dearest
hopes were shattered, she felt there was
left field of usefulness here that was
white for her reaping. She, with her
own spirit so bruised, must pour the
blessed balm Of faith and patience upon
darkened, sin.wearied souls. Some
times the tempter would whisper she
was young, SO hopelessly young, and
the stretched out vista so gloomed with
storms; had she not better lie now
while death seemed messenger Of
light and gladness. There was nothing
to regild her sunless world or revive her
fainung spirit. and it is no marvel that
she sometimes shrank from the con-
temptation Of the heightened thread Of
existence. Could she walk bravely and
unfalterinely in the stony ways of duty,
without love, or hope, JOY, to smooth
its ruggedness? We shall see.
4
Ten years had passed, and the dying
glories of an autumnal sunset were
following the Mills and gliding the roofs
and pillars OF Woodley. 1t was Sab
bath, and something Of the calm, the
peace, the reverence Of the holy day
seemed TO have settled upon sufferer
whose weary head pressed snowy
pillow. Slowly but triumphantly the
death-anZel was writing his inexorable
"Thou art miner upon every lineament
of that sorrow.subdued face. All! our
gentle Evelyn, having kept the faith,
was almost in possession Of the prom.
Used crown. The fair face was lovely
still, but so paid and emaciated one
would never dream the roes Of youth
and health had once bloomed upon
that waxen check and Parian brow.
Atelderer grace, softened charm had
supplanted the brilliance Of early girl
hood, and the expression Of the coun-