The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-09-10

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country church The mother who had
cheered him on saw him a minister o.
the Gospel, and then the Lord called
her home
But Ransom was in debt for his edu.
cation, and his sturdy independence
would not allow him any luxury of life
until that obligation was met If he
grew weary at times, he only interested
himself more nearly in his people but
sometimes September morning on the
hillside farm would rise up in memory
before him, and a fair face with a
strange witchery in the brown eyes
would cause almost a sob to break from
his lips.
But all sacrifices have an end Ran
som Sayles would not be hampered bv
a debt. He had waited until the child
had blossomed into the woman The
last payment on his debt had been
made, his vacation had come he would
try his fate, for he was not over-conti-
dent of his power of inspiring love in
the heart of any woman.
| The house was in sight as dusk came
| on at the close of an august day
Sam" was carrying in the last pail of
milk as Sayles came up. "Ah, Mr.
Sayles," said Sam, 4 am right glad to
see you" ''How is Deacon Raymond p
asked Ransom; he had almost said
Morning Glory" for it seemed but
day since he went away. ''The Deacon
is WE'LL said Sam, hesitatingly looking
askance at Sayles - but Miss Carrie
met with an accident Old Tom"-and
Sam grumbled out something almost
profane-''ran away" Ransom Sayles
turned and entered the house nothing
was changed the family were at tea,
but Morning Glory was in great arm
chair in the front room, before you
reach the kitchen at the end of the long
hall. Ransom shuddered as he stood
on the threshold; he knew not why, for
he was not superstitious man, then
opened the door; she was facing the
west and evidently thought it some one
of the family The setting sun lighted
up the room and fell upon her hair.
There flashed through his mind the
crown which Revelation speaks of, and
then he stood by her side; she turned
her head, the eyes softened by some
tender memory, her face flushed in
moment, and she put out her hand. Il
was thinking of you, Ransom" ''What
about me ?" he asked, as if they had
met the day before; why, don't you
know you said once" and she laughed
softly, ''that you would be true to your
conviction of duty, even though it cost
the sacrifice of a lifetime ?" She had
never called him Ransom before, and
they had not met for three years. He had
become much more of man, and she,
as she half-reclined there, into what
ripe, beautiful woman she had devel-
oped He had done well to wait, and
what tender, trustful air she had
"But what about the accident ?" he |
asked, anxiously. She grew a little |
sober, said the doctor would be in again |
on tomorrow, and changed the sub
ject.
That evening was one to be remem-
bered long after. He told his love, and
she, with shy reserve, revealed her |
heart; but there were strange pauses
on her part all the evening through, |
and when he bid her good night, he |
thought, as he kissed her, there were
tears on her face.
The morning brought the family ply
stefan while Ransom was out on the hill |
his memory with familiar
scenes. When he returned the doctor
had gone. "What did he say? p "Shall
1 tell your" she replied to his question,
as she turned her face away. 1.-The ac-
cident was severer than you know ; |
there is no hope; it is only question
of time. "But you are so fresh and |
blooming" he gasped. 81 was in per-
feet health when it occurred. 1t is in
ternal, but there is no help"
Perhaps this old-fashioned tale might |
end here, as what we call poetic justice
is violated in the sequel, but real life
takes little account of poetic justice in
her reckoning.
Ransom Sayles had studied bellies
lettres and divinity in preparation for
his work of saving men; but as he
waited in those Autumn days, knowing
that only she remembrance of the days
that were dead would soon be his, he
learned obedience by the things which
he suffered. He saw the rich, rare life
fade away, an argosy of priceless wealth
sail into the mist saw how rich it was
for years of work, and that it
was his very own, and then must needs
say farewell! There was no weak SEN
timent about these two souls as they
stood at the parting of a final voyage
for one. l have done my work i'll in
sketching this man, if you think he
gave up or only half lived after this.
So fast he grew in these few weeks that
when Morning Glory was laid under
the daisies, he comforted the people
and read the simple service. The strick
en- parents found in him a son of con-
ISOLATION And he went forth to rate |
achievements in helpfulness to men, in
spired by his love for the Morning
Glory which bloomed ON high.
FALCoNRIDGE.