Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-10-05

one side, and looked from Mr.. Sly to his
wife, and then back again.
The force of brain overdrawn had
manifested itself, as it always will.
"No one but brute, who measures
the actions of every one by his own.
would have tumbIed So" continued Mr.
Sly.
Ranse just perceptibly raised the
scythe-blade at this.
My father came to Kettle Greek that
night on his way home, with the intelli-
gence that my mother was lying at the
point OF death, and if [ could see her
alive again [ must start instantly. I
lost no time, and III less than half an
hour from his coming we were on the
road; [ staid not even to bid my friends
here even goodbye. The minutes we're
precious. More than six miles from
here, over the Sand-hill Greek, we saw
In the road in the darkness, a white OBJ
ject toil1ng on. It was your wife"
Ranse's hand dropped at his side, and
the scythe-blade fell to the floor.
She had no clothing on but her
nlght-dress, shawl and skirt; and she
was barefooted, her feet benumbed and
bleeding. We took her in our sleigh,
and found that she was entirely out of
her head, in the first stages of her rag
ing fever. With this additional reason
for haste, we made our horse fairly fly,
until we arrived at Squire Holbert's,
where we left her, satisfied she would be
cared for until you could be informed.
L never expected to see her alive again.
Here is my father, who will substantiate
every word that I have uttered.
1t was rather pitiful than otherwise
to see Ranse now. He was completely
broken down. Tremblingly he turned
toward his wife; he made no effort to
touch her or to speak, standing with
head bowed down, his attitude express
ing more clearly than any words could
his abiect condition.
But she would not have it so. She
came to him, laid her hand upon his
breast, and her sobs were Quoted.
Presently he wound his arms about her
and raised his eyes toward heaven. By
this time the neighbOrly frankness of the
villagers had manifested itself by their
crowding up to the doors and windows,
and some of them had pressed into the
room. They had come expecting trag-
edy. 1t would not be fair to them to say
they were entirely disappointed. Those
looking on said afterward that they had
never seen on the face of a man such a
look Of sweetness and sublime confidence
as came into that of Ranse Loop as he
held his wife close to his breast and
looked upward.
81 thank Thee" he said, speaking as
if addressing some real presence, invisi-
BILE to others. 81 see it all now.
Through her I am safe -
Then, with the same expression of low
ing kindness in his face, he turned to his
neighbors: "Let me tell it that you may
all hear" he said. "Let me, in your
presence, who know me so well, take my
stand now where [ shall nenceforth be
found [ have been the enemy of the
Master, but for evermore [ shall bear
His standard. [ was On the bed of
death. All hopes for me had fed. In
the midnight watches He came to me
with an ineffable sweetness in His face
and beseeching tenderness in His man
ner. Follow me- he besought me.
But [ could not, and turned my face
from Him toward the wall. Again the
next night He came, shining in the glory
OF his raimeDt, with increased tenderness
and love. But again I could not bear
His smile and beseeching words, and
again turned my face from Him. Yet
again on the third night He came with
divine forgiveness in every feature, ac-
ton and word. My heart was melted.
and [ welcomed him. A calmness and
freedom from pain such as I had not
known for days, came upon me, and the
fever left me. 1 have given myself to
Him, and [ am His servant and slave for
evermore.
During this recital there was a silence
upon the throng as though they had
been magnetized-eve the two clergy
men being moved to tears.
Millicent looked up to her husband,
and certain words were on her lips.
But she che cked herself, and they were
never spoken. She only echoed what he
had said, "7es, you are safe through
me-"
A fervent and successful ministry of
more than half century testified to the
truth of her remark, and to the reality to
him of what he had seen, and made the
name of Van Rensselaer, Loop, through
out large section of our country.
synonymous with men of God.