Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-02-18
aPlenty: do YOU see that cabin on the

where.where the man that was drowned
Yesterday is?"
"Yes! 60 there; those children need
help"
But my cousin, surely he has been
there?"
"Yes! he read the 23d psalm to them
last night, but you-you will find some
thing to do
"Thank you" she answered softly, II
will try"
She pushed the rough cabin door open
with her white jeweled hand, and stood
in the midst of the room, dirt, and desc
latiOn, which, combined, present such a
spectacle of misery to eyes unaccustOm-
cd to it, A woman was sitting byla rude
bench, wherein lay covered form, cry
ing bitterly, nor did she cease during
Elaine's stay; grief was now her only
luxury. Elaine looked at the poverty of
it all and went away with her thoughts
full of mental measurings, and when the
day of the funeral came the widow and
orphans were in decent black, there was
a months provisions in the house, and
the bitter edge of their grief was taken
off, and the Rev, Leonard had hired the
oldest boy to wait on his Office and blow
the organ bellows at church.
This was the beginning, but not the end
of Elanie's good work. Algy Fisher gave
her plenty to do and small praise for do
ing it. but she was satisfied. One by one
her fine garments dropped away from
her as being too fine for present use;
her mother was displeased, but the girl
was her own mistress. Leonard kept
his counsel and bided his time. He did
some graceful things for the poor, and
preached better sermons, and was man
ly. Elaine Rad always been fond of him,
and so it happened that one day he placed
a ring of betrOthal upon her hand.
She had shown it to her mother, who
was pleased, and to Algy Fisher, who
said nothing. They were on terms of
intimacy now, but the servant of God
was working out his time patiently, and
gave little thought to other than his
circlet which was to unite two destinies,
and for moment held the fair, white
shapely hands in his thin feverish fing-
ers. Then he looked for one moment in
to the dark eyes, and asked. in a voice
that had not a tremOr, Does your heart
60 with it, Miss Remickew
Elaine was displeased, not so much
with the question as with herself, and
she gave cold answer and left him.
But when they met again she begged
his pardon for her petulance, and he
said gravely:
IL was thinking of your happiness,
and l had no ght-tO-fOrgive me"
A pang went through her heart with
the words, a melancholy air fraught
with sObs of passion overwhelmed her
spirit. an infinite yearning as of a
thirsty soul for sweet waters took pos
session of her; in that moment she had a
glimpse OF a lost heaven, and snatched
at the golden hoop that kept her within
a circumscri5ed limit. A few days
after this great and terrible excite
ment broke out in the little town on the
coast. A vessel had stopped in the night
to put off sick and and unknown man,
who wandered from door to door seeking
a refuge; it was Algy Fisher who took
him in and permitted him to die in his
bed. In few days a terrible raging
fever broke out, and Mrs. Remicke hur-
riedly packed her trunks and rode as fast
as horses would carry her to the railroad
station, accompanied by her daughter
and nephew. These two were not going.
Elaine would not go and Leonard dare
not, but the news at the station decided
him, and he was very angry at Elaine's
Obstinacy. When she understood finally
his pusillanimOus cOwardice, she drew
the ring he had given her from her fing-
| err.
"Take it," she said, 81 have no further
use for it. You are Free"
The last time she saw him there was
a queer look of modification and vacilla-
tiOn on his handsome face, but no MIN
bus Of heaven encircled his cowardly
head.
When ii was known that Algy Fisher
was dying, and Miss Remicke was his
nurse, people were excited, but not sur
prised. Death had long marked him for
his own and no one worried now over
Elaine; she had nursed all the sick by
turns and they were inclined to defy her.
The old minister, who came from the
next village to bury the dead, performed
strange service one sun-bright even; he
stood by Algy Fishers death-bed and
married this man to this woman, and
there were no dissenting voices. Again
a ring, but this time old and furnished,
rested on Elaine's finger. 1t had been
his mothers and it bore on the inside the
single word "Mizpah." "Let this be for
remembrance between thee and me-
"And is that the church of Mizpah?"
asked my friend, looking up at the pref
ty stone edifice which was easily dis
cernable from our boat.
"That is the church, and the dark,
spirituelle woman who breaches there
every Sunday is the pastor of Mizpah;
her people adore her, and you would
never know, only from sad, pathetic
expression in her dark eyes, that she
had passed through so tragic history
| M ffxr., ,,y
said my friend. smiling. "What sweet
motto for an altar CLOTH"
| UUnnoreA mud sRIessc.I