Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-11-04
THE STORY OF A LIFE

IL heard a voice from Heaven.
saying unto me, Write, from hence
forth blessed are the dead who die
in the Lord: even so. saith the Spirit;
for they rest from their labors, "
As the solemn words fell upon the
sorrowful, hushnd throng around the
open grave, | looked up ut the cold,
winter sky and around upon the
brown, desolatc hills and bare mead
ows A few sombre pines near by
moaned drearily, and the wintry
wind came sweeping down upon us
from the purple mountains.
This was the end, then, of this fair
women's life. TO be laid in the
dark, cold, lonely grave on this bleak
winters day The end? In one
sense, yes; in another, no. Her
beautiful life could not end in that
horrible tomb. For three score years
it had shed IFS sweet perfume upon
the hearts and lives around her.
Such lives do not end here. She had
gone home, where her sad heart
would find the joy of her youth, her
tired hands cease from their labors.
knew something OF her story, but
/ long to hear it all-the story OF
that lovely old face, with its sweet
dark eyes and snowy hair She was
laid away for her long rest, with the
heavy earth upon her heart. The
last sad word had died away over her
lowly grave, and we slowly and sad
ly retraced our steps to the places
which should know our dear old
friend no more forever.
That evening, as we sat together
around the glowing wood fire, |
asked the dear grandmother to tell
us tho story of Miss Margaret's life.
She took off her spectaclcs and pol
ished them slowly with her handker
chief, looking, meanwhile, thought
fully and very sadly into the fire.
Then, turning round to us, she said
"You all loved Miss Margaret, chill
dren, but you could not appreciate
her loveliness as one who knew her
in her youth, and through all the
years of her beautiful pathetic life.
We were nearly the same age, she a
few weeks younger than l. From
our babyhood we have been con
stantly together / cannot remem-
Der the time Margaret was not my
other self Our homes stood always
where they do to-day mine here
hers just over the way. Onr mothers
were dear friends, and the friendship
ended to day in the grave began with
our first prattle and tottering foot
steps,"
The dear old voice was very trem-
ulo6s, and the glistening tears fell
upon her folded hands. She was sad
ly shaken by the death of her life
long friend and companion.
"Wben we were six years old we
commenced our childish school-life
together. Side by side we plodded
through the first stages of our new
career, and play time and study time
we were inseparable. SO the years
went on till we were great girls
ready for the academy in the adj
joining town of Alden. No, there is
none there now. This was forty
years ago, my child Our parents
were very anxious that we should
benefit by all the advantages offered
in such a promising institution. We
began this chapter in our lives to-
gether.
"How wonderfully pretty Margaret
was growing! She was always very
slender, and peculiarly graceful.
You know how handsome she was,
even in her old age, She had beau
tiful, dark brown, wavy hair; hor
grey eyes were very lovely; her
small, pale face, with its delicate
nose, fresh, dewy lips and firm little
chin, was delightful to look upon.
Sweet tempered, modest digniiied,
she was the idol of her parents and
admired by all who knew her.
In our seventeenth year we left
the academy. Margaret was to re-
turn at the autumn term as teacher.
How we enjoyed that bright summer.
We took long walks in the. woods,
rowed ON the shining river, and
spent happy hours in the saddle, COW
ering miles of beautiful country, dur
ing the long summer days All beau
tiful things are soon over; the autumn
came, and it was our first separation.
She went to Alden Monday morning,
and Friday evening always returned
her to us again.
"The weeks passed on, and Mar
garet was very happy in her new life.
Another interest had arisen in my
young life, but it could not eclipse
the beauty of my Venus. 1 was
your grandfather's promised wife,
and in the spring time we were to
commence our new life together.
1T was about this time that 1 first
noticed q change in my Margaret.
i could not define it. In her sweet
eyes there shown solemn, holy
light. A tremulous sort of beauty
seemed to rest on brow and lip
She grew more beautiful each day.
Her sweet reserve was never broken
even to me-
It was beautiful day in the lat
ter part of the winter when Margaret
came to me with new look upon
her pure face-a look which woman
never wears put once in life-when
she loves as Margaret did.
"Kate, 1 have something to tell
YOU she said; and when she was cos
lily seated with mo in my own room,
she told me the story of her be
trothal.
"Mr. Edmonds was the principal