The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-11-16
Forever with the Lord
Amen, so let it be
Life from the dead is in that word.
'Tis Immortality.

Ten years later our story ends. In
the library of the old house by the
river, Miss Kingstone reclined upon
lounge drawn close beside the fire, her
only companion being young lady,
who, seated upon an ottoman at her
side, reads aloud and talks to her.
GLOW the wind howls tonight,
Annie! Itnever before sounded so
mournful but once, long ago. Don't
you think Fred is very late? l suppose
it is foolish, but since | have become
so feeble, am always imagining that
some evil has happened to my boy.
There! was not that his step? No,
it was only the dried leaves falling on
the path. | never used to be so fidget-
ty; it has all come to me since old
Susan died. Poor old Susan She was
the last link that bound me to my old
life, ard now she is gone. l feel
strangely tonight, Annie. | am not
so very old, but have a presentiment
that my life is drawing near its close.
But there is Fred at last. Go meet
him, dear. His voice is music to me,
she murmured, as Annie left the room ;
''like Charles ; oh, so much like
Charles | have never forgotten 1t. "
| Fred stamped into the hall, tossed
his hat upon the table, threw off his
overcoat, and turned just in time to
catch Annie in his arms and kiss her.
"Well," he said, shave you missed
me to day, my darling little wife ? and
are you glad to see meY"
= ''Of course | am glad to see you
you know | always am; but listen tc
me one moment before you go into the
library. l am afraid Aunt Grace i,
not quite so well this evening. She i
very pale, and her eyes are hollow anc
unnatural
A shade of anxiety crossed Fred
e face, and he hurried into the librar
a where he found Miss Kingstone sittin,
$ up, with a bright smile of welcom
t ready for him. Kissing her affection
n ately, Fred said:
v 81 have some pleasant news for you
l. auntie. Philip is going to bring Lila
up TO see you this evening. They il
IS tended coming this morning, but Phi
a could not get off"
d Miss Kingstone seemed pleased, an
( said, looking thoughtfully into the fire
m 81 am glad, very glad, to have a
my children with me tonight. I a
;" most feared | would never see Lila
10 again,
ee "Oh, nonsense, auntie!" said Ere
trying to hide his anxiety, "You W
ut see her very often yet, | don't doul
u.s. but you are nervous, and no wonde
De | never heard the wind roar SO IL
ry mendously. 1t is dismal sort ofnight
ur Lillian and her husband Philip q
rived half an hour later, in time f
nd tea, and when the little group gathert
$ : around the table, Aunt Grace Law ,
her lounge, watching them closely al
ed earnestly, with grave, almost troubl
,at look on her countenanCe, which, no
tie ever, gradually gave place to one
oh peace and trustfulness, as she Danish
so all anxious thoughts of those dear on
he aud resigned them into the hands
by the Lord, knowing that He would r
m, chasten nor afilict them unnecessari
as, but would guide them safely lhrou
er, "The vale Of tears into their everla
her ing home, where sorrow, pain aud def
sholld be forever unknown.
arv She closed her eyes, and her mi
,aif wandered back to the far-off past