Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-08-18

him-for it had done its YORK thanked
God in mis- heart that this most perfect
earthly beauty should be his last sight
OF earth. 1t was Il fit prelude. as he
whispered to the palm-his head rest
ing, as for years he had been wont as
he sat there to rest it, against the palms
loving trunk-for the sight yet more
beautiful, being Heavenly, that would
be his Dreamily he whispered
his th%ankfulness for all that the palm
had been to HIM; for all its constant
tenderness and love through these long
years. Then the cool evening wind,
which sweeps down from the mountains
at the end of the hot days, and brings
with it a most delectable refreshment,
passed softly through the palm leaves,
and made again the one old sweet story
Of the palm-tree's gratitude and love.
And, possessing none of the selfishness
that goes with, if, indeed. it be not the
very essence Of all human love, the
palm-tree murmured its own joyfulness
that the time had come when the one
whom it loved so truly would cease to
be acquainted with sorrow, and would
know only the perfect happiness of an
endless, holy peace.
Then the Padre whispered again, or
it may be that this thought was
framed only in his heart, his longing to
see the Dona Ana yet once more before
his ayes forever closed to things of
earth. And, 10! as this longing rested
upon his soul, there came to the open
gate.of the convent garden-being led
thitfer, surely, by Gods good grace-a
holy nun; and, looking on her face, the
Padre sose knew that for the little time
of life yst left to him the love that he
had lostwas found!
So sht sat beside him, beneath the
palm, stocking his cold hand low
ingly; vt with a love chastened iby
long suffering of loves lack, and now
sanctifed because it welled out anew
toward ON upon whom rested visibly
the hand pf death. Together they
talked of the long years which, in their
severed liva;, would have been dead
years but fir the life that had come to
each from aqiving love of God and as
they talked, Padre Jose came to know
that in all'tlfs dreary time she had not
been afar frtm him, but neal at hand
watching kver him as an angel might
have watchA, and rejoicing in the fair
perfection d his holy work. For she
had prayed that she might be sent to
where he wis; and her prayer had been
granted through a firm confidence in
her loyal faith to the higher love which
she had prffessed in taking upon her
her holy vofs.
Slowly tlt splendor of the sky and
mountains tded into the mellow half
tints and stbtle blendings of delicate
colorings Trough which the gracious
sunlight pajses before it is lost in the
dull dusk d night. AS she cherished
it between her own warm hands the
hand of Palre Jose grew yet more cold,
and she knew how little was left to him
of life.
Presently, as the light grew fainter
and fainter, and as the spirit of Padre
Jose grew less and less thing of earth,
so near tt Heaven had it come, there
sounded Through the stiffness of the
eveninghi ii the ringing of the angelus:
a low, temulous ringing, for the ringer
in the tower was worn with much toll
and watching, and scarce had strength
left in him to sound the call to prayer
There was a wailing melancholy, yet 8
deep tenderness in the faint ringing Of
this sweet bell, as though it mourned-
yet with a great compassion, in which
was hope.
And as its dying tones vibrated softly
through the dusky air, there went a
shivering rustic through the branches
of the deserted palm, there came a thrill
of mortal agony into a lonely woman's
heart-for the spirit of Padre Jose, leav
ing poor, earthly love behind it, ane
leaving behind it harsh earthly toll anc
care, had passed hence into the perfect
love Of Heaven, into the perfect ane
eternal rest.
Herein is seer a mystery of the ma
lures of man and woman. The man, tt
Danish his love, had sought to place tn
woman afar from him; but the woman
not less resolutely determined that he
love should be crushed, knew that she
best could crush it when near the man
Thomas 4. Jauvier, IN Century Nigga
zine.