The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-09-03
UNCLE PAUL'S WIFE.


the rain still fell on the gravel walk be-
meath the window, while through the
dark old pines at the back of the house
went the continual mournful soughing of
the cast wind
was weary of all indoor occupations,
ne could not resort to invectives against
tc weather, for had no listeners.
Aiy uncle, DR. Paul Eastman had gone
knrce miles through the wind and ram to
visit patient in the almshouse, little
boy whose life was nearly ended and
Mrs. Eastman was visiting her friends in
distant State.
In an idle, half dreaming mood, lay
on the sofa in the pleasant library to
await my uncle's coming
The cheerful freight sending its warm
bright glow overthe geraniums and roses
IN the deep bay window, over the few
pictures on the walls and the well filled
book shelves banished all thought of
the wintry dcsolation without. Above
'he shaded lamp, on the little study
'ablo, was a portrait. 1t had hung there
for many years, the old housekeeper said.
! cannot describe that pictured face, so
nobly, so serenely beautiful. Would YOU
try to describe the look which NJ ono
you love wears for youl Neither will
try to paint Wits words that face, which
was the full realization of my thought of
those messengers who come from the un-
seen world TO strengthen and bless the
weak and suffering among mortals.
Was she Uncle Paul's first love-the
fair young girl whose loss has dnrkened
al the years of his early manhood? l
had heard something of the & eat sorrow
which had clouded those years, and of
one whose life of beauty had kept her
memory fresh in the hearts of many. |
had heard, two, of the tenderness with
which Uncle Paul took to his home.
which should have been hers, crinvalid
mother and little brother, and cared for
them till the mother went to Join the
daughter and the boys were fitted for
commercial or professional life. But
there was mystery in his life If he had
loved and lost the one whose face was
pictured there on the canvas how could
he ever have given the place that would
have been hers to the respectable, com
monplace person whom have known for
five years as Mrs. Eastman
The longer watched the sweet face
looking down upon me the greater seemed
the mystery, and so thinking | fell
asleep
A voice awakened me. "Ahl Miriam,
dreaming 2"
eyes. uncle; dreaming of that face
above your study table"
He walked across the room and stood
silently before it long time. Then he
came to me. ''It is very like her, Mir
lam; and she was as pure and good as the
angels.
"Can youtell me of her, uncle What
was her name ~
Then, after n short silence, he told me
his early sorrow and revealed the secret
OF the mystery that perplexed me.
Her name was Grace Hyde. She was
s Righteen and was twenty-one when she
romised to be my wife. / was just fin
hing my professional studies, and had
81 own way to make in the world, but
rs strong to do my work and to fight
.1y battles for Grace was awaiting the
esnlt. Her love would strengthen me
#nd her hand would reward my victory.
will not fetter you, Paul, she said
know how the promise of many young
lives has been unfulhlled because the
daily needs of life and the necessity of a
practical answer to the questions. "What
shall we eat, and what shall we drink,
and wherewithal shall we be clothed?n
have wearied the spirit not yet ready for
Its liie-work, crippled its energies, and
chained it to an igno5e service, while
the nohler work it might have done, waits
for another. Give all the time you need
to the highest culture, the fullest devcl-
opment of your intellectual strength, find
for yourself fitting sphere of labor, and
then, Paul, l will go with you, and to-
gether we will make life beautiful
II could not combat her resolution.
She was firm, and her father said Grace
is right; in the future you will acknowl-
edge it.
$50 finished my studies in the uni
versity and went to Paris. Grace, pale
and fearful, with her little hands in mine,
said; BE worthy of your best self, and
may COD forever guide and bless you,
dear Paul And then we parted.
81 had not been away three months,
when letter from Grace announced her
fathers attack. 'An attack of apopleXy,'
she wrote. Poor mother, it is a terrible
blow to her: ] know not how she will
bear it. pray that | may help her, and
that God will give me power to comfort
her. After that her letters were not sad,
but there was a subdued cheeriulness, or
it might have been an effort to he cheer
ful, and there was an impatient looking
forward to my return. She had such
trust in me, such noble ambition for
me, | was always stronger and better
after reading her words. Her influence
was around me continually, and the
temptations Of Paris life were all power.
ess. ! could not disappoint her trust.
wopsfR Try TO be worthy of her
~ 2een in Paris nearly two years,
4nd " eparing to return, when one
gay aNetter, directed in an unknown
Rand, wRs given to me l opened it