The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-09-09

and as she looked down on him, SO fully
visible to her as he was. he turned in
conversation to his companion and
smiled. Do not the old colors of the |
regiment, riddled with shot, battered
and stained out of all their early beauty, |
bring to us sigh of loving tribute to
the glories so present to the spirit, so
little discernible otherwise nowp The
tears rained from the old woman's eyes
as she looked. so changed and yet with
such an ineradicable likeness to the days
of youth was that smile of her former
lover.
The carriage stopped. The younger
gentleman dismounted with some pa
pers, with which he disappeared for a
few minutes into the hotel. The old
man, gay, active, handsome Ernest
Picardy that once had been, sat still,
patiently and calmly, as one who knew
well how to wait. And who knows that
his heart did not respond with some deep
seated sensation of peace and fulfilled
desire to the fervent blessing breathed
on him from above, by the woman
watching so near-the woman he had
loved so passionately long ago? Face
to face they had met at last, although
only one was conscious of that meeting,
and her soul cried out to his, full of old
love and new-yes, love even now,
freshly-born of tender truth and wo-
mans undying faithfulness.
His friend joined him, and the car
riage drove on. 1t was ''adieu pour
jamais'' between them now. But
when the last sight of him was lost,
she covered her face with her trembling
hands and murmured forth:
THANK God! All, SO much, much
better than the meeting had hoped for
and so oftened planned. What Heaven
gives comes always mystical with salts
faction. What could we have done if
we had spoken of it all, but mingle our
tears and pierce each others soul once
more with unavailing regretsP Better
| for us both to be spared it. But oh!
my love, my love! true to me, know
and feel it; only parted by our own mad
pride and folly! We are calm enough
now! We have both grown old, very
old, my dear, but it has been together,
althoug gh apart. If your brow had been
smooth as l remember it, and your locks
raven as when saw them last, could
not have claimed you for my own as ]
do now. We should have parted COM
pany then; but ,soa0 we are one-we
were young together, we are old to.
| gether, and the tie of mutual age has q
sacredness in it which nothing can dis
turb. And then, when this last briei
portion of our life is over, we shall meet
at last, my love, without a tear, young,
and perfected, and blest for ever IN the
kingdom of God"
Again her tears streamed forth. Ex
element and weakness had shaken hel
self-control to its foundations; and for {
few moments of rare indulgence she die
not stem their flow. Only few mo
ments, however, for aged eyes can no
weep long.
When Laura came back, Aunt Doro
thy had returned to perfect calmness
and greeted her with a smile that hat
conquered sorrow. This girl was Ger
tainly growing more and more kindly
natured from contact with her aunt
She said, quite gently now:
'sWas he greatly altered, Auntie
You must have seen much change il
him, fear"
81 knew him. returned her aunt
And then, after pause: HE was m,
lover for many years, and never love'
but him. Only, misfortune. chiefly O
our own making, rash and foolish tina
we were, came between u.s."
"You are very white, Aunt Dorothy
Had you not better, after all this, let m
bring you some wine?"
'.No, my child, nothing. Leave m
here alone little while longer, for
want to rest, and may God bless you an
make you truly His.
) Laura looked at her aunt half-frighi
ened at the solemnIty of the words an
tone; but already Aunt Dorothy ha
turned from her and was gazing at
!, stractedly on the moor, where the gors
and broom caught from the sunse
: : bIood-red reflections, that ripping lik
= waves over their surface, left shadow
of deep purple in between.
When she was alone: 81 have ha
a very happy life," said Aur
7 Dorothy; although some thing
were denied, and the greatest io
= granted me was followed by the dires
SORROW But buried the sorrow.
! was the Joy that lived and has been m
companion and comfort all these Ions
long years; the joy of having know
love fully once; the certainty that a
true love holds immortality within i
. Thank God that He gave me strength t
!. take up many cares and interests and
J live with all my might 1t has NJ
been useless life, and now at the enc
He has given me the great wish of m
> heart, this crowning joy-to look eve
yet again upon the face of Erne
Picardy."
She had no tears to shed, they wei
|; done with for ever, and she was vel
calm. Two or three sighs she CAV
4 but there was nothing to tell wheth'
they sprang from sadness or from tt
j. satisfaction of deep content.
4 x.
u When Laura returned she found h
r aunt still sitting there, but her spir
had flown. Disease of the heart hs
!, long threatened, and agitation SO III
:. !, wonted at her age was all that w
. needed to snap life's silver cord. II
- fullness of her cup had overhowed, al
- the hour in which she had looked aga
=. upon her early love had been her las
In one heartfelt Nunc DimittiS, she hs
y passed from age and helplessness al
- pain into the country where such thin
~ are not. and it is many year nc
= since Ernest Picardy joined her ther
= When she lay in her coffin and tn
~ went to look at her and give her a la
"a kiss, who had always spoken to the
~ such wise and loving words, they we
= awed, even the most careless, at t
- unutterable Joy and peace upon
face. And they said that look of b
~ youth had come back to it, in this,
. . final sleep.-The Argosy.
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