Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-10-02


and unless Pm mistaken - here the Ear
ring lowered his voice, "she hasn't any
tune to loses master Is a sober man now,
but won't Answer"
Was it the sound Of the front door
shutting rather louder than usual that
aWOke Mrs. james? The hands Of the
French clock pointed at half past twelve,
and she heard her husbands step in the
lower hall. The CRATE was still sending
out rudy glow, but the fire was low.
Evidently the little French maid had
gone to her bed hours ago. The diamond
earrings looked innocent of the words
with which the lady's heart was throb-
bing wildly, but surely that step was
unusually slow and heavy; was it posi-
lplei could it be? all, the anguish Of the
Doubt
As a drowning man is said to have IN
rolled before his eyes, IN artieulo mortis,
every deed Of his past life, SO in a few
moments before her husbands hand was
on her door knob, Mrs. James seemed to
see before her every day Of her brief
married lIfe, in the new and painful light
Of her own mistakes and unreasonable
ness. And not that only, but there was
time for a single and fervent petition
which went up str0ng-winged to the
throne Of grace, ''Lord, help me, and for
the birth Of a sudden, full-grown resOlu-
ton which was henceforth to change the
whole current Of her life.
When Major James opened the door
he was altogether taken back ct the sight
Of the radiant creature before him; the
crimson luster Of the gown, sOftened at the
throat and wrists by the soft, downy
wilderness, the long rich braids, shining
eyes and flushed cheeks, made indeed a
lovely picture, and instead of the cold
averted look with which his late entrance
was usually received, his beautiful wife
came forward and laid her hands caress-
ingly on his shoulders.
'Why, Lucy, girl, what's up? You
look as If you had been having all sorts
of a Jolly time"
81 have been asleep, and dreaming -
she answered with bright smile, though
her heart sank to see how flushed with
wine her husband was. 'SOme day I'll
tell you my dream"
= = + There was now a s1dden
revival in Mrs. James wardrobe, so
Lindy's outspoken delght) Of the dainty
becoming laces and ribbons that had
pleased her lovers eyes years ago, and
he never again heard IL her voice the
sharpness that had grated so on him for
two years past.
Never again; and yet Mrs. James did
not find life smooth or easy when she
faced about 20 climb back up hill Is
an uphill path ever an easy one? But
she left despair at the bottom, and IN
stead Of this dark comrade, shining hope
kept her company, and faith and patience
followed close behind.
It was not an easily won fight, against
her own selfshness, and her husbands
self-indulgence, but defeat and anxiety
and helplessness drew her closer and
closer to that strong Friend who prom
ises help to the heavy laden. ''In all
times OF her prosperity" she had turned
a dull ear to his voice; now, sorely
pressed and almost fainting under her
task, his words of promise were her
strength and stay.
But three more years passed over her
head before she found it possible to tell
her husband the dream Of her diamond
earrings. These years were eventful
ones to them both; the wife had sscri-
feed her tastes time after time, to min
gle with her husband in gay society, and
6--d---G~4 ny --GA lc-4t-o Ccl44CzE8 no L4EilL
taught himself to find contentment some
times at his own hreside. True, his old
habits and companions still held for him
a powerful fasciRation, but they seemed
each season less end less necessary to
him, while he found himself more and
more reluctant to grieYe the sweet wo-
man at his side, who no longer reproached
him, whose brave efforts to be cheerful
touched him to the heart
Then God gave her the long coveted
blessing; a little child came to help the
wife hold her husband, and it was over
his sunny curls that she found voice to
tell her husband her dream.
Major James listened with strong emo
ton, and looking almost reverently at
the bright stones she had laid in his
hand, he said: you must let me have
them set in a pin, dearest, to be worn on
your breast since they have been the
urim and thummim of our better life"
She lifted her shining eyes up to his
face. 'And let us have engraved on
their setting" she said, Kept by ii
power OF God"