The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-06

streaming from its eyes. Old before
its time, haggard before its time, and
utterly, utterly hopeless. 1t raised its
wasted hand, it turned its face Heaven
ward in despairing appeal. And in its
lap, with pallid, pitiful face, lay the
form of once beautiful child, cold and
dead.
For the third time William felt the
cold touch upon his arm-the touch
that now chilled him TO the marrow:
for the third time the voice whispered
in his ear:
"RemOrsnk
The mOmen, the word was spoken,
the throng of phantom shadows glided
into their snow-tomb and vanished
from his sight. The snow closed upon
them like the resistless wave of
mighty sea, and the great plain lay
naked in the eye of Heaven. But Will
lam was not alone; once more the
voice of the Invisible Shadow addressed
him.
"Blin3 and infatuated Upon this
CNtblliEs hItIlA NiiC ulllh Stl HtOIl VI
man should be turned to love and
charity, have you allowed to be sown
in your breast the seeds OF doubt and
mistTUst Upon this holy Christmas
Eve have YOU allowed TO be defiled the
love which hallows life? She whom
you love, and who loves you with per-
feet faithfulness, is stainless and truth
full. This morning Faith filled your
heart. This night Doubt occupies its
place. Beware, lest tomorrow comes
RemOrse! Behold what you were,
what you are and what YOU shall be if
you allow passion and unreasOn to blind
your
The voice ceased, and William, start
ING forward in terror, threw up his
arms with a wild, despairing cry. For
the white plain was forming itself into
q vast valley, shelving into depths
which appeared illimitablc, and into
which he was sinking. In vain he
strove to save himself. Down he sunk,
lower and lower still, until he was dir
lilly fearful that each moment would
disclose a frightful precipice, over
which he would be hurled and dashed
TO pieces. But although the soft, white
snow envelOped him, and this terror
cncOmpasscd his soul, he was sensible
of the presence of shadOwy spirits ac-
complaining him in his flight; and ever
and anon, in the course of his descent,
there cleaned athwart his otherwise
blinded sight visions which enthralled
him. Blue eyes and brown; faces won
'drOusly beautiful; white hands that
played about his hair; lips that smiled
and Knocked: persons for whom ne en-
tcTtainCd affection; his mother who
died when he was young, and the pref
ty child VINO was buried with hcr-One
and all cleaned before his SIGHT, like
stars falling from heaven into the
depths. 1t seemed to him that he con-
tinucd thus to siak for days and weeks
ana years, and that to this horrible fate
he was etcrnally contcmncd; but at
length the end came. Darkness fell
upon him, and ne knew nothing more
until he found himself standing before
q house surrounded by waving fields,
the golden corn cleaning in the sun.
The musical whiSperingS of the waving
sheaves fell melOdiously upon his ears,
and he experienced an incNprcsSihlc
sense of relief For q brief space he
gave himself up 10 the spell of 3 calm,
delicious Fest. and then he looked more
narrowly unon the scene.
Strangei 1t was his own house BE-
fore which he stood; these were his
own fields that he saw around him.
Not as he had seen them last; the evil
dence of more careful husbandry and
cultivation was everywhere apparent.
1t was the realization of what he had
-. L, l. L.
in few years after he married. And
there, in the garden, was Laura, more
matronly and more beautiful than in
her maiden days. He stepped to her
side and laid his hand on her shoulder,
but she did not turn to look upOnshim.
He spoke to her, but she betrayed no
consciousness of his speech. He clssped
her in his arms, bat she melted from
his grasp. and he saw her looking with
a glad light IN her lovely eyes toward
the distant landscape. Wonder upon
wonderSi He saw a man approaching
himself with little girl upon his
shoulders-hiS child and hors, by the
likeness in her pretty face 10 himself
and Laura-crowing and clapping her
tiny hands at her mother. who ran to-
ward them with joyous cries, and WAS
taken 60 her husbands embrace. And
then he learned that he was shadow,
invisible, impalpable, and that his other
self had taken his place in Laura's
heart. He accompanied them, and
walked by their side, listening to the
fond terms of endearment that passed
between them, a witness of their true
and faithful affection. The day passed.
and he saw them in the evening, sitting
by the window, her head resting upon
his shoulder. He heard her speak in
sweetest accents of love; he compre-
hended the worship of her eyes as she |
gazed upon her husband, and he
groaned in despair at the thought that |
he had faded out of his place in the
world, and that another filled it.
"Shall | buy your thOughts?" asked |
her husband, in reference 10 a sweet
and pensive expression he observed in
her face.
What will you give for them, Will
iam?"
He kissed her; she nestled closer to
him.
II am thinking of the past she
said; 'of something that is often in nv
mind. vet of which 1have never spoken.
Do YOU remember the last Christmas
Eve we spent in my fathers house be-
fore we were married"
Surely, my darling"
Something seemed to come between
Us that night, something that threw a
shadow upon both our hearts. When
you went away was truly unhappy,
and did not sleep the whole of the
night How sighed for the day to come,
so that | might see YOU, and tell you