The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-27

guests. They were happy enough, es-
pecially the very young people of the
party, who laughed and frolicked as
though life from this night forth was to
be nothing but long holiday.
But there was one present who was
supremely unhappy. 1t was worse
than death to Stephen Winkworth to
look upon the form of his crippled
child. His misery was complete, for
no ray of hope fell on the heart that
day he had seen her wasting away.
She bore her lot uncomplainingly, and
in silence. In this lay his chief unhap-
piness. If she had confided in him as
of old-if she had complained to him
of her suflerings-it would have at
forded him some consolation. But no;
the bond that had united them was
9oosened. She chose rather to suffer in
silence than seek his sympathy. Hap
less indeed is that mortal whose life is
passed without the light of sympathy
and lovei
He had watched his daughter the
had passed her lips; not once had he
seen her smile; not once had she
booked toward him with affection. He
could endure it no longer.
''Alice," said he, in hoarse wills
per, leaning over her chair, II wish to
speak with you alone"
Without word she rose to obey him.
1t was a strange fashion of hers that
she should wear her hair loosely; and,
as it hung down in heavy masses, it al
most concealed her defOrmity when
she stood in repose.
Come into the night" he said.
He felt stifled in the house, and he
experienced a sense of relief when he
reached the garden-walk that bordered
Warieycombe Lodge. The girl stood
patiently before him, uttering no
word.
"Alice," he said, "why do you not
speak to me?'
What shall / say, father?" she
asked, in weary tone.
"Say?" he returned, with heaving
breast; ''say anything! Why do you
avoid my look? Why do you torture
me with your silence?"
The suffering tone in which he spoke
was not without Its effect. A softer
light came into her face-a light in
which compassion dwelt for him and
for herself.
Father" she said, solemnly, taking
his hand, "loOk up to the stars. Look
out upon this scene. Not in my dreams
have l seen a grander picture. The
Divine Lord that shaped the world, that
gave us eyes to see, and ears to hear,
and mind to understand, is looking
down upon us now. Seei the earth so
pure-the trees so lOvely-the sky so
bright If Heaven be as beautiful as
this, how blessed is immortaliyr'
"Well, child?' he said, awed into
-quieter mood.
"Well, father" she returned, "we
are sent into this world to enjoy its
blessings. We are here, not to repinc,
not TO muTmur, not to scatter seeds of
unkindnesS, but to live and be grateful.
If any one of us has sorrow to bear, it
must be borne. My lot, Heaven help
me! is hard enough"
at is child, it is" he groaned, re-
morsefully.
"Why do you make it harder?"
Alice''
You have asked me to speak, and
xhere is that in my mind that must be
said. If it grieve you, you have brought
1t on yourself. My heart cries out
against you! can not help i'll can
not help tit is a power within that
moves me. Since last Christmas new
light has shone upon me. Fathern'
she exclaimed, turning her face sud-
denly to his, lyon have never in all
your life spoken to me of my motherr
Stephen staggered, as though bull
1et had struck his heart, and a deadly
shudder passed through him.
II never saw her-l have never seen
her picture. l have often wondered if
shall know her when / meet her in
Heaven, or if there is something that
will shut me out from her love in the
next world, rs death hath done in this.
Father, speak to me of my mother!'
81 can not. child can not" he
murmured, hiding his face in his
dands
AZ so yearn for love-for human
love-for love with light in it! 1t seems
to me that can no longer live without
1T. Your love - forgive, oh, forgive
mer and she wound her arms round
his neck, and drew his face to her
bosom, your love hurts mo- 1t APP
pears to me unholy, for you take it
from all others to bestow It upon me.
Do you think that, when | see the want
of sympathy that exists between you
and all around you, " am not
grieved? Do YOU think do not suffer
when l see good men and women smile
upon each other, and not upon You?
When you shut yourself out from mans
goodwill, you shut me out also. Your
life is not a blessing, father-Heaven
pardon me for saying so - it is
~curser'
1t was part of his bitter punishment
to be compelled to acknowledge the
Sruth of her words. His life iCdS
curse, hhghting everything with which
he came in contact-blighting even his
-child's happiness.
ALTER it, father, alter itr' she con-
tinued, earnestly. think better of
the world. Live in it and be of it.
Forget what told you last year of nv
my love for William Fairfield. Nav,
do not touch me for a momentin She
shrunk from him and hid her face, and
did nos speak for little while. Il
have conquered that love; and 1 pray
with all my heart that William NAV
come back and make Laura happy. 1 |
haze been silent to you. / hare not
been what 1 was; for my heart has
whispered to me that you were in some
way the cause of parting William and |
Laura. l do not ask you to tell me !
anything; but if you can remedy any
wrong you have done, do so st once, if |
not for her sake, for mine!"