The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-26

she continued to be out of the way, sending
an arology By Sophia for her absence if
was a courageous act. but worldly wise,
nr,sSnu,e. like all she did believe TO the
aav Of her mothers death Sophia never for
rot this particular concession. Ii showed
such trust in her daughter. such KIND desire
not to deprive her Of any secret comfort
which the parting might give In Tact, II
was an act Of womaniy generosity AMI cour-
age of which few mothers would have been
capable. But have not said already thai
our little mother was as truly queen Of
women as Agamennon was king OF menl
Sophia tried to be cheerful that dull Mag
after~oon; for she saw that her poor fellows
heart vas breaking. Indeed, he could hardly
speak one word She had to tell him Of
magnificent present which she hal made TO
him in secret, and which was now waiting for
hun in London This was a sat of foreign
travelling boxes, furnished with everything
the good little creature could ia nix of as be-
ing possibly of use to her dear when he was
far away. / wish l could give a catalogue
OF the articles in loather glass, steel, silver;
how she had slipped into one part a Bible and
prayer book; the little medicine chest, with
book. under the guidance Of which you could
heal yourself OF any disease; down TO needles
and thTead-~stout thread for buttons"
her account Of it read ike shopmans cata-
logue. She grew 50 interested in her clever
ness and forethought HIat she half forgot the
impending parting. Bless the heart OF
woman. how II lives in the present. and VIII
not realize TIE future, be il ever 50 neari
Then. blushing she told him OF one particl-
lar little pocket in one particular little leather
case, which he was never to open unless he
happened TO want money very badly. He
might have lost everything. and rot be abe
rf. rrofh haat- IN Euwlon1 In hat Let him
open that pocket He might be very Ill, and
have nothing to pay the doctor. Ia that case
let him open the pocket. In any capital and
inextricahle difficulty let him open that
pocket. Poor SOphiai the savings Of thrifty
years, and the better part of her allowance
for don't know how many more imortgaged
TO Car and SibyD had gone into those boxes
and that pocket,
All this time. while she chatted on. trying
desperately to he cheerful, he had said little
or nothing. At last be took out his watch,
and looked at il, gathering strength
Il must go now. he said
Then in an instant, like fral hut Swept
away 10y sudden hurricane, all her little
cheerfulneSs was gone. Her steadinesS, her
heroisIn was worth nothing at all. She cast
herself on his bTeast-ae was to sustain her
now-crylng, caresSing him, clinging 10 him.
as if she could not let HIM 60.
percy was all she said darling Percyh
And he said nothing. One thing his maIJi
ness enabled him TO do: be kept silence. But
not a word could he utter
at Is the sea between US she said, sob6iBg.
"Such a distance of sea- such length OF
timer
He only clasped her to his breast
"But / shall not forget YOU; YOU won't for
get me; promise i'll
No sound came from his lips; but somehow
she understood by his clasp that, with an un-
uttered vow, he was binding himself to har
forever
Promise me again, she murInured-
Still be did not m Ike any audible reply.
Promise me once more she whispered;
rnd still without any speech, she was satisfied
that he replied
There followed a moment of silence. she
offering up a prayer for his safety; and In
what shrine so fit could she offer it as there
on his manly breast} Then she felt his arms
gathering round her in an embrace stronger,
It seemed, than death. 1t was a. If a giant
clasped her: she was like willow wand, and
MS were arms Of steel Could such an EN-
brace ever be unlooscdi Yes; in a moment
she was standing alone on the floo-, he was
passing out of the room, she cast herself help
lessly on the sofa-and they We're parted now.
All the time he had never spoken But the
silence of his farewell was more TO her than
any language could have been He could not
speak for grief The intensity OF his VOW
was beyond al language. Sophia often looked
back with n sort Of sorrowlul pride 70 that
silent farewell