The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-05-28

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
was cold to all but this child. Day by
day he had seen her wasting away.
She bore her lot uncomplainingly, and
in silence In this Law his chief unhap-
piness If she had confided in him as
of old-if she had complained to him
of her sufferings-it would have af-
forded him some consolation. But no:
the bond that had united them was
soosened. She chose rather to suffer i'm
silence than seek his sympathy. Hap
less indeed is that mortal whose life is
passed without the light of sympathy
and loyei
He had watched his daughter the
whole of the night. Scarcely word
had passed her lips; not once had he
seen her smile; not once had she
looked toward him with affection. He
could endure it no longer.
Alice said he, i'm a hoarse whis-
per, leaning over her chair. Il wish to
speak with you alone"
Without word she rose to obey him.
1t was q strange fashion of hers that
she should wear her hair loosely: and.
as it hung down in heavy masses, it al
most concealed her defornity when
she stood in repose.
Come into the night" he said.
He felt stifled in the house, and he
reached the garden-walk that bordered
Warfeyeombe Lodge. The girl stood
patiently before him, uttering no
word
Alice" he said, ''why do you not
speak to me?'
What shall 1 say. father?'' she
asked, in weary tone.
.Say?" he returned, with heaving
breast; ssay 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 1 seen grander picture. The
Divine Lord that shaped the world, that
and mind to understand. is looking
down upon US now. See! the earth SO
pure-the trees so lOvely-the sky so
bright! If Heaven be as beautiful as
this. how blessed is Immortality
well. child?" he said, awed into a
9uieter mood.
well, father" she returned. "we
are sent into this world to enjoy its
blessings We are here. not to repine.
not to murmur. 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
there is that in my mind that must be
said. If il grieve you, you have brought
1t on yourself. MY heart cries out
against you! can not help i'll can
not help tit is power within that
moves me. Since last Christmas new
light has shone upon me. Father!'
she exclaimed, turning her face sud-
denly to his, "you have never in all
Your life spoken to me of my mother!"
Stephen staggered, as though bull
Get had struck his heart. and deadly
shudder passed through him.
Il never saw her-1 have never seen
her picture. / have often wondered if
I shall know her when l 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!'
Il can not. child can not" he
smurmured, hiding his face in his
hands.
love-for love with light in it! 1t seems
to me that can no longer live without
it. Your love - forgive, oh. forgive
meH' and she wound her arms round
his neck. and drew his face to her
bosom. '.your love hurts me 1t ap-
pears to me unholy. for you take it
from all others to bestow it upon me.
Do You thiuk 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 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 blessing, father-Heaven
pardon me for saying sol it is a
curser'
1t was part Of his bitter punishment
to be compelled to acknowledge the
truth OF her words. His life ,cas q
curse. hlighting everything with which
he came in contsct-blighting even his
-child's happiness.
ALTER it, father, alaer it,'' she con-
tinuei. earnestly. Think better of
the world. Live in it and be of it.
Forget what / told yon last year of nv
my love for William Fairfield. Nav,
do not touch me for moment She
shrunk from him and hid her face, and
did nos speak for little while. Il
have conquered that love; and pray
with all my heart that William may
come back and make Laura happy.
haze been silent to You. l hare not
been what l 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 at once, If
not for her sake, for miner,